The governments of the members of the United Planets vary widely from system to system and race to race. Many of the more heavily-populated planets are governed by some sort of democracy or republic. Regular elections are held where all citizens are allowed to vote. Some planets (notably Terledrom in the Fromeltar system) are ruled by councils of businessmen and corporate executives. This is a very common system on outpost worlds as well, where one corporation has invested heavily in the colony and managed to exclude most competition.