The Milky Way is a galaxy. This name derives from its appearance as a dim "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky, in which the naked eye cannot distinguish individual stars.
The Milky Way has been under the juridiction of the Galactic Empire, the Imperial Galactic Government, and the Federation League of Planets, respectively, although none have been powerful enough to fully control even a fraction of the vast area within the galaxy. Several other planetary alliances exist within its borders but none have the same political clout.