The Ferengi Alliance is formal name of the Ferengi government. Based on the home world, Ferenginar, where it continually rains, the Alliance is headed by the Grand Nagus, whose office is situated in the highest building of the Alliance, the Tower of Commerce. The Nagus is deified by the Ferengi populace for being the personification of success and shrewd business sense. He is revered as the highest example to emulate within the Ferengi Society. With the symbol of his power, the golden staff in hand, the Nagus can dictate almost every aspect of the Alliance's operations, as he heads the all-powerful Ferengi Commerce Association (FCA) and the military. The Nagus remains in power until he dies or is murdered by ambitious merchants.
Since the Ferengi Alliance is all about trading and business deals, economic activity is the primary concern of the government. The Ferengi live and breath for commerce, so the trading outlook is always good, war or peace. Many Ferengi travel beyond the Alliance to make their living on space stations or other densely populated urban areas.
The total population of the Ferengi race is 27 billion A Ferengi's life is governed by the Rules of Acquisition, a body of laws that a Ferengi follows in all business and non business dealings. The FCA is the most powerful organization governing Ferengi business within the Alliance. Unlike other minor associations, the FCA keeps track of every Ferengi's profits, family, holdings, business, and properties. Their reach exceeds the boundaries of the Alliance, and applies to any Ferengi dealing with the Alliance. A comprehensive annual statement must be filed with the FCA annually, which is scrutinized in case the Ferengi in question conveniently "forgets" an item. If caught evading tax collection, the penalties are severe. The feared FCA Registered Liquidators are the ones who carry out the penalties. Perhaps more grasping and devious than ordinary Ferengi, the Liquidators take pleasure in seizing an offending Ferengi's profits and material goods. Making a bribe to a Liquidator usually results in the same bankrupt state that would have happened if they were liquidated since the Liquidators are hard to impress without a sizable "offering". Often, the Ferengi who did not observe Ferengi laws and practice guidelines cannot pay off the Liquidator and the result being the shut down of his business establishment. Despite the relatively advanced state of development of the Ferengi race, their female population still has not broken out of the subservient role that is forced upon them by the males. The females are hemmed in at home, not allowed to be seen in public. They cannot wear clothing, cannot earn profit, and cannot talk to males without being spoken to. In the near future, Ferengi culture might experience a major upheaval. The Ferengi have endured as a capitalist society for over 5,000 years. The Ferengi became a warp capable race by buying warp technology from the Klingons. The initial first contact between the Federation and the Ferengi was in the Beta Maxia system where the starship Stargazer destroyed a Ferengi ship in self defense. The official first contact with the Ferengi came at Delphi Ardu where they were caught stealing technology from the Federation.The Rules of Acquisition is the monumental book of Ferengi Society. It lists the creed that bind Ferengis together as one sociological group. We Ferengi must all memorize the three hundred or so rules when we were still very young. The painstaking process is well worth the excellent advice that comes with each rule. To this day, the Rules guide every aspect of my life, and all good Ferengis keep the rules close to heart.
1. Once you have their money, you never give it back.
3. Never spend more for an acquisition than you have to.
6. Never allow family to stand in the way of opportunity.
7. Keep your ears open.
8. Small print leads to large risk.
9. Opportunity plus instinct equals profit.
10. Greed is eternal.
13. Anything worth doing is worth doing for money.
16. A deal is a deal (...until a better one comes along.)
18. A Ferengi without profit is no Ferengi at all.
19. Satisfaction is not guaranteed.
21. Never place friendship above profit.
22. A wise man can hear profit in the wind.
27. There's nothing more dangerous than an honest businessman.
31. Never make fun of a Ferengi's mother.
33. It never hurts to suck up to the boss.
34. War is good for business.
35. Peace is good for business.
40. She can touch your lobes but never your latinum.
41. Profit is its own reward.
44. Never confuse wisdom with luck.
47. Never trust anyone whose suit is nicer than your own.
48. The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife.
52. Never ask when you can take.
57. Good customers are as rare as latinum, treasure them.
58. There is no substitute for success.
59. Free advice is seldom cheap.
60. Keep your lies consistent.
62. The riskier the road, the greater the profit.
65. Win or lose, there's always Huyperian beetle snuff.
75. Home is where the heart is, but the stars are made of latinum.
76. Every once in a while declare peace. It confuses the hell out of your enemies.
79. Beware of the Vulcan greed for knowledge.
82. The flimsier the product, the higher the price.
85. Never let the competition know what you're thinking.
89. Ask not what your profits can do for you, ask what you can do for your profits.
94. Females and finances don't mix.
97. Enough...is never enough.
98. Every man has his price.
99. Trust is the biggest liability of all.
102. Nature decays, latinum last forever.
103. Sleep can interfere ....
104. Faith moves mountains...of inventory.
106. There is no honor in poverty.
109. Dignity and an empty sack is worth the sack.
111. Treat people in your debt like family. Exploit them.
112. Never have sex with the boss's sister.
113. Always have sex with the boss.
121. Everything is for sale, including friendship.
123. Even a blind man can recognize the glow of latinum.
139. Wives serve, brothers inherit.
141. Only fools pay retail.
144. There's nothing wrong with charity... as long as it winds up in your pocket.
162. Even in the worst of times someone turns a profit.
168. Whisper your way to success.
177. Know your enemies...but do business with them always.
181. Not even dishonesty can tarnish the shine of profit.
189. Let others keep their reputation. You keep their money.
190. Hear all, trust nothing.
192. Never cheat a Klingon... unless you're sure you can get away with it.
194. It's always good business to know about new customers before they walk in your door.
202. The justification of profit is profit.
203. New customers are like razor toothed green worms, they can be succulent, but sometimes they bite back.
208. Sometimes the only thing more dangerous than a question is an answer.
211. Employees are the rungs on the ladder to success. Don't hesitate to step on them.
214. Never begin a business negotiation on an empty stomach.
217. You can't free a fish from water.
218. Always know what you're buying.
223. Beware the man who doesn't make time for oo-mox.
229. Latinum lasts longer than lust.
236. You can't buy fate.
239. Never be afraid to mislabel a product.
242. More is good... all is better.
255. A wife is a luxury... a smart accountant a necessity.
261. A wealthy man can afford anything except a conscience.
263. Never allow doubt to tarnish your lust for latinum.
266. When in doubt, lie.
284. Deep down everyone's a Ferengi.
285. No good deed ever goes unpunished.
