AtDDtA1: Constrained by Our Charter

[Dave Monroe]

   "'Much as we might be inclined to offer our protection,' Lindsay
had informed the agitated youth, 'here upon the ground we are
constrained by our Charter, which directs us never to interfere with
legal customs of any locality down at which we may happen to have
touched.'" (AtD, Pt. I, p. 8)


Cf. ...

General Order 1: "No starship may interfere with the normal
development of any alien life or society."

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Starfleet_General_Orders_and_Regulations#General_Orders

General Order #1 - Also known as and largely referred to as The Prime
Directive. This prohibits interference by Starfleet with other
cultures, most importantly those of an inferior technological level.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfleet_General_Orders

The Directive states that members of the Federation (including
Starfleet) must not interfere in the internal affairs of another
species, or the natural development of pre-warp civilizations, either
by direct intervention, or the revelation of technology (including the
means to create such technology) to the inhabitants. When studying a
planet's civilization, particularly during a planetary survey, the
Prime Directive makes it clear that there are to be: "No
identification of self or mission. No interference with the social
development of said planet. No references to space, other worlds, or
advanced civilizations..."

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Prime_Directive

In the fictional universe of Star Trek, the Prime Directive,
Starfleet's General Order #1, is the most prominent guiding principle
of the United Federation of Planets; The Prime Directive dictates that
there be no interference with the natural development of any primitive
society, chiefly meaning that no primitive culture can be given or
exposed to any information regarding advanced technology or alien
races. It also forbids any effort to improve or change in any way the
natural course of such a society, even if that change is
well-intentioned and kept completely secret. 'Primitive' is defined as
any culture which has not yet attained warp drive. Starfleet allows
scientific missions to investigate and move amongst pre-warp
civilizations as long as no advanced technology is left behind, and
there is no interference with events or no revelation of their
identity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Directive

And see as well, e.g., ...

http://www.st-minutiae.com/academy/history316/general_orders.xhtml