Editing Quest:Hive Queen Quest (section)

===== Parliament and the Secretary Council =====
[[Image:Secretary_Council.jpg|300px|thumb|right|In order from left to right: Secretary of State Neville Morgan, Secretary of Defense Alexandra Dupont, Secretary of Intelligence Jack Windsor, and Secretary of Commerce Nathaniel Anderson.]]
The Union is a governing body formed from representatives of a large number of otherwise independent and often politically opposed worlds and systems. Every member planet is represented by a single individual, often elected but not always, which form the Union Parliament. There is no executive title or organization within the government, however it does posses a council of highly ranked individuals known as the Secretary Council which serves a similar role. The council's legal capacity in parliament is strictly advisory, however each member is charged with overseeing a critical component of the Union's function, which gives them great sway over the members of parliament itself in practice.Members of the council are rarely present during meetings of parliament, however they often make appearances during the drafting and debating of bills relating to their positions.

The council is composed of four members that each serve in important administrative roles under the authority of parliament, which is charged with appointing the members of the council.
* Secretary of Defense who serves as the Executive Commander of the Union Space Forces, the Interstellar Marines, and the Mobile Infantry
* Secretary of Intelligence who serves as Director of the Bureau of Foreign Intelligence and the Research and Development Administration
* Secretary of State who serves as the Chief Ambassador on behalf of the Union and Director of Foreign Affairs
* Secretary of Commerce who serves as Treasurer and Director of the Interstellar Trade Commission.