Politics in Futurama
Satirical 31st-century Earth politics lampooning present-day issues.
In the animated sci-fi series *Futurama*, politics and current events are regularly skewered for laughs. Creator Matt Groening designed the show from the start to mock both sci-fi tropes and modern life, using it as a vehicle for political and social satire. The biggest shift in global politics by the 31st century is that a single unified government rules the entire planet. This Earth government closely mirrors the modern United States: its capital is Washington, D.C., it operates under a two-party system (the "Fingerlicans" and "Tastycrats"), it has a president, and it references a constitution and an expanded bill of rights. Several inconsequential third parties pop up, including the Rainbow Whigs, Antisocialists, Voter Apathy Party, Reform Party, Green Party, Brain Slug Party, Dudes for the Legalation of Hemp, Bull Space Moose Party, National Ray-Gun Association, People for the Ethical Treatment of Humans, and One Cell, One Vote. Earth’s citizens are called "Earthicans." The United Nations still exists, with its New York offices appearing in one episode, and individual countries send their own representatives—though they retain some cultural identity (France now speaks English, with French considered dead). Remnants of U.S. states survive, such as New New York, New New Jersey, Nukevada, Penn Republic, and Sylvania (a nod to Czechoslovakia’s 1992 split). Earth’s flag, "Old Freebie," has the thirteen stripes of the Continental Union and U.S. flags, but the canton shows a globe centered on the Americas. In one episode, Doctor Zoidberg eats the flag, sparking an interplanetary incident—a satire of American flag-desecration controversies. The former U.S. Supreme Court now serves as Earth’s Supreme Court. Richard Nixon’s preserved head calls it "the one place where the Constitution doesn't mean squat." The current Chief Justice is Snoop Dogg, while other justices include preserved heads of 1990s U.S. Supreme Court members (Scalia, Thomas, Ginsburg) and celebrities like Björk and Katey Sagal (Leela’s voice actress). Myrtle Fu, a judge resembling Judge Judy, was the last non-head-in-jar justice; Abe Vigoda also served. In one episode, Leela and her environmentalist group are convicted because, although all five female justices vote to acquit, each has only half a vote due to the gender-related nature of the crimes.
- Medium
- Animated television series
- Creator
- Matt Groening
- Setting
- 31st century Earth
- Government type
- Unified Earth government with two-party system
- Capital
- Washington, D.C.
- Notable president
- Richard Nixon's preserved head
- Interplanetary organization
- Democratic Order of Planets (D.O.O.P.)
Lore & Background
In Futurama's 31st century, Earth is governed by a single united government with many similarities to the present-day United States. It has a two-party system of the Fingerlican and Tastycrat parties, along with numerous inconsequential third parties such as the Rainbow Whigs, Antisocialists, Voter Apathy Party, Reform Party, Green Party, Brain Slug Party, and others. The capital is Washington, D.C., and there are references to a constitution and an expanded bill of rights. Citizens are called Earthicans. Countries remain individual members of the UN, each sending their own representative, but show evidence of multiculturalism—for example, France now speaks English and French is apparently a dead language. Remnants of U.S. states survive, including New New York, New New Jersey, Nukevada, Penn Republic, and Sylvania.
Reader's Guide
The politics of Futurama serve as a sustained satirical commentary on contemporary American and global governance. The Earth President is introduced in the episode 'When Aliens Attack' as President McNeal, who is vaporized by invading Omicronians. In 'A Head in the Polls', a presidential election features clones John Jackson and Jack Johnson representing the two main parties, but Richard Nixon's preserved head in a jar, mounted on Bender's body, enters and wins by a single robot vote after overwhelming support from robotic voters. Nixon's head reappears as President in numerous episodes, often used for satirical humor—for example, giving a $300 tax rebate to every Earthican, spoofing the rebate from the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. The show also explores voting apathy: in 'A Head in the Polls', Fry debates voting, saying 'like one vote ever made a difference,' yet Nixon wins by one robot vote. The Democratic Order of Planets (D.O.O.P.) is a cooperative interplanetary organization compared to the present-day United Nations and the Federation from Star Trek, maintaining a military capability led by Zapp Brannigan. Environmental themes appear in episodes such as 'Crimes of the Hot', which centers on global warming, with Al Gore appearing as a recurring guest star. The episode presents a temporary solution of cooling Earth with giant ice cubes from Halley's Comet, but the comet is mined hollow; robots powered by beer are revealed as the source of global warming, and a scheme to destroy them is thwarted when robots expel their gases to push Earth away from the sun.
Did You Know?
- Earth's flag, 'Old Freebie', contains the thirteen stripes of the Continental Union Flag and the Flag of the United States but with a picture of the globe in the canton.
- The Earth Supreme Court includes preserved heads of 1990s U.S. Supreme Court justices such as Scalia, Thomas, and Ginsburg, as well as singers or actresses like Björk and Katey Sagal.
- In 'A Head in the Polls', Richard Nixon's head wins the presidency by a single robot vote after overwhelming support from Earth's robotic voters.
- Al Gore appears as his own head in a jar in the 31st century and is described as the 'inventor of the environment' and first 'Emperor of the Moon.'
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