We, the intelligent lifeforms of the United Federation of Planets, determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of intergalactic war which has brought untold horror and suffering to our planetary social systems, and to reaffirm faith in the fundamental intelligent lifeform rights, in the dignity and worth of the intelligent lifeform person, to the equal rights of male and female and of planetary social systems large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and mutual respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of interplanetary law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, and to these ends to practice benevolent tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors, and to unite our strength to maintain intergalactic peace and security, and to ensure by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods that armed force shall not be used except in the common defense, and to employ intergalactic machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all intelligent lifeforms, have resolved to combine our efforts to accomplish these aims. Accordingly, the respective social systems, through representatives assembled on the planet Babel, who have exhibited their full powers to be in good and due form, have agreed to the present Charter, and do hereby establish an interplanetary organization to be known as the United Federation of Planets.