Unified Earth Government: Difference between revisions

{{Era|Human|UNSC|HCW|Post}}

*[[Confederation]] of independently governed [[planet]]s<ref name="humancolonization"/>

|techlevel=Tier 3<ref name="wp humans"/>

|formed=[[2075]]: Original supranational formation<ref name="universe"/><ref name="h4evg">'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 229''</ref>

[[2204]]: Full autonomy<ref name="universe"/><br>

[[2525]]: Most functions and authority assumed by the [[United Nations Space Command]]<ref name="HSP"/><br>

[[2553|January 8, 2553]]: Full governing ability resumed<ref name="CatalogUEG"/>

The '''Unified Earth Government''' ('''UEG'''){{Ref/Note|The UEG is referred to as the "''United'' Earth Government" in some sources, including the directory sheet accompanying [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]] and the Aft Armory Notice within the [[Infinity Briefing Packet|''Infinity'' Briefing Packet]].}} is the central [[civilian]] government that administers [[Earth]] and its colonies throughout a portion of the [[Orion Arm]] of the [[Milky Way]] galaxy. It encompasses the [[Colonial Administration Authority]] (CAA), the [[United Nations]] (UN), and the [[United Nations Space Command]] (UNSC).<ref name="HSP">[http://halostory.bungie.org/oconnor_mclees_080508.html '''Halo Story Page''': ''Frank O'Connor/Robt McLees Interview - August 2008'']</ref>

Initially conceived as a supranational entity on Earth in 2075,<ref name="universe"/><ref name="h4evg"/> the UEG was reconstituted into a governing body in 2170<ref name="mythos"/> before gaining full autonomy from the UN in 2204.<ref name="universe"/> It would also begin governing colony worlds beyond the Sol system until the 2400s. Many [[Outer Colonies]] and some [[Inner Colonies]] began to doubt the idea of the UEG due to UNSC interference.<ref name="humancolonization">''Halo Encyclopedia'', Humans - Colonization, p. 42-43 (2011)</ref> This came to a head when the [[Secessionist Union]] and [[People's Occupation]] demanded outright autonomy for a dozen worlds in [[2487]]<ref>''Halo Mythos'', p. 55</ref> and [[Insurrection|eventually violent and open rebellion]] beginning in [[2494]].<ref>''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'', [[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]</ref>

As the [[Human-Covenant War]] was raging, the UNSC assumed the governing function of the UEG in the face of possible extinction from the overwhelming [[Covenant]] threat.<ref name="HSP"/><ref>'''[[Bestiarum]]'''</ref><ref name="frank">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rPeMxbvCjYo '''YouTube''': ''Halo: From A to Z with Frank O'Connor'']</ref> The United Nations Space Command ceased functioning as a governing body following the end of hostilities with the now dissolved Covenant Empire. The transfer of power back to the civilian authority of the UEG occurred on [[2553#January|January 8, 2553]], although no other notable change in the UNSC's political depth within colonial politics was ceded.<ref name="CatalogUEG">[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969317_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969317 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction (Query Answer: Human records indicate transition to noncombatant administrative control <nowiki>[ref: UEG] [January 8, 2553]. No notable adjustment in military [bureaucratic tactical]</nowiki> behavior and scope of authority.)'']</ref> [[Ruth Charet|Dr. Ruth Charet]] remains the incumbent [[President of the Unified Earth Government]] since her inauguration in January 2553.<ref name="president">'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 43''</ref>

The Unified Earth Government traces its origins back to the early days of [[human colonies|human colonization]] of the [[Sol system]] in the late 21st century. It was conceived in [[2075]] to be under the auspices of the [[United Nations]], a representative, public-facing organization to facilitate extraterrestrial colonial commerce, exploration, and industry.<ref name="universe"/><ref name="h4evg"/>

Conflicts between the [[Frieden]] movement, the [[Koslovics|vanguard]] of [[Vladmir Koslov]], and a coalition of individual UN nations in [[Rainforest Wars|South America]], on [[Mars Campaign|Mars]], and throughout the [[Jovian Moons Campaign|Jovian Moons]] encouraged the Secretariat of the [[United Nations]] to officially involve itself in the [[Interplanetary War]] with a mandate to stabilize the system and deter further aggression, establishing the United Nations Space Command in [[2163]].<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 42''</ref>  

Persistent and widespread chaos of the decade past would result in the [[Callisto Treaty]] of [[2170]], spurring great reform in support of Earth nationalism. Originally little more than a mere function of the Secretariat, the UEG would begin to see radical change, evolving from a ministry to its present state as a federal executive, legislative, and judicial body, eventually subordinating the United Nations itself. All existing supranational organizations, independent nation and city-states, and their respective territorial possessions and claims on Earth and on extraterrestrial bodies; and all independent planetary and satellite colonies throughout Sol would be subject to the UEG by [[2204]].<ref name="universe"/><ref name="mythos"/><ref name="timeline">''Xbox.com'': The Halo Timeline (defunct, [[Archive:Xbox.com/Halo/Timeline|Archived]])</ref>

===Governing humanity an the colonies===

With the beginning of the [[Human-Covenant War]] in [[2525|February 2525]] and the [[Covenant]]'s systematic annihilation of the Outer Colonies, the UNSC became humanity's greatest protector against the genocidal threat. The UNSC thus overrode the civilian rule of the UEG and established itself as an emergency military government, with the military becoming humanity's primary government.<ref>'''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]''', ''page 456''</ref> Although the Unified Earth Government was more open to stepping down in this time of crisis, the [[Colonial Administration Authority]] resisted the UNSC's drastic rise in power. It was subsequently stripped of its power and influence.<ref name="HSP"/>

{{Quote|For too many years, humanity was on the backfoot. Reacting to threats, rather than preventing them. Rest of the galaxy was bigger than us. Stronger than us. We were mice, hiding in the shadows, hoping the giants would not see us. No more. Humanity is no longer on the defense. ''We'' are the giants now.|[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Thomas Lasky]]<ref>'''Halo 4''', ''[[Infinity (mode)|Infinity]]'' introductory cinematic</ref>}}

In January 2553, [[Ruth Charet|Dr. Ruth Charet]] took office as the [[President of the Unified Earth Government]]. She called for a new era of peace, progressiveness, and rebuilding in the wake of the Covenant War.<ref name="president"/> The UNSC still did not require the approval of the UEG to assign budgets, however, the UEG was slowly beginning to regain its power and the government began to focus on reconstruction.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 355''</ref> By [[2553#January|January 8, 2553]], the Unified Earth Government formally regained its power back from the UNSC.<ref name="CatalogUEG"/> After the UEG formally regained its administrating powers back following the end of the Human-Covenant War, the UNSC experienced difficulty in shedding its former governmental tasks. As a direct result, a shadow government of sorts has formed within the Unified Earth Government—largely directed by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] and its own bureaus.<ref name="wp humans"/> As the UNSC continues to retain considerable influence on the colonies, many individuals outside the Sol system believe that the UEG is merely an ineffective front for a military government.<ref name="universe"/>

The UEG and UNSC moved to retake several colonies that had been abandoned during the war, while others were [[Terraforming|reterraformed]]. [[Draco III]] held strategic importance during this mission, as many other lost colonies were located beyond the planet.<ref name="nb19">'''[[Halo: New Blood]]''', ''pages 19-22'' (Google Play edition)</ref> With the UEG stretched it afforded greater autonomy to the megacorporations – approving militarization of their security forces and greater exploitation of colonial subsidiaries in the name of stability and reconstruction.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-armory-amore 1/22/2016: Armory Amore]</ref> In the years following the war the UEG was involved in [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|minor conflicts]] against resurgent human insurgencies, [[Covenant remnants|Covenant splinter groups]], and, in [[2557#July|July 2557]], the [[Ur-Didact]] and his armies of [[Forerunner]] [[Promethean]] constructs.<ref name="H4">'''[[Halo 4]]'''</ref>

The Unified Earth Government functions as a representative democracy<ref name="wp humans"/> The UEG is headed by a [[President of the Unified Earth Government|President]].<ref name="president"/> The government maintains executive, legislative, and judicial branches.<ref name="universe"/> The [[Unified Earth Government Senate]] serves as the legislative branch of the government.<ref name="htt07"/> A number of other executive offices are known to exist, among them the [[Minister of Information]],<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', ''[[Metropolis]]'': [[:File:Metrosign-8.jpg|Image:Metrosign-8.jpg]]</ref> the [[Secretary of Defense]],<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Metropolis]]'': [[:File:Metrosign-3.jpg|File:Metrosign-3.jpg]]</ref> and the [[Minister for the Colonies]]; the last position is likely part of the CAA.<ref name="president"/> Inferring from the first and last positions, the UEG would appear to be based around a parliamentary system. Other executive ministries include the [[Department of the Treasury]], under which operates the [[Internal Revenue Service]].<ref>http://transmit.ilovebees.com/outbound/taxes_suck.wav</ref> The [[Inner Territories Transportation Administration]] is an agency of the UEG that apparently has authority over the security of public interstellar or interplanetary travel among the [[Inner Colonies]].<ref name="htt05">'''[[Hunt the Truth]]''', ''Episode 5''</ref>

While the UEG is formally a confederation of independently governed worlds,<ref name="humancolonization"/> Earth is in a privileged position over the colonies in the election process, which has been a source of discord with some colonials.<ref name="frank"/> Some colonies are managed by [[governor|planetary governors]] that lead a world's parliamentary government.<ref name="harvest115">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 115''</ref>

Even though it originally formed the UEG, the United Nations has been absorbed into a branch of the Earth government by the 26th century.<ref name="HSP"/> Its role has been reduced to mediating various administrative tasks between Earth's similarly vestigial governing bodies.<ref name="CatalogUN">[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969315_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969315 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Query Answer: Human records indicate that the assembly (ref: United Nations) is a vestigial organization responsible for adjudication of administrative tasks between territorial sectors on Erde-Tyrene.'']</ref>

===Foreign relations===

Prior to first contact with the [[Covenant]] at [[Harvest]] in 2525, the Unified Earth Government kept no foreign relations with the exception of battles against [[Insurrectionists]] on rebellious colonies, whose independence the UEG did not recognize.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach'''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest'''</ref> However, after the Covenant War, tensions remain as the UEG must again deal with elements of the weakened Insurrectionist movement, with worlds like [[Venezia]] actively seeking to secede.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 175''</ref> The [[United Rebel Front]] has proven to be one of the most organized and effective insurgent factions to the UEG's power, throughout the 26th century and even continuing to be a formidable force and significant threat after the Covenant War. The URF has successfully managed to take control of several UEG colonies—at least temporarily—during and after the war, including [[Victoria]],<ref name="goo31">'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', ''page 31''</ref> [[Talitsa]],<ref>'''Halo 4''', ''Wetwork Armor description''</ref> and [[Terceira]].<ref>'''Halo 4''', ''Oceanic Armor description''</ref> However, the UEG generally left the URF alone, unless the group attempted to violently secede a world from its control.<ref name="nb19"/> Some Outer Colonies maintain a tense relationship with the Unified Earth Government,<ref name="wp humans"/> as they felt abandoned by their government and its military branch during the Human-Covenant War.<ref>'''[[Halo: Nightfall]]''', ''[[Halo: Nightfall: Soldier Within|Soldier Within]]''</ref> While some colonies attempt to withdraw from the UEG through violence, others are slowly attempting to become autonomous and end all dependence on the government by forming their own militaries.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/sedra '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Sedra'']</ref> The UEG and UNSC is constantly on alert for radical independence movements seeking to take advantage of these power vacuum.<ref name="wp humans"/>

As of [[2553]], the UEG maintains its earlier truce with the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] under the leadership of [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]], which serves as the diplomatic face of the Sangheili as a whole. An official [[Treaty of 2552|peace treaty]] was ratified between the two governments in [[2553#February|February of 2553]], signed by 'Vadam and [[Terrence Hood|Fleet Admiral Lord Terrence Hood]].<ref name="gl60">'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 60''</ref> By [[2558]], [[Rear Admiral]] [[Horatio Temkin]] was in charge of the diplomatic relations to [[Sanghelios]].<ref name="HE5">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''Issue #5''</ref> [[Joint Occupation Zone]]s were established between the UEG and Swords of Sanghelios to administrate regions of space cooperatively between the two governments.<ref name="Catalog">[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969315_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969315 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction - Page 14'']</ref> By March 2553, the UEG had no formal treaty with the [[Kig-Yar]],<ref>'''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]''', ''page 4??''</ref> through trade continued between the two species.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 113'' and ''page 261''</ref> The Sangheili, and presumably the UEG, remain at [[Sangheili-Jiralhanae war|war]] with the [[Jiralhanae]] as of [[2559]]. The UEG and Swords of Sanghelios attempted to make peace with [[Lydus' clan]] in 2558, but these peace talks were disrupted by a [[Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group|mercenary group]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 1|Issue #1]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 3|Issue #3]]''</ref>

Trade between colonies is seemingly managed and regulated by the [[Trade Alliance]].<ref>'''Halo: Nightfall''', ''[[Halo: Nightfall: Rhoen Border Security|Rhoen Border Security]]''</ref> The [[Inner Colonies]] often relied on the [[Outer Colonies]] for resources. While Inner Colonies like [[Reach]], [[Mars]], or [[Tribute]] served as military strongholds with strong industrial capacities, the Outer Colonies generally provided mining and [[agriculture world|agricultural]] supplies.<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 299''</ref> This precedent became troublesome for the UEG after most of the Outer Colonies were destroyed in the Covenant War, leading to Inner Colonies being required to produce their own resources.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''page 29''</ref> Outer Colonies suffered from increased trade restrictions and taxes that were established by the [[Colonial Military Administration]], factors that eventually led to the [[Insurrection]].<ref name="cole428"/> Trade with one colony could be halted through a vote, as was the case with [[Aleria]] when the Inner Colonies halted trade with the world during its economic collapse caused by a century-long [[Devil's Kiss|drought]].<ref name="trade">'''Halo: Nightfall''', ''[[Halo: Nightfall: ONI: Trade Barriers|ONI: Trade Barriers]]''</ref><ref name="canonfodder">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-second-to-none '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Second to None'']</ref>

The UEG's member nations maintain their own standing militaries. It is unclear how they are maintained in relation to the UNSC. Prospective members of the [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] are drawn from the ranks of national special operations groups as well as from the UNSC's own special forces.<ref name="Field Guide">[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/odst/guide.aspx '''Bungie.net''': ''Halo 3: ODST Field Guide'']</ref> The UEG also employs its own naval forces for policing, including police cutters roughly similar in role to those of the Covenant [[CRS-class light cruiser]].<ref name="attackships">'''Halo: Warfleet''', ''p. 72-73''</ref>

Human-occupied systems are known to encompass a relatively wide radius of the [[Orion Arm]] of the [[Milky Way galaxy]], in various stages of colonization, from the well developed [[Inner Colonies]] to the relatively recent and struggling [[Outer Colonies]]. By [[2490]] there were over 800 worlds under human control, ranging from small outposts and settlements to thriving colonies and military strongholds.<ref name="timeline"/> Most of the colonies under the influence of the UEG were under the direct governance of the [[Colonial Administration Authority]].<ref name="HSP">[http://halostory.bungie.org/oconnor_mclees_080508.html '''Halo Story Page''': ''Frank O'Connor/Robt McLees Interview - August 2008'']</ref> Originally military oversight for the colonies was provided chiefly by the [[Colonial Military Administration]], though the UNSC eventually usurped its duties due to widespread corruption in the CMA's ranks.<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 69'' (2011)</ref> The UEG's and UNSC's rapid colonial expansion efforts led to a massive, unexpected setback at the dawn of the [[Human-Covenant War]].<ref name="wp humans"/>

There are still numerous [[national government]]s on Earth and other planetary bodies that fall under the UEG's power.<ref name="Field Guide"/> They appear to maintain a limited degree of independence, although their overall authority is negligible as most governing functions are handled by the UEG.<ref name="ch37">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 37''</ref> Earth's territorial governments in particular are overseen by the now largely vestigial United Nations.<ref name="CatalogUN"/>

*[[Wikipedia:Japan|Japan]]<ref name="enc296">'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''pages 296-297'' (2011 edition)</ref>

*[[Wikipedia:Cuba|Cuba]]<ref name="enc296"/>

**''[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition|Limited Edition]]''

*''[[Halo: Meridian Divide]]