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What kind of goverment Galactic Federation is?

The New Republic seemed to be a sort of USA/UN mix, but what about GFFA? I mean, does it work like UN (central governing body with practically independent (nations) members), or a mix of it (I remember that it was supposedly called the Galactic Alliance - is this the "core" of the Federation, or what remains of the New Repulic, with other "free alliances" (Chiss, Hapes Consortium etc.) forming with it the Federation?)? This question has troubled me for several days since I'm running a Star Wars RPG where the Federation is involved (thus far my players have been away from the politics and disinterested in the Federation, so I haven't had to make any explanation how it works, but things can change).

From what I understand from the NJO and later novels, Galactic Alliance is just a shorter name like United States is short for United States of America. The GA seems more centralized than the NR, more of a federation like the U.S. than a confederation like the EU. The Chiss it seems have gone back to their isolationist policy for the most part and doesn't seem to have much to do with the GA, the Hapans and Empire are members of the GA but have more independence than average. The sectors on the otherhand seem to hold a position similar to the states in the US.