The United Federation of Planets is comprised of hundreds of regional governments controlling thousands of planets across a large spectrum of space.

The Federation is one of only a few major political units not dominated by a single race of beings. Several races (Human, Vulcan, Orion, Andorian, Rigelian, Alpha-Centaurian, Cygnan, etc.) hold seats on the ruling council. Two dozen other races have been established as affiliate members. Colonies and bases have been established on a thousand other planets. Most ships are manned 90% by one race, with the other 10% being a mixture of all others.

The Federation is dominated by the Humans, including those of Earth parentage that were born on other planets. Humans provide more than 70% of Star Fleet personnel and dominate every phase of its operations.
The Federation is probably the most idealistic of all the empires. Federation ships never attack without warning, and while the Federation has fought wars with all of its neighbours, it has never started one. The Federation has negotiated boundaries with all of its neighbours and has never sought to expand them militarily.

Economically, however, the Federation is the most aggressive race in the known space. Federation merchant ships are found almost everywhere during peacetime, and the "Neutral Zones" between the Federation and its neighbours abound with Federation colonies set up within the strict letter of the relevant treaties. The Federation considers "peace" to include free access to the markets and ports of all other races. Since the Federation has the strongest economy, it has the most money to buy things with, the most production capacity to build things with and tends to dominate the galactic economy.