Starfleet is the exploratory, diplomatic, scientific, and above
all military body of the Federation. Like the Federation, it too was founded
in 2161.
Starfleet is controlled by Starfleet Command. Its' main body, Starfleet
Headquarters, is located in San Francisco, Terra, as is the main campus
of Starfleet Academy, its training center. Starfleet Command has other
centers in the network of Starbases located throughout Federation space. Although
there is a very strict chain of command, in practice individual Starfleet
officers are allowed a great deal of autonomy, since the large size of the
Federation makes effective communications difficult.
Legal cases within Starfleet and its personnel are handled by a Judge
Advocate General. Internal matters within Starfleet are handled by
Starfleet Security. Starfleet also maintains an agency called Starfleet
Intelligence which is responsible for interstellar intelligence and espionage.
Starfleet is unusually progressive in that it allows citizens from
non-Federation worlds to serve in its ranks. In many cases this is done
with the idea that these individuals will serve as
strong voices on their homeworlds in support of union with the Federation.