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"With the first link the chain is forged; the first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied; chains us all irrevocably."
– Jean-Luc Picard, quoting Judge Aaron Satie, 2367 ("The Drumhead")

Federation Law referred to the legal principles, procedures, and processes that governed and were applied to civil and military citizens of the Federation. The law of the United Federation of Planets was based on several historic documents, such as:

Federation Charter

The Federation Charter, as seen aboard USS Voyager

The rights afforded to civil citizens of the Federation included the following documents:

The rights afforded to members of Starfleet include the following documents:

Specific examples[]

In the late 2250s, Amanda Grayson harbored her fugitive son, Spock, on Vulcan. She justified this by saying that under Federation law, she did not have to turn him in. As the wife of the Vulcan ambassador, she had the legal authority to invoke diplomatic immunity in order to shield him from extradition, unless the ambassador objected. (DIS: "Light and Shadows")

Harcourt Mudd had been convicted under Federation law for smuggling, transporting stolen goods and purchasing a space vessel using counterfeit currency. (TOS: "Mudd's Women")

In 2267, in his negotiations with the High Teer Akaar, Captain James T. Kirk said the highest law of the Federation stated that a planet belonged to her people and would always belong to the people. (TOS: "Friday's Child")

In 2268, Sarek said that Coridan could be protected by Federation law and its wealth administered for the benefit of its people. (TOS: "Journey to Babel")

Later that year, James T. Kirk ran into Harry Mudd again, he replied that due to all of Mudd's convictions under Federation law, he should have still been in jail rather than free. (TOS: "I, Mudd")

In 2269, Harry Mudd claimed to Captain James T. Kirk, who was trying to bring Mudd in for fraud, illegal drug manufacturing and swindling, that since he was on the planet Motherlode, which did not recognize Federation law, he was not subject to the resulting punishment. (TAS: "Mudd's Passion")

In 2366, Lieutenant Commander Data informed Kivas Fajo that by abducting him and placing him in his "collection", he had violated Federation law. (TNG: "The Most Toys")

In 2367, Wesley Crusher had studied the effects of outpost judiciary decisions on Federation law, which Jean-Luc Picard saw as an excellent opportunity for Crusher to accompany him to Pentarus V to settle a dispute with the miners of that world. (TNG: "Final Mission")

Bio-mimetic gel was a strictly controlled substance by the Federation and its sale or attempted purchase was prohibited under Federation law. (DS9: "Distant Voices", "In the Pale Moonlight")

In 2371, Commander Benjamin Sisko informed Kai Winn Adami that bringing in Shakaar Edon with Starfleet force would violate Federation law, since he would be interfering in Bajoran internal affairs. (DS9: "Shakaar")

In 2372, Worf informed Quark that trafficking in illegal merchandise, such as a Tallonian crystal he planned to sell to Regana Tosh, was a felony under Federation law. (DS9: "Hippocratic Oath")

Later that year, Nog informed Quark that as a Starfleet cadet, he was required to report any violation of Federation law to his superiors. But, as he had not been sworn in then, he asked Quark for ten percent of the profits he planned to make smuggling kemocite. (DS9: "Little Green Men")

In 2375, Koval told Julian Bashir that Luther Sloan wanted revenge for the death of his mentor, Admiral Fujisaki, but he was faced with a dilemma, such as how he would seek vengeance against the Tal Shiar, whom Sloan believed was responsible for Fujisaki's death, without violating Federation law. (DS9: "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges")

See also[]

External links[]

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