Agreed, that would be a fantastic feature. After all, who is the UP's? Aren't they the politicians behind all the Civs? The UP should be less random and more directed by the AI and the player.

Even stranger (but perhaps necessary) is the fact that the human player is always the "founder" of the UP, since the only races in it are the ones that contacted the computer player.

I think there should be some way to correct bad spelling. Proposed is how it's spelled!

But I like your idea too!

"Even stranger (but perhaps necessary) is the fact that the human player is always the "founder" of the UP, since the only races in it are the ones that contacted the computer player."

- Well, when you take into account the backstory of GC, it is not that uncommon. Prior to our arrival, contact, trade and diplomacy was limited therefore no serious need for such a forum. But with the advent of Hyperdrive and an increasingly smaller universe, a forum to solve problems peacefully ala League of Nations and United Nations here on Earth was deemed necassary. And as humans seems those with the best position to solve problems by cooperating; i.e. we did not kill those who disagreed with us on Earth, unlike Drengi and Alteria...

TIP

How about a way to barter with the other races to swing their votes, ala Alpha Centauri

Basically Im interested in seeing the played being able to propse bills in the senate as opposed to it being just totally random. For e.g the Arceans have 8 starbases in my rather penniless empire. And i want to cash in on his infringement of my space. Basically I want to go into the senate and propose the bill for Starbases Cluttering Foreign Sectors. Plus it will be another use for high populations

This is a feature that's already in the game. I've no idea what caused it to happen, but in my current game, I was awarded the right to propose bills in the senate for a period of one year. Sadly, I was far too busy slaughtering the Altarians at the time, so I may now have missed the opportunity.

Maybe SD will extend diplomacy along with espionage in the expansion. That would be really great!

I'd also like it if my espionage level would grant me a chance of seeing how the A.I. planned to vote on a given proposal.

Better assemble UP in shorter periods - for the time beings UP sessions are far too rare and, in truth, unimportant. Tax for bases is not that important for UP level of meeting. There should be more important like forbidding gas warfare/planetary bombardment and such, wich WILL have significant influence over all galactic life. Proposal is simple - divide UP sessions on Galactic UP when ALL races and proposals should be much more important. And second is Seasoned UP Session - initiated by any player, AI or human wich can propose less important bills such as taxation of starbases and so. To prevent "session-every-turn" there should be some cooldown perion after Some ideas for Galacric Sessions: Forbid usage of Planetary Bombardment/Gas Warfare/Mass Drivers/Tidal Disruptors Excommunicate race(autoembargo) Population growth control/Population growth assistance - increase /decrease Forbidden/Allowed Knowlede - forbid/allow research of chosen technology Galactic-wide veto to attack trade vessels

I like that idea! This way politics, propaganda etc could play an important part in the game. Of course it' shouldn't become too political but just think about the possibilities! Maybe a race doesn't want to go to war with you, so they are trying to pass legislations that hurt your economy or destroy your relations with other races by accusing you of something that you've done but kept it a secret (or sth you haven't done) or.......
There should also be ways to counter that of course and the ability to do the same to them.
It could get really interesting without being too complicated.

Let's hope that they will do something similar in the expansion!

I think something that should defineitly be added is a way to refuse to follow a UP law. I don't know the number of times already I have been willing to go to war with every other race just to be able to build my starbases again. And I could see it as even more nesessary with things like tech being forbiden which is an idea I like alot. I think it should be something like going to war with someone you are alienced with. You aren't prevented you are just warned that it is a very bad idea.

Then AI too must offer bribes to you.
Oh, and by the way - there can option for minor session to pay reparations for war. As far as I remember there wasn't any reparations implementation yet, only tribute, but that was artifical - for example if player used mass drivers or gas warfare or tidal blah-blah and after war chosen race can demand reparation for usage "immoral" weapons(we got several million of newborn freaks! Who would support em! Who would support billions of or[hans!) so if he manage to propose it there are 3-step options - if there should be any reparations at all and if UP agree that you should pay then you can choose - not to pay or pay - that won't affect UP membership - that's just some interrace relationship conflict, and other races can only have some opinions about this, but not initiate galactic-wide war if some mumbo-jumbo decided to sue another for billion years old quarrel - and now they can autovote what penalty you sould suffer, but not depending from you - that would be weird if you would be penalized for example with BC payment - you just refused one decision so why now you shoud autoaccept another - for example you sponsor next UP session, fee for your freighters or reduce trade routes for you - that's other races choice to let or not to accept your freighters.
This 3-step system can add to diplomacy GREATLY and each session can become really something important, not just "click faster to get that screen off" - UP session should be awaited or afraid of, not ignored.
And last proposal - UP session means there should be SEVERAL proposals - that looks silly to go to galactic-wide meeting only to decide if constructors should move faster. There must be three at least proposals -like one-two REALLY important, able to change galactic life, and two or so minor, that solve some minor problems, like sue for spy action, in similar ways like reparations.
Hope that little contribution help someone.