Interstellar Governments are governments whose authority extends to more than one solar system.[1] Many interstellar governments are very similar to scaled-up versions of planetary governments.
Some basic types of interstellar governments include:
Trade Federation: Under this government, each member planet rules itself and has its own laws, but all the planets will have signed a trade agreement. This agreement promises free trade between all the member planets and also serves as a mutual peace/protection treaty. The different planets will try not to interfere with each other's business, and if one planet is attacked, the other planets will join with it to fight the enemy.
Trade federations are delicate and easily upset, since each member is in the federation for a profit. If a planet or a group of planets decides it can do better on its own or with another group, it may pull out of the federation.[2]
Galactic Empire: All of the member planets are controlled by one government, usually based on one planet which is considered the heart of the empire. All other planets may be treated as colonies, provinces, or states of the empire. Because an empire tries to control everything from one place, it is often corrupt or loaded with layers of bureaucracy.
An empire stays in power by keeping it subjects (the people) happy and by the liberal use of military force. Since empires have a way of getting in trouble if they stand still, they are often trying to expand their frontiers by colonization or by military control.[3]
Political Federation: Each member planet rules itself; however, all planets belong to one loose governmental body, and all must follow certain standards of conduct.[4]
Notes and References[]
- ↑ Dragon Magazine "From Anarchy to Empire" by David "Zeb" Cook (game co-developer)
- ↑ An example of a trade federation is the European Common Market.
- ↑ The ancient Roman Empire is an example after which interstellar empires may be modeled.
- ↑ The United States of America and the UPF are political federations.