General Orders Six General Orders were established by Starfleet Command when the United Federation of Planets was originally founded. Over time, another 19 were added. This increasing number of General Orders became unwieldy and excessively restrictive, and were subsequently consolidated into the following 10 General Orders (often called Directives). Any further amendments or modifications requires the approval of the Federation Council. |
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| General Order 1 | Starfleet personnel may not interfere with the cultural, social, or historical development of a sentient race of species not a member of the United Federation of Planets. Such interference includes introducing superior knowledge or technology to the sentient race or species, informing the sentient race or species that worlds or lifeforms other than their own exist outside the confines of their own space, or any other action which would alter the normal evolution of a sentient race or species. This General Order supersedes all other considerations, including the duty of a starship commander to safeguard ship and crew. |
| General Order 2 | No Starfleet personnel may use unnecessary force against any member of a sentient race or species. |
| General Order 3 | Starfleet personnel shall observe any and all statutes, laws, ordinances, rules of governance, and social customs in effect within the jurisdiction of an independent planetary system or government, or a member planet of the United Federation of Planets. Any violation will be dealt with in accordance with the local laws and customs. The senior Starfleet representative is required to extradite any person over which jurisdiction is held upon the application of an authorized civilian official. |
| General Order 4 | Any request for emergency assistance from a member planet of the United Federation of Planets or a Federation citizen takes precedence over any scheduled or contemplated action by Starfleet personnel. Starfleet personnel will respond to any such request immediately. |
| General Order 5 | Starship commanders are to consider their crew's lives as sacred and will place the crew's lives and well-being above the ship's safety. |
| General Order 6 | Starfleet personnel will employ any means necessary to prevent the possession, transportation, sale, or exchange of sentient beings held against their wishes within the boundaries of Federation space. |
| General Order 7 | No Starfleet vessel shall approach within 10 Astronomical Units of the Planet Talos IV under any circumstances. Any violation of this General Order shall be punishable by death. |
| General Order 8 | When verifiable proof is presented to the commander of any Starfleet unit that a Federation representative is violating or has violated General Order 1, that officer will relieve the representative of all duties, assume the full powers vested in the representative, and confine the representative pending an investigation by an appropriate governmental entity. |
| General Order 9 | No Starfleet personnel will violate Neutral Zone boundaries or the territorial integrity of independent planetary systems or governments unless so ordered by competent authority. |
| General Order 10 | Any individual who is taken into custody by Starfleet personnel shall be accorded proper and appropriate treatment consistent with that individual's rank or station so long as that treatment does not compromise the security of the United Federation of Planets, Starfleet, or an individual Starfleet unit. |