Federation of Spheres

The Federation consists of several species working together on a unified front against the UTC and other would-be aggressors, and is spread among several systems; most being the original home-system of a member species of the Federation. Eridani, however, is the seat of Federation power and acts as the Capital System, home to the Acropolis, the first major achievement of the Federation as a nation.

Ruling Body
The FoS Council is the governing body of the Acropolis. Convening in the impressive parliament building in the central Acropolis, the Council is the ultimate authority in FoS space, passing judgement for violations of Council law, settling disputes between governments, and maintaining law and order, often through the use of its own covert intelligence services.

The Council is an executive committee composed of one representative each from the member species. Though they have no official power over the independent governments of other species, the Council's decisions carry great weight throughout the Federation. No single Council race is strong enough to defy the others, and all have a vested interest in compromise and cooperation. Especially with the looming threat of the UTC next door.

Each of the Council species has general characteristics associated with the various aspects of governing the galaxy, though these ultimately are only stereotypes. The Angara are typically seen as diplomats and mediators. The Salarians gather intelligence and information. The Humans provide the bulk of the military and peacekeeping forces, et cetera. Any species granted an embassy on the Acropolis is considered an associate member, bound by the accords of the Federation Conventions. Associate members may bring issues to the attention of the Council, though they have no impact on their final decision. There are many other races within the FoS who have little influence even on the council itself, as their numbers and contributions are considerably smaller than others, like the Humans, but even so the FoS seems to have been running with little infighting.

Military
Without question, the combined efforts of the Federations species has culminated into much more advanced spacecraft and military technology. Where the UTC has size, number and raw resources, the Federation focuses on quality over quantity.

The exact capabilities of the military are of course, a matter of secrecy, but it has been rumored that the Federation has even acquired shielding technology for their ships, a truly amazing feat of engineering that the UTC has supposedly yet to achieve.