Editing United Nations

The '''United Nations''' ('''UN''') is an international [[Earth]]-based organization,<ref name="encyc296">''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', Earth, p. 285, (2009); p. 296 (2011)</ref> and the predecessor of the [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[Unified Earth Government]].<ref name="HSP">[http://halostory.bungie.org/oconnor_mclees_080508.html ''Halo Story Page'': Frank O'Connor/Robt McLees Interview - August 2008]</ref> By the 26th century, the UN has been absorbed into a branch of the UEG and has become a largely vestigial entity, acting as a local administrative body among the [[national government]]s of Earth.<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>

By the time humanity began colonizing the other planets of the [[Sol System]] in the late 21st century, the nations of Earth were not yet united under a single government, though the United Nations held considerable power over humanity.<ref name="CH">''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', p. 37</ref>

In the early years of humanity's interplanetary colonization, it was mainly commercial interests that propelled outward expansion into the Sol System, the colonization programs initiated by Earth's national governments themselves being far less ambitious and efficient. Free of the restrictions of international law, many corporations operating in the colonies—particularly those on [[Mars]]—conducted extensive research and development into bio- and [[nanotechnology|nanotechnologies]]. While these efforts yielded many new technological advancements,<ref name="enc42">''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe'', p. 42 (2011)</ref> abuses by the corporations also generated major ethical concerns. To regulate the activities of the off-world corporate entities—particularly in the area of genetic technology—the UN extended the [[UN Genetic Rights Act]] to cover the colonies in [[2165]]. This piece of legislation would later serve as the basis for the latter [[UN Colonial Mortal Dictata|Mortal Dictata Act]].<ref>''Halo: Mortal Dictata'', p. 101</ref>

In [[2160]], [[United Nations Colonial Advisors]] were attacked on [[Io]] sparking the [[Jovian Moons Campaign]]. UN forces clashed against dissident forces again in [[2162]] in the [[Rainforest Wars]].<ref name="xbox">[http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/h/halo/storyline.htm ''Xbox.com:'' Halo Storyline] (Defunct, Copy on [http://halo.bungie.org/misc/mstimeline2.html HBO Forums], [http://web.archive.org/web/20080424150226/www.xbox.com/en-US/games/h/halo/storyline.htm Wayback Machine], and [[Archive:Xbox.com/Halo/Timeline|Halopedia]])</ref> [[2163|One year later]], the UN commissioned a military force primarily made up of naval and marine forces, referred to as the [[United Nations Space Command|United Nations Space Command (UNSC)]].<ref name="waypunsc">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/unsc ''Halo Waypoint:'' Universe - UNSC]</ref> With an approach echoing the policies of the [[United States]] in the early 21st century, the United Nations took charge of Earth's national governments as well as their disparate military forces,{{Ref/Reuse|enc42}}  

By [[2164]], UN-backed militaries began a pattern of massive buildups leading into the [[Interplanetary War]].<ref name="timeline">[http://www.halowars.com/GameInfo/Timeline.aspx ''Official Halo Wars Community Site'' - Timeline] (defunct, [[Archive:Halowars.com/Timeline|Archive]])</ref>{{Ref/Reuse|xbox}} Following the war in 2170, the United Nations formally established the [[Unified Earth Government|Unified Earth Government (UEG)]] as humanity's combined governing entity from then on while the UNSC became a preeminent military body for Earth's "empire".<ref name="Waypoint UEG">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/ueg ''Halo Waypoint'', Universe, Factions, UEG]</ref> The UNSC from this point forward began working in direct conjunction with{{Ref/Reuse|waypunsc}} and to enforce the directives of the UEG.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/species/humans ''Halo Waypoint:'' Universe - Humans]</ref>

===The 26th-century===

By the 26th century, the UN had become greatly diminished from its height in the mid-22nd century. Its function was relegated to overseeing administrative tasks on Earth, essentially a role similar to that for which it was originally created, with supreme power over the human race at large at the hands of the UEG.{{Ref/Reuse|CatalogUN}} After the beginning of the [[Human-Covenant War]], the UNSC gained ultimate control of the UEG and its branches, including the UN, as humanity's emergency military government.{{Ref/Reuse|HSP}} The UNSC returned power back to the civilian government on [[2553|January 8, 2553]].<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>