The Shape of the Union was an address given by a Cardassian Castellan, which informed the people of the Cardassian Union of the overall state of the Union. In November 2385, Castellan of the Cardassian Union Elim Garak gave the Shape of the Union, commenting on the recent provision of full citizenship to a handful of Romulans who had started families with captured Cardassian prisoners of war. The Cardassian prisoners had been released by the Romulans, thus prompting Garak to extend a mutual act of good will. (DS9 novel: The Missing)