Articles of Federation

We the intelligent life-forms of the United Federation of Planets determined

to save succeeding generations from the scourge of intra-galactic war which has brought untold horror and suffering to our planetary social systems, and

to reaffirm faith in the fundamental intelligent life-form rights, in the dignity and worth of the intelligent life-form person, to the equal rights of male and female and of planetary social systems large and small, and

to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

and to these ends

to practice benevolent tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors, and

to unite our strength to maintain intra-galactic peace and security, and

to ensure by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods that armed force shall not be used except in the common defense, and

to employ intra-galactic machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all intelligent life-forms,

have resolved to combine our efforts to accomplish these aims.

Accordingly, the respective social systems, through representatives assembled on the planet Babel, who have exhibited their full powers to be in good and due form, have agreed to these Articles of Federation of the United Federation of Planets, and do hereby establish an inter-planetary organization to be known as the United Federation of Planets.