The United Federation of Planets, UFP, or "The Federation"
is a fictional government depicted in Star Trek television series
and motion pictures. In those episodes and films, the Federation
is described as an interstellar federal state with more than 150
member planets and thousands of colonies.
The Federation also maintains its own military and exploratory
agency, Starfleet. The United Federation of Planets has existed
as part of the Star Trek universe since the first season of the
original series. The Federation is described in episode reference
needed as stressing, at least nominally, the values of universal
liberty, equality, peace, and cooperation. The Federation's scientific,
diplomatic and defensive/military arm is Starfleet, depicted as
being headquartered at the Presidio in San Francisco.
