Society
The Q don't have any form of hierarchal government so far as the Federation know, but they do have a system that imposes order and disciplines troublesome members by punishment. Every Q is called just that, "Q", but one entity in particular has made it a point to amuse himself with the Federation comes to mind most often. The Q don't intentionally inflict harm on other life, though they may interfere and become a major distraction. Their eternal lifespan probably is what instilled the Q with a quirky sense of humor and an unshakable sense of superiority.

Known Encounters
Captain Jean-Luc Picard recorded first contact with a Q when he assumed command of the Enterprise-D. Q enacted a mock hearing accusing humans the crime of inferiority and savagery. To make his point even more convincing, Q circled the arena with bedraggled survivors of the nuclear holocaust. Picard argued eloquently that though the past history of Earth was indeed dark, improvements of the human condition and mind have created a better world, one where the days of the holocaust will never be allowed to happen again. Q brushed aside his talk and continued his airs of superiority. He was certain the captain could not defend his own Federation regulations and arguments of higher human aspiration. In fact, he conveniently used the Farpoint station incident as a test to gauge the Enterprise crew's reaction and method of solution in a foreign circumstance. In the end, Picard solved the Farpoint puzzle thrown to him by Q, and did not falter as Q had predicted. Though Q left them alone, he was piqued by this primitive little civilization and would continue pestering them, especially Picard, time and time again.

It wasn't long before Q came aboard to play with the Enterprise-D again. He tempted First Officer Riker with Q-like powers the second time he appeared on the Enterprise, seeing how power might corrupt a human, but Picard declared that Q's intentions were not merely to laugh at the lowly lifeforms. Q was there to investigate what quality humans possess that will enable them to develop into and perhaps even surpass lifeforms like himself in the distant future. Q was afraid.

A year later, Q returned to Enterprise-D, requesting, no, ordering the captain to admit him as a crew member. When Picard denied him, Q responded by hurling the Enterprise 7,000 light years away into the Delta Quadrant, coming to a halt in the J-25 system, where they intersected a Borg cubicle. First contact with the Borg happened decades earlier than it should, and the Federation got a glimpse of what dangers there were in the galaxy. The Borg were intrigued by this alien ship of unknown design and sent drones to interface with its computers. The Collective's thousand voices boomed for the first time on human ears. The Borg had superior technology, efficient communications, and easily passed the Enterprise's defense. The Enterprise probably would have been assimilated had Picard not asked for Q's help when it was apparent the Borg cube would overtake them. Picard believed however, that though first contact with the Borg was made earlier by Q's interference, the Federation and all the Alpha Quadrant would probably be better prepared now that they know the Borg were coming. Q had only meant to show the Federation how inadequate they were for the arrival of the Borg, but in Picard's words, "He did the right thing for the wrong reason."

In 2366, Q was stripped of his powers by his own kind for having spread chaos throughout the galaxy. Before he was thrown out of his dimension, he could choose to become whatever he wanted. It was a last wish sort of thing. Out of ideas and knowing he had enemies everywhere, Q at the last minute opted to become a human and landed totally unclothed on the bridge of the Enterprise. Picard did no more than scowl at the reappearance of Q, whom he assumed had come to be a nuisance again. However, Q could not use any of his powers, and was at the mercy of all his enemies, and there were many. Guinan was among one of them and she showed him some spite by poking him with a fork. But her little dose of malice could not compare with the Calamarain ship that was intent on taking out the whole Enterprise when they learned of Q's vulnerability. To save the ship and atone for his crime, Q stole a small shuttle and lured away the Calamarain ship in a rare gesture of nobility. Q was subsequently forgiven and restored his powers by the Continuum.

However, Q did not cease his antics, and he came back in 2367 once again to the Enterprise-D. During a meeting of the Federation Archaeological Council, he cast everyone into a simulation of Robin Hood and his merry men.When the game was ended, Q took Picard's old flame Vash and vanished.

Q returned once again to evaluate a human who was actually one of his own to determine if she is fit to wield the power of a full Q. This woman, Amanda Rogers, experienced the exhilaration of possessing god-like powers, but was not corrupted by them. She was accepted back into the continuum when she voluntarily cleaned the atmosphere of a planet endangered by poisonous gases.

Shortly after, Q visited Picard, whom he said was dead and existing in the afterlife. Q told him that his death resulted solely from his bad judgment as a youth and offered him a chance to relive his life to avoid the mistakes that would lead to this untimely death. Picard was whisked back to his Academy days, before the incident where a brawl in a bar would end up with his heart being pierced. Picard learned that the brashness of his youth was responsible for his "death" and changed his life by avoiding the incident.

Having finished with Picard, Q returned to Vash, coaxing her to return to the Continuum with him. When she refused, Q found plenty of time to ruffle the Deep Space 9 crew and realized just how tirelessly patient and diplomatic Picard had been with him. Sisko didn't scruple to punch Q when his usual air of self-satisfied superiority frayed whatever shred of patience Sisko had left. Q was injured, but learned to value Picard fully afterwards.

Q appeared to Picard one last time in 2370, again trying him for the crimes of the human race. Q sent Picard into the future, just before the human race would be wiped out, and into the past, when he devised and utilized the Picard maneuver. In both incidences and in the present timeline, there was one factor common in each, an unusual cosmic anomaly, only he had failed to investigate in all these cases. It was exactly this oversight that threatened the universe. Q was trying him for knowledge humans ignored though it was right in front of their eyes. Picard was finally restored to the present timeline and investigated the anomaly.

Q also paid trips to the Voyager, lost in the Delta Quadrant to all but himself. He was there to apprehend a renegade Q in 2372. Both he and the other Q had Captain Janeway mediate a hearing where the renegade Q argued he was tired of eternal existence and wanted to turn into mortals and end his life. Q tried to lobby for Janeway's support by offering to return the Voyager to the Alpha Quadrant if she sided with him, but Janeway let her conscience decide and agreed with the argument of the renegade Q. The renegade Q was named "Quinn" by the crew and when he changed into mortal flesh, Q assisted in his suicide. It was then that Q understood his wish.

Q suddenly felt an urge for procreation in 2373, when he again appeared on the Voyager. He selected Janeway as his "mate", but the captain naturally refused. Tired of her repeated refusals, Q brought her to the Continuum to see why he wanted to mate and produce a child. The Continuum was warring, the turmoil caused by split sentiments over Quinn's death. When Q and a female Q, Miss Q, bore a child, the war subsided. Incidentally, the child was also named Q.