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Unified Earth Government: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 11:40, June 24, 2020

Unified Earth Government
Halo Waypoint - UEG.jpg
Government overview

Type:

Representative democracy[1]

Head of state:

President of the Unified Earth Government

Executive branch:

Cabinet[2]

Legislative branch:

Unified Earth Government Senate[3]

Government branches:

Earth national governance

United Nations

Colonial governance

Colonial Administration Authority

Military/scientific/exploratory

United Nations Space Command

Societal overview

Capital:

Sydney, Australia, Earth[4]

Official language(s):

English, and many others

Official religion(s):

Multi-religious

Currency:

UN credit (cR)

Technology level:

Tier 3[1]

Historical overview

Formation:

2075: Original supranational formation[4][5]

Reorganized:

2170: Reconstituted into a governing body[6]
2204: Full autonomy[4]
2525: Most functions and authority assumed by the United Nations Space Command[7]
January 8, 2553: Full governing ability resumed[8]

 

The Unified Earth Government (UEG)[note 1] 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).[7]

During the Human-Covenant War the UNSC assumed the governing function of the UEG in the face of possible extinction from the overwhelming Covenant threat.[7][9][10] 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 occured on January 8, 2553, although no other notable change in the UNSC's political depth within colonial politics was ceded.[8] Dr. Ruth Charet remains the incumbent President of the Unified Earth Government since her inauguration in January 2553.[11]

History

Origins

The Unified Earth Government traces its origins back to the early days of 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.[4][5]

Conflicts between the Frieden movement, the vanguard of Vladmir Koslov, and a coalition of individual UN nations in South America, on Mars, and throughout the 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.[12]

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.[4][6][13]

Insurrection and the Covenant War

As tension between the Inner Colonies and Outer Colonies increased in the late 25th century, the UEG increased the UNSC's military presence in the Outer Colonies to prevent civil unrest. However, this led to increased aggression in the Outer Colonies that eventually led to the Insurrection.[14] Although the civil war largely remained in the Outer Colonies, major Inner Colonies like Tribute and Reach were wracked by Insurrectionist activity throughout the early 26th century.[15][16]

With the beginning of the Human-Covenant War in 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.[17] 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.[7]

Post-war era

"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 Thomas Lasky[18]

In January 2553, 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.[11] 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.[19] By January 8, 2553, the Unified Earth Government formally regained its power back from the UNSC.[8] 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.[1] 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.[4]

The UEG and UNSC moved to retake several colonies that had been abandoned during the war, while others were reterraformed. Draco III held strategic importance during this mission, as many other lost colonies were located beyond the planet.[20] 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.[21] In the years following the war the UEG was involved in minor conflicts against resurgent human insurgencies, Covenant splinter groups, and, in July 2557, the Ur-Didact and his armies of Forerunner Promethean constructs.[22]

In October 2558, the Created and their Guardians took control of Earth and most human colonies.[23]

Government and politics

Ruth Charet, current President of the UEG.

The Unified Earth Government functions as a representative democracy.[1] The UEG is headed by a President.[11] The government maintains executive, legislative, and judicial branches.[4] The Unified Earth Government Senate serves as the legislative branch of the government.[3] A number of other executive offices are known to exist, among them the Minister of Information,[24] the Secretary of Defense,[25] and the Minister for the Colonies; the last position is likely part of the CAA.[11] 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.[26] 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.[27]

While the UEG is formally a union of independently governed worlds,[28] Earth is in a privileged position over the colonies in the election process, which has been a source of discord with some colonials.[10] Some colonies are managed by planetary governors that lead a world's parliamentary government.[29]

The Colonial Administration Authority is the government branch that administers the various colonies that belong to the UEG. It keeps extensive files on every colony world and city under the UEG, available to UNSC members for planning missions.[30]

Even though it originally formed the UEG, the United Nations has been absorbed into a branch of the Earth government by the 26th century.[7] Its role has been reduced to mediating various administrative tasks between Earth's similarly vestigial governing bodies.[31]

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.[32][33] 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.[34] 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,[35] Talitsa,[36] and Terceira.[37] However, the UEG generally left the URF alone, unless the group attempted to violently secede a world from its control.[20] Some Outer Colonies maintain a tense relationship with the Unified Earth Government,[1] as they felt abandoned by their government and its military branch during the Human-Covenant War.[38] 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.[39] The UEG and UNSC is constantly on alert for radical independence movements seeking to take advantage of these power vacuum.[1]

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 peace treaty was ratified between the two governments in February of 2553, signed by 'Vadam and Fleet Admiral Lord Terrence Hood.[40] By 2558, Rear Admiral Horatio Temkin was in charge of the diplomatic relations to Sanghelios.[41] Joint Occupation Zones were established between the UEG and Swords of Sanghelios to administrate regions of space cooperatively between the two governments.[42] By March 2553, the UEG had no formal treaty with the Kig-Yar,[43] through trade continued between the two species.[44] The Sangheili, and presumably the UEG, remain at 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 mercenary group.[45][46]

Economy

The UEG uses the United Nations Credit (cR) monetary unit to organize its economic stability by selling or buying military equipment, supplies and costs for shipping, etc.[47] The UN cR was likely implemented by the United Nations at some point before the formation of the Unified Earth Government in 2170. For transporting food and raw materials between colonies, the UEG maintains a merchant navy, run by the Department of Commercial Shipping.[48]

Trade between colonies is seemingly managed and regulated by the Trade Alliance.[49] 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 agricultural supplies.[50] 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.[51] Outer Colonies suffered from increased trade restrictions and taxes that were established by the Colonial Military Administration, factors that eventually led to the Insurrection.[14] 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 drought.[52][53]

Military

Main article: United Nations Space Command
A large UNSC Army contingent.

The United Nations Space Command is the UEG's primary military, exploratory, and scientific arm. The UNSC is intended to protect colonists and colony worlds from attack by pirates, Insurrectionists and other threats, such as the Covenant. It includes various special forces, and militia organizations but is composed primarily of five branches: the Marine Corps, the Navy, the Army the Air Force, and the recently formed Spartans. The UNSC also maintains a number of scientific organizations, among them UNSC Astrophysics,[54] while the UNSC Engineering Corps is devoted to surveying viable planets for colonization or terraforming.[55] At several times during the Insurrection and for a majority of the Human-Covenant War, the UEG had given the UNSC operational autonomy.[56]

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.[57] 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.[58]

Sphere of influence

Colonies

An approximate map of significant systems.
Main article: Human colonies

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.[13] Most of the colonies under the influence of the UEG were under the direct governance of the Colonial Administration Authority.[7] 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.[59] The UEG's and UNSC's rapid colonial expansion efforts led to a massive, unexpected setback at the dawn of the Human-Covenant War.[1]

Influence over these worlds was greatly reduced by the Covenant during the war, with only Earth and a few scattered colonies left mostly intact by the end of the conflict in 2552. Since the end of the conflict the UEG has worked to restore its galactic territories and avoid secessionism and has even recolonized some of its former worlds, including Reach.[60]

Nation-states

There are still numerous national governments on Earth and other planetary bodies that fall under the UEG's power.[57] They appear to maintain a limited degree of independence, although their overall authority is negligible as most governing functions are handled by the UEG.[61] Earth's territorial governments in particular are overseen by the now largely vestigial United Nations.[31]

Trivia

Both the Unified Earth Government and the United Nations Space Command are references to the human government (United Earth Government) and military (Unified Earth Space Council), respectively, from Bungie's Marathon series.

Gallery

  • An alternative render of the UEG insignia.

    An alternative render of the UEG insignia.

List of appearances

Note

  1. ^ 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.

Sources

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Halo Waypoint: Humans
  2. ^ Halo: Glasslands, page 70
  3. ^ a b Hunt the Truth, Episode 007
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Halo Waypoint: UEG
  5. ^ a b Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 229
  6. ^ a b Halo Mythos, Rise of Humanity, The Interplanetary War, page 51
  7. ^ a b c d e f Halo Story Page: Frank O'Connor/Robt McLees Interview - August 2008
  8. ^ a b c Halo Waypoint: Catalog Interaction (Query Answer: Human records indicate transition to noncombatant administrative control [ref: UEG] [January 8, 2553]. No notable adjustment in military [bureaucratic tactical] behavior and scope of authority.)
  9. ^ Bestiarum
  10. ^ a b YouTube: Halo: From A to Z with Frank O'Connor
  11. ^ a b c d Halo: Glasslands, page 43
  12. ^ Halo Encyclopedia, page 42
  13. ^ a b Xbox.com: The Halo Timeline (defunct, Archived)
  14. ^ a b Halo: Evolutions, "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", pages 428-429
  15. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 127
  16. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 81
  17. ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 456
  18. ^ Halo 4, Infinity introductory cinematic
  19. ^ Halo: Glasslands, page 355
  20. ^ a b Halo: New Blood, pages 19-22 (Google Play edition)
  21. ^ 1/22/2016: Armory Amore
  22. ^ Halo 4
  23. ^ Halo 5: Guardians
  24. ^ Halo 2, Metropolis: Image:Metrosign-8.jpg
  25. ^ Halo 2, campaign level Metropolis: File:Metrosign-3.jpg
  26. ^ http://transmit.ilovebees.com/outbound/taxes_suck.wav
  27. ^ Hunt the Truth, Episode 5
  28. ^ Halo Encyclopedia, page 43
  29. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 115
  30. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 177
  31. ^ a b 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.
  32. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach
  33. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest
  34. ^ Halo: Glasslands, page 175
  35. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 31
  36. ^ Halo 4, Wetwork Armor description
  37. ^ Halo 4, Oceanic Armor description
  38. ^ Halo: Nightfall, Soldier Within
  39. ^ Halo Waypoint: Sedra
  40. ^ Halo: Glasslands, page 60
  41. ^ Halo: Escalation, Issue #5
  42. ^ Halo Waypoint: Catalog Interaction - Page 14
  43. ^ Halo: The Thursday War, page 4??
  44. ^ Halo: Glasslands, page 113 and page 261
  45. ^ Halo: Escalation, Issue #1
  46. ^ Halo: Escalation, Issue #3
  47. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 43
  48. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 24
  49. ^ Halo: Nightfall, Rhoen Border Security
  50. ^ Halo Encyclopedia, page 299
  51. ^ Halo: The Cole Protocol, page 29
  52. ^ Halo: Nightfall, ONI: Trade Barriers
  53. ^ Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder - Second to None
  54. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 138
  55. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 123
  56. ^ Halo Waypoint: UNSC
  57. ^ a b Bungie.net: Halo 3: ODST Field Guide
  58. ^ Halo: Warfleet, p. 72-73
  59. ^ Halo Encyclopedia, page 69 (2011)
  60. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level, Lone Wolf
  61. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 37
  62. ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia, pages 296-297 (2011 edition)
  63. ^ Halo: Glasslands, page 321

v • d • e
 
Polities, organizations, and civilizations
Contemporary
Interstellar/Interplanetary organizations Banished • Covenant • Swords of Sanghelios • Created • Children of Oth Sonin • Concert of Worlds • Frieden • Insurrectionists (Arcadia/Harvest • New Colonial Alliance • People's Occupation • People's Occupation Government • Secessionist Union (Eridanus secessionists) • United Rebel Front) Koslovics • San'Shyuum flotilla (Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant • Tem'Bhetek's faction) • Unified Earth Government (Colonial Authority • United Nations Space Command)
Planetary/Local organizations Castoffs • Defenders of the Sanctum • Eridanus Government • Gao Republic • Insurrectionists (Bandusa • Freedom and Liberation Party • Galodew Emancipation • Gao Liberation Force • Sundered Legion) • Joyous Exultation Covenant • Khabnathwa • Neo-Frieden • Prospector Party • Sedran government • Stewards • United Nations (Nations) • Unggoy government • Ussans • Venezian Militia
Private organizations 'Gajat mercenaries • Shields of Requiem
Religious organizations Covenant remnants ('Mdama's Covenant • 'Nyon's Covenant • Keepers of the One Freedom • Vol's Covenant) • 'Refumee's heretics • Servants of the Abiding Truth
Ancient
Interstellar organizations Ecumene • Human-San'Shyuum alliance • Ancestors
Planetary/Local organizations Council of City States • Erde-Tyrene civilization • Sedaaro • Reformists (Keepers of the Dawn) • Stoics • Tudejsa
Protogenic
Italics denote entities that are confirmed or assumed to be defunct given currently available information.
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