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{{disambig|the country in northeastern Uletha|[[Kara (city)|a city of the same name]]}}
{{disambig|the country in northeastern Uletha|[[Kara (city)|a city of the same name]]}}


{{Infocard|name=United Republic of Kara|native_language=Kårska|native_name=Fjörnåde Republikka Kåra|capital=[[Kara (city)|Kara]]|flag=karaflagrevised.png|latitude=52.85589|longitude=127.25474|zoom=6|relation=54457|intro='''Kara''', officially known as the '''United Republic of Kara''' (Kårska: ''Fjörnåde Republikka Kåra''; Reuntha: ''Rëþúpìk Ðædájl Kàrāe''; Vezhek: ''Vorencka Republika Kyorja''; Kireka: ''ᛃᚠᛖᚱᚾᛟᛞ ᚱᛖᛈᛖᛈᛚᛁᚲᚨ ᚲᛟᚱᚨ'') is a country in East Uletha. It shares a border with [[Älved]], [[Boscunis]], [[Glaster]], and UL22c.
{{Infocard|name=United Republic of Kara|native_language=Karska|native_name=Fjörnåde Repúblikke Kåra|capital=[[Kara (city)|Kara]]|flag=karaflagrevised.png|latitude=52.85589|longitude=127.25474|zoom=6|relation=54457|intro='''Kara''', officially known as the '''United Republic of Kara''' (Karska: ''Fjörnåde Repúblikke Kåra'';
Vezhek: ''Vorencka Republika Kyorja''; Yumerth: ''Rebulið Jarala Bäðя'') is a country in East Uletha. It shares a border with [[Älved]], [[Boscunis]], [[Wyster]], and [[Ogesten]].


The United Republic of Kåra was established in 1934 with the signing of the Union Treaty of Kåra, which united the independent states of Kårskät, Thilshull, Reuntha, and Vezhekja under a federal democratic republic. The Republic of Kirek joined the union in 1952.
The United Republic of Kara was established in January 1934 with the signing of the Union Treaty of Kara, which united the independent states of Karskat, Vezhekja, and Yumerd under a federal democratic republic.


The union was initially envisioned as a military and trade alliance to form a strong bloc against antidemocratic neighbors. Since that time, however, Kåra has gained its own national identity and culture, with many residents seeing the pre-Union national cultures as subcultures of the broader Kårska culture. Kårska is the lingua franca of the nation, but more localized languages are widely recognized and used.}}
Initially a 3-state federal union with a very weak federal government, Kara's states remained relatively distinct culturally and linguistically. However, increased cultural mixing and growing demands for federal infrastructure and social programs led to the drafting of the United Kara Amendment of 1978, which passed with strong support from voters of all regions. The amendment, which took effect on 1 January 1979, created a new constitution that replaced the Union Treaty as the law of the land, replacing the initial 3-member national council that ruled with the current system of a national president and a 300-member legislature. It also abolished the 3-state system, replacing it with the current 17-state federal system.


== Geography and Climate ==
Today, Kara is a modern, highly developed country with a regulated capitalist economy focused on modern agriculture, technology, and a rapidly-growing renewable energies sector. The government provides many benefits to citizens, especially to the socioeconomically disadvantaged. The national constitution guarantees significant freedoms to individuals and protection for ethnic minority groups.


Geographically, most of the country is situated in or around the valleys of the Tebbjet and Roving Rivers or their tributaries. Both rivers' valleys and the coastline between their mouths are highly populated, with their fertile soil and temperate climate providing an environment in which agriculture has flourished. Kara, the capital city, is located at the mouth of the Tebbjet River and is the center of a chain of urban areas stretching from Täbbjetsstad to Mynnestad. Much of the north of the country is covered in semi-mountainous forests, and the extreme north has a more tundra-like climate around the southern bit of the Boscunian Alps that reaches into the country.|anthem=Sjänge som än (''Sing as One'')|motto=Fjörnåde för Dämókrati (''United for Democracy'')}}


Kåra's climate is a mixed temperate climate. The southern coast and Tebbjet River valley are particularly temperate, while the northern states are characterized by an alpine mountain climate.
==Geography and Climate==


== Government ==
{{Infobox government|name=Kåra|government_type=Federal presidential constitutional republic|capital=[[Kara (city)|Kåra]]|title1=President|hos1=Kiri-Anna Päjtersson-Årdl|title2=Speaker of the National Commission|hos2=Æstred Marija Gabrælzen (ᛇᛊᛏᚱᛖᛞ ᛗᚨᚱᛁᛃᚨ ᚷᚨᛒᚱᛇᛚᛉᛖᚾ)|title3=Speaker of the Legislature|hos3=Kristjan Nijkolässon-Värgren|international_orgs=[[Assembly of Nations]] - member state • [[Association of South Ulethan Nations]] - observer state|custom_label1=Chief Judge of the High Court|judiciary=High Court of Kåra|custom1=Stēìfân Òdéþ|upper_house=National Commission|lower_house=National Legislature|lower_house_diagram=Kara legislature diagram.svg|political_parties={{legend|#CC2C1E|Socialist}} {{legend|#009116|Green}} {{legend|#8E4E75|Kireki Advocates'}} {{legend|#88DB89|National Democrats}} {{legend|#ADADAD|Independent}} {{legend|#8835CC|Centrist}} {{legend|#3D88F1|Conservative}} {{legend|#F1FF57|Christic}}}}


=== Administrative Divisions ===
Kara has a mixed temperate climate. The southern coast and Tebbjet River valley are particularly temperate, while the northern states are characterized by an alpine mountain climate.
{{Infobox admin div|name=Kåra|first-level=state (''län'')|second-level=municipality (''kommun'')}}


==== States ====
==History==
Kara consists of 18 federal divisions, known as ''länär'' (LE-nər) or states, which have considerable governing power.
 
=== Pre-Unification (before 1934) ===
Prior to the formation of the republic, Kara existed as three separate states: Karskat, Vezhekja, and Yumerd.
 
====Karskat====
The areas making up Karskat were once occupied by Yumerthic and Techerian peoples. Sometime during the late 11th or early 12th centuries, however, a large group of West Ulethan people known as Kjels migrated to the area surrounding the mouth of the Tebbjet River. Within a few centuries, Kjellic peoples had intermixed with the Yumerthic and Techerian peoples in the area, and Kjellic religion, culture, and language became dominant. The Kjellic language was influenced to some extent by Yumerthic and Techerian languages, creating the modern language of Karska.
 
The Kingdom of Karskat was a country that made up much of what is now southern coastal Kara, and it contained Kara City, which is now the capital. The kingdom was officially founded in 1309 by Eryk Johansson af Kåra when he declared himself king over the Duchy of Kara, which was founded by his grandfather, a Lord Birjer of Kara, 50 years prior. Within its first few centuries, the kingdom grew in size through conquest and treaty. Karskat was ruled by monarchs until unification into Kara in 1934; from 1782 to 1934 the monarch was limited by a constitution and eventually a parliament.
 
====Monarchs ====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Monarchs of Karskat, 1309-1934
! rowspan="2" |#
! colspan="2" |Reign
! rowspan="2" | Regnal Name
! rowspan="2" |Birth & Death
! rowspan="2" |Photo
! rowspan="2" |Consort(s)
|-
!Years
!Length
|-
|1
|1309 - 1330
|19 yrs.
|Eryk I
|1272 - 1330
|[[File:ErykI.jpg|200x200px]]
|Äddet Birjersdytter
|-
|2
|1330 - 1354
|24 yrs.
|Hans I
|1309 - 1354
|[[File:HansI.jpg|200x200px]]
|Sara Söfje Haskfryrsdytter
|-
|3
|1354 - 1380
|26 yrs.
|Birjer II<ref>When declaring himself king, Eryk posthumously crowned his grandfather and father as Birjer I and Johan I, respectively, and so the first living monarchs named Birjer and Johan ruled as Birjer II and Johan II.</ref>
|1336 - 1380
|
|Mari Svänsdytter
Johánne Jöhansdytter
|-
|4
|1380 - 1386
|6 yrs.
|Birjer III
|1365 - 1386
|
|N/A
|-
|5
|1386 - 1388
|2 yrs.
|Eryk II
|1372 - 1388
|
|N/A
|-
|6
|1388 - 1402
|14 yrs.
|Haskfryr I
|1342 - 1402
|
|Kiri Byrman
Johánne Jöhansdytter
|-
|7
|1402 - 1414
|12 yrs.
|Johánnes I
|1374 - 1414
|
|Anna Kꝏvrœ
|-
|8
|1414 - 1422
|8 yrs.
|Birjer IV
|1406 - 1422
|
|N/A
|-
|9
|1422 - 1425
|3 yrs.
|Kiri I
|1412 - 1425
|
| N/A
|-
|10
|1425 - 1440
|15 yrs.
|Jönas I
|1383 - 1440
|
|N/A
|-
|11
|1440 - 1458
|18 yrs.
|Johánne I
|1393 - 1458
|
|Öskar Jösefsson
|-
|12
|1458 - 1486
|28 yrs.
|Jösef I
|1430 - 1486
|
|Svän Byrman<ref>While same-sex marriages were not allowed at this time, unmarried but long-term same-sex partners (like Jösef and Svän) were usually accepted as being a valid (although less "important" than a marriage) relationship, especially for royalty and nobility. In fact, in some wealthy families, same-sex partners could even adopt children, as did Jösef and Svän with their son, King Kristaf I.</ref>
|-
|13
|1486 - 1515
|29 yrs.
|Kristaf I
|1457 - 1515
|
|Sara Lisa Svänsdytter
|-
|14
|1515 - 1530
|15 yrs.
|Sara I
|1486 - 1530
|
|Franz Oskar Byrkamp
|-
|15
|1530 - 1540
|10 yrs.
|Johánne II
|1513 - 1540
|
| Ande Svänsson
|-
|16
|1540 - 1570
|30 yrs.
|Haskfryr II
|1521 - 1570
|
|
|}
 
==== Vezhekja ====
The Vezhek people appear to have differentiated as a distinct group during around the 15th century. Genetic testing has shown that most Vezheks descend from a thoroughly-mixed group of Yumerths and Techerians, with some Kjellic ancestry as well. The Vezhek language appears to have originated as a hybrid of Techerian and a now-extinct relative of Yumerth, but several centuries of contact with Karska have significantly influenced the language as well.
 
=== Post-Unification (1934-present) ===
 
==== Pre-Amendment (1934-1978) ====
 
===== Leaders =====
The Union Treaty created a national council that served as the presidency of the otherwise separate states of Karskat, Vezhekja, and Yumerd. The council consisted of one member from each state who was elected on a staggered 6-year term.
{| class="wikitable"
|+National Council of the Union of Kara
! rowspan="2" |Years
! colspan="3" |Council Members
|-
!Karskat
!Vezhekja
!Yumerd
|-
|1934-1935
| rowspan="9" |Haskfryr Birjär Nilsson
|Dannjell Šafbvrie
| rowspan="5" |Ƹiva Bяla Яvleb
|-
|1936-1937
| rowspan="6" |Jandreijž Pjotr Mižgailžon
|-
|1938-1939
|-
|1940-1941
|-
|1942-1943
|-
|1944-1945
| rowspan="3" |Mloŋ Bävяne
|-
|1946-1947
|-
|1948-1949
| rowspan="9" |Ungoillam Šajhigle
|-
|1950-1951
| rowspan="6" |Jon Rowela
|-
|1952-1953
| rowspan="6" |Danjäl Jaköbsson-Berg
|-
|1954-1955
|-
|1956-1957
|-
|1958-1959
|-
|1960-1961
|-
|1962-1963
| rowspan="3" |Eume Lяŋä
|-
|1964-1965
| rowspan="6" |Öskar Vilhelm Åttesson
|-
|1966-1967
| rowspan="6" |Fvillhëim Ežnekk Ŝitzže
|-
|1968-1969
| rowspan="6" |Ezðя Bяla Rebe
|-
|1970-1971
|-
|1972-1973
|-
|1974-1975
|-
|1976-1977
| rowspan="2" |Jöns-Ålåf Brydeblom
|-
|1978
|Ahna Sofjaa Bljèlfve
|}
 
==== Post-Amendment (1979-present) ====
 
===== Presidents =====
The first president of the new governmental structure, Jöns-Ålåf Brydeblom, was sworn into office on January 1st, 1979. Elections for president are held every six years, and no president may be elected to office more than once. Currently, elections are held on December 20th, and the new president takes office on January 5th of the following year. In the case of the death, resignation, or impeachment of the president, the current Speaker of the Legislature becomes the ''de facto'' president until an election can be held; however, this procedure has never taken place as every president has completed their full term.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Presidents of Kara
!Term
!Name
!Party
|-
|1979-1985
|Jöns-Ålåf Brydeblom
[[File:JABrydeblom.jpg|150x150px]]
|Conservative
|-
|1985-1991
|Mattéas-Vilhelm Gustafsson
[[File:MVGustafsson.jpg|150x150px]]
|National Democrats
|-
|1991-1997
|Äƹe Olяmeð Ebrenя
[[File:AEbrener.jpg|150x150px]]
|National Democrats
|-
|1997-2003
|Klara Birgitta Haskfryrsson
[[File:ABHaskfryrsson.jpg|150x150px]]
|Independent
|-
|2003-2009
|Bяla Jozev Ŋelävя
[[File:BJNglaver.jpg|150x150px]]
|Centrist
|-
|2009-2016
|Jaköb Üŋoilam Rubeŋя-Ultermann
[[File:JURUltermann.jpg|150x150px]]
|Independent
|-
|2016-2022
|Ahna Èlišabeta Škri-Mmonejž
[[File:SMShkriMmonejzh.jpg|150x150px]]
|National Democrats
|-
|2023-present
|Kiri-Anna Päjtersson-Årdl
[[File:KAPajterssonArdl.jpg|150x150px]]
|Centrist
|}
 
==Government and Politics==
===Administrative Divisions===
{{Infobox admin div|name=Kara|first-level=17 länär (''states'')|second-level=151 kommunär (''municipalities'')}}
 
Kara is divided into of 17 federal divisions, known as ''länär'' (LE-ner) or states, which have considerable governing power. Each state is further divided into municipalities, known as ''kommunär'' (CO-moon-eyr); each municipality administers public works and utilities as well as some local community programs. The capital city, Kara, is incorporated as its own state with the same privileges as the other states but is not split up into municipalities due to the impracticality of subdividing a single conurbation, and so the state government also carries out municipality-level responsibilities.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
|+
! colspan="2" | State
!
! colspan="2" |Municipalities
|-
!Name (Native Name)
!Name (Native Name)
!Capital
!Capital
!Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
!Names
!# in State
|-
|-
|Älfmönnings Län<ref>In Kårska, the letter "Ä" is alphabetized before the letter "Å".</ref>
|Bjergdals Län
|Gödjen
|Kärrstad
|2,967.40
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+
|Älfeslätts Kommun
|-
|-
|Åbbäns Län
|Gaffets Kommun
|Söjlested
|-
|Jånåjks Kommun
|-
|Johansbergs Kommun
|-
| Kärrstads Kommun
|-
| Kyrillebjörgs Kommun
|-
|Nådensteds Kommun
|}
|7
|-
|-
|Bördäjgrådes Län
|Bördäjgrådes Län
|Fjäistlsted
|Fjäjstelstad
|1,587.68
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+
|Äjbsö Kommun
|-
|Åbbåkens Kommun
|-
|Dröfverdys Kommun
|-
|Fjäjstelstads Kommun
|-
|Hagalids Kommun
|-
|Johánneskvärns Kommun
|-
|Katädrálbjörgs Kommun
|-
|Kvöde Kommun
|-
|Lilskrufs Kommun
|-
|Mjölysse Kommun
|-
|Nåkla Kommun
|-
|Pjästurby Kommun
|-
|Skönkojpengs Kommun
|-
|Skryppe Kommun
|-
|Starkefjä Kommun
|-
|Störsökke Kommun
|-
|Stramsdeböde Kommun
|-
|Svänskärke Kommun
|-
|Västredåls Kommun
|-
|Viktórjäne Kommun
|-
|Vrudjála Kommun
|}
|21
|-
|Dilsryls Län
(Rüv Ðilzrüla)
|Ðilzrül
|1,430.66
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+
|-
|Beðяŋ Ailvejaðla
|-
|Beðяŋ Ajanmяla
|-
|Beðяŋ Bяlarivяmojuzяla
|-
|Beðяŋ Ðilzrüla
|-
|Beðяŋ Evelƹoŋla
|-
|Beðяŋ Ŋuvuŋlela
|-
|Beðяŋ Obяðla
|-
|Beðяŋ Яvulväƹrola
|-
|Beðяŋ Ƹarvela
|}
|9
|-
|Dörds Län
(<bdi>Rüv Ðoяðla)</bdi>
|Ŋülяwiƹa
|3,246.80
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+
|Beðяŋ Ðovaŋla
|-
|Beðяŋ Eblaðanla
|-
|Beðяŋ Joneboðla
|-
|Beðяŋ Lяväla
|-
|Beðяŋ Ŋülяwiƹala
|-
|Beðяŋ Oweaðrinlala
|-
|Beðяŋ Reviala
|-
|Beðяŋ Zäzяvlula
|}
|8
|-
| Gaffedals Län
(Rüv Ðialƹaiðaiяlala)
|Vrolevroð
|1,979.04
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+
|Beðяŋ Bluvla
|-
|Beðяŋ Ðevяƹla
|-
|Beðяŋ Moäwala
|-
|Beðяŋ Vrolevroðla
|-
|Beðяŋ Wяŋjajovlala
|}
| 5
|-
|Gränös Län
|Gröndälf
|2,901.37
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+
|Flyveryds Kommun
|-
|Fjäjtorps Kommun
|-
|Gröndälfs Kommun
|-
|Haraldsbjörgs Kommun
|-
|Jåtténe Kommun
|-
|Kväränlänge Kommun
|-
|Måna Kommun
|-
|Onderyds Kommun
|-
|Sankta Söfíje Kommun
|}
|9
|-
|Gvajllåds Län
|Söjlestad
| 1,312.59
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+
|Andräjshäms Kommun
|-
|Ädrúnaby Kommun
|-
|Bladstrams Kommun
|-
|Brynderyds Kommun
|-
|Frydekärke Kommun
|-
|Fvilhävns Kommun
|-
|Gåvetorps Kommun
|-
|-
|Bjergdals Län
|Hjäffeblums Kommun
|Kärrstad
|-
|Jusingå Kommun
|-
|Liljeryds Kommun
|-
|Måsséts Kommun
|-
|Sådabuls Kommun
|-
|Söjlestads Kommun
|-
|Stänhöge Kommun
|-
|Storkvärns Kommun
|-
|-
|Hejdjols Län
|Vilhelmstads Kommun
|Kässlinga
|-
|-
|Idlthorjings Län
|Viskestads Kommun
(Ísþèt Ýdlþorīën Ēûn)
|-
|Ðÿmælēsse
|Zakrisfjälds Kommun
|}
|18
|-
|-
|Kåra Stads Län
|Kåra Stads Län
|[[Kara (city)|Kåra]]
|[[Kara (city)|Kåra]]
|174.79
|Kåra Stads Län<ref>The state government fills the role of municipal government and is considered a municipality for statistical purposes. </ref>
|1
|-
|-
|Kireks Län
|Kireks Län
(ᚲᛁᚱᛖᚲᛊ ᛚᛖᚾ)
|Öddeskryfve
|Otalid (ᛟᛏᚨᛚᛁᛞ)
|2,262.32
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+
|Anderslyds Kommun
|-
|Ågresköns Kommun
|-
|-
|Lårrebys Län
|Öddeskryfve Kommun
|Lårreby
|-
|Svänbergs Kommung
|}
|4
|-
|-
|Ljenbäkks Län
|Ljenbäkks Län
|Nykojpeng
|Nykojpeng
|1,111.98
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+
|Björnaryds Kommun
|-
|Märänétjårps Kommun
|-
|Nykojpengs Kommun
|-
|Tålle Kommun
|}
|4
|-
| Mittedålts Län
|Strammesdal
|2,392.60
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+
|Ängeskögs Kommun
|-
|Dålby Kommun
|-
|Krökekjulle Kommun
|-
|Strammesdals Kommun
|}
|4
|-
|-
|Murräs Län
|Murräs Län
|Väjtspläjt
|Väjtspläjt
|2,246.27
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+
|Flödsdålts Kommun
|-
|-
|Näjdrskögs Län
|Jystehjälms Kommun
|Strammesdal
|-
|Nilshage Kommun
|-
|Stärríngebjörgs Kommun
|-
|Väjtspläjts Kommun
|}
|5
|-
|-
|Rövings Län
|Rövings Län
|Hjeplingåde
|Hjeplingåde
|2,056.14
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+
|Bjurbo Kommun
|-
|-
|Söjdrkösts Län
|Brövensby Kommun
|-
|Flugesåms Kommun
|-
|Hajdlmälms Kommun
|-
|Hjeplingåde Kommun
|-
|Johansjyns Kommun
|-
|Kållkärke Kommun
|-
| Kvajls Kommun
|-
|Låkulle Kommun
|-
|Lårreby Kommun
|-
|Mynnestads Kommun
|-
|Niklasbruks Kommun
|-
|Ollefjäjls Kommun
|-
|Pådelsteds Kommun
|-
| Rökkehytte Kommun
|-
|Sanktestads Kommun
|-
|Värnbäkks Kommun
|}
|18
|-
| Söjdrekösts Län
|Fyrans
|Fyrans
| 1,180.22
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+
|Annasbjörgs Kommun
|-
|Bö Kommun
|-
|Dalóveskjons Kommun
|-
|Fräddekjufs Kommun
|-
|Fyrans Kommun
|-
|Hämsderyds Kommun
|-
|Ljunga Kommun
|-
|Manúve Kommun
|-
|Måndeskryfs Kommun
|-
|Pålykestads Kommun
|-
|Tränneskjö Kommun
|-
|Vättsbjörgs Kommun
|-
|Vikehamms Kommun
|-
|Vrylle Kommun
|}
| 15
|-
|Täbbjets Län
|Täbbjetsstad
|1,254.55
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+
|Älfesjyns Kommun
|-
|Äseryds Kommun
|-
|Böngovs Kommun
|-
|Bröby Kommun
|-
|Färgangs Kommun
|-
|Förstekjulle Kommun
|-
|Grassemarks Kommun
|-
|Jönslunds Kommun
|-
|Lilhage Kommun
|-
|-
|Tebbjets Län
|Störkärke Kommun
|Tebbjetssted
|-
|-
|Tilshulls Län
|Täbbjetstads Kommun
(Thilshull State)
|}
|Thilshull
|11
|-
|Upplandas Län
|Kvröndesbljum
|1,627.67
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+
|Fjurve Kommun
|-
|Kvröndesbljums Kommun
|-
|Lillebjörgs Kommun
|}
|3
|-
|-
|Vejeks Län
|Vejeks Län
(Vèžèks Stot)
(Vèžèks Stot)
|Vèžèkstot
|Vèžèkstot
|1,823.56
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+
|Čëllèdebjorkejts Kommun
|-
|Kitš-Jʹapfijks Kommun
|-
|Mjelmstrums Kommun
|-
|Vèžèkstodts Kommun
|}
|4
|}{{Infobox government|name=Kara|government_type=Federal presidential constitutional republic|capital=[[Kara (city)|Kara]]|title1=Präsident (''President'')|hos1=Kiri-Anna Päjtersson-Årdl|title2=Legisatur-Tålare (''Speaker of the Legislature'')|hos2=Astrid Mari Gabrjälsson|international_orgs=[[Assembly of Nations]] - member state • [[Association of South Ulethan Nations]] - observer state|custom_label1=Öfverdeme (''Chief Judge'')|judiciary=Hövda-Demstoll (''High Court'')|custom1=Vяn Jozev Jäðwяn|upper_house=Nationallegislatur (''National Legislature'')|political_parties={{legend|#CC2C1E|Socialist}} {{legend|#009116|Green}} {{legend|#8E4E75|Vezhek Advocates}} {{legend|#88DB89|National Democrats}} {{legend|#ADADAD|Independent}} {{legend|#8835CC|Centrist}} {{legend|#3D88F1|Conservative}} {{legend|#F1FF57|Christic}}|upper_house_diagram=Kara legislature diagram.svg}}
===Politics===
The members of the legislature as well as the president are elected in partisan elections, although many candidates run (and win) without a party affiliation. Elections for the legislature are held every 2 years, with presidential elections occurring every 6 years. The legislature creates, debates, and passes federal laws with a simple (50% + 1) majority. Federal laws are subject to presidential veto, although this veto can be overridden with a 200-vote (or 2/3) majority in the legislature.
Several political parties have significant influence in the legislature, with the National Democratic, Centrist, and Conservative parties each holding significant power. Independent, non-party-affiliated representatives also hold a substantial number of seats in the legislature, but members do not vote as a group or in a bloc. The current president, Kiri-Anna Päjtersson-Årdl, is a member of the Centrist party.
{|
|+'''Kåra Government Officials'''
![[File:KAPajterssonArdl.jpg|center|framed|President Kiri-Anna Päjtersson-Årdl]]
![[File:AestredGabraelzen.jpg|center|thumb|270x270px|Speaker of the Legislature Astrid Mari Gabrjälsson]]
![[File:SZhodh.jpeg|thumb|Chief Judge Vяn Jozev Jäðwяn]]
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Political Parties in Kara<ref>Thanks to [[Navenna|Timboh's article on Navenna]] for the inspiration for this table!</ref>
!Name
!Current Leader
!Left/Right Ideology
!Core Ideologies
!Seats Held
|-
|National Democrats
|Astrid Mari Gabrjälsson
|Center-left to left
|Social liberalism
Ulethanism
Liberal capitalism
|92/300 (30.7%)
|-
|Conservative
|Jöns-Rudolf Björgman
|Center-right to right
|Classical liberalism
Conservatism
Ulethanism
|54/300 (18.0%)
|-
|Centrist
|Ana Яŋvlaj
|Center-left to center
|Third-way centrism
Regulated capitalism
Ulethanism
|50/300 (16.7%)
|-
|Green
| Äve Gröndblad
|Left to far left
|Environmentalism
Social democracy
Ulethanism
|15/300 (5.0%)
|-
|Vezhek Advocates
| Rašnar Glidèž
|Varies
|Vezhek nationalism
Karaskepticism
Ulethaskepticism
|4/300 (1.3%)
|-
|Socialist
| Ruejя Ŋяoveƹ
|Far left
|Socialism
Isolationism
Populism
|4/300 (1.3%)
|-
|Christic
|Jön Adam Bånövre
|Right to far right
|Social paleoconservatism
Christic nationalism
Antiliberalism
|3/300 (1.0%)
|-
|Independent
|none
|Varies
| Varies
|78/300 (26.0%)
|}
===Constitution===
The current constitution took effect in 1979 after it passed a national referendum. The document can be changed with the support of the majority of the legislature and a 66% majority of voters in the next legislative election.
====Individual Rights====
The Indevídjalle-Frydhäter (''Individual Freedoms'') section of the Karska constitution guaranteed several liberties and rights in its original iteration, with some later additions:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Liberty or Right
!Year Added to Constitution
|-
|Freedoms of speech and press
| rowspan="9" |1979 (part of original consitution)
|-
|Freedoms of peaceful assembly and peaceful protest
|-
|Freedom of religious belief and practice
|-
|Right to speedy, public trial by impartial jury
|-
|Right to vote for all Karska citizens over the age of 18
|-
|Right to refuse to testify against oneself
|-
|Freedom from invasive searches without a warrant or probable cause
|-
|Freedom from discrimination on the basis of race, color, class, sex, gender, ethnicity, or nationality
|-
|Right to citizenship for children born to at least one Karska citizen parent
|-
|Freedom from discrimination on the basis of religion or disability status
| rowspan="2" |1980
|-
|Freedom from enslavement beyond the reasonable punishment of a crime
|-
|Right to own weapons for purposes of hunting or personal defense, subject to reasonable government regulation intended to preserve public safety
|1984
|-
| Freedom from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or preference
|1988
|-
|Right to vote for all legal, permanent-resident aliens over the age of 18 who have resided in Kara for at least 5 years
|1994
|-
|Right to marry without regard to gender for all unmarried, consenting individuals over 18<ref>The amendment was purely symbolic as the legislature guaranteed the right to same-sex marriage in 1997.</ref>
|2002
|-
|Freedom from discrimination on the basis of being transgender or gender-nonconforming
|2007
|-
|Right to citizenship for children born to at least one permanent-resident alien parent
|2018
|}
===National Anthem===
[[File:SjangeSomAn.png|alt=The official Karska choral version of the national anthem, Sjänge som Än.|thumb|The official Karska choral version of the national anthem, Sing as One.]]
Kara's national anthem, Sing as One, was written for the ratification ceremony of the United Kara Amendment; the first act of the National Legislature made it the official national anthem.
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lbNEZ99MGaG8iOmv2xGPTxO741Ds_Fx6/view Audio]
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Karska
!Ingerish
|-
!Sjänge som Än
!Sing as One
|-
|Komme og sjänge som än
Komme, föräna vårt land
Vi kommer åt stå tillsamms
Vi kommer åt vår bara
Låt os stå för saningen
Låt os sjänge för rättvis
Vi är starka; vi är fräj
Vi älskar dämókrati
Vi ska hjälpe varandra
Vi ska sjänge för frädhät
Vi räspékterar andra
Vi räspékterar vårt häm
Utmaningar ställs inför
Utmaningar ställs öfferfun
Örättvis attakkärar
Örättvis vi bäkämpa
Komme, vi vinner kampän
Komme og sjänge som än
| Let us come and sing as one
Let us go unite our land
For we are united as one
We unite for all that's fair
Let us stand for what is true
Let us stand for what is just
We are strong and we are free
And we love democracy
We will lend each other aid
We will sue for lasting peace
We respect each human heart
We respect this land that's ours
Challenges will come our way
Challenges, they shall not stay
And injustice may molest
But we fight it to the end
Come, the battle must be won
Let us come and sing as one
|}
==Demographics==
{{Infobox demography|name=Kara|official_languages=Karska, Vezhek (Vèžèk), Yumerth (Jumяð)|ethnicity_bars=|demonym=Karskan}}
===Religion===
Kara has not had an established state religion since the United Kara Amendment of 1979. Previous to that amendment, the government designated 3 state Christic churches (one for each ethnic/linguistic region). The 3 state churches have since united to form the People's Church of Kara.
{{Pie chart|thumb=left|label5=Other Christic|value9=14|label8=General Spirituality|color9=#B5B5B5|label9=Secular|value8=8|color7=#DDCB18|value7=2|label7=Animist/Spiritualist|color6=#3774FF|value6=2|label6=Judic|color5=#A7DEB2|value5=2|color4=#71EB89|radius=200|value4=2|label4=Ortholic (Christic)|color3=#7AC489|value3=3|label3=Darcodian (Christic)|color2=#49DC67|value2=15|label2=Holy Grace Church (Christic)|color1=#00A421|other=yes|value1=51|label1=People's Church of Kara (Christic)|caption=Religious Identification in Kara, 2021|color8=#DBDBDB}}
Historically a Christic area, a significant majority of Karskans identify as Christic, although some other minority faiths have also gained traction, particularly through immigration. Religiously unaffiliated individuals also make up a substantial minority of the population.
====People's Church of Kara====
Initially founded in Kara city from a group of Christic groups in the area in the 15th century, the Church of Kara was under the leadership of the Karska monarch until the mid-18th century. It uses a traditional liturgical service, with a particular emphasis placed on music and collective prayer in services. The church continues to play a significant role in Karska society.
For its first several centuries of existence, the church's leadership exerted tight control on ideas and information within the faith, maintaining a strongly conservative belief and policy system, which continued to be very influential in society, although this influence did decrease in the 17th and 18th centuries with growing secularism and independent thought. However, the church's direction changed as a result of the 1784 secession of the Holy Grace Church in Nådensted in Bjergdals Län, which attracted many believers with its strong yet liberal belief system. In response to this crisis, the People's Church loosened control in many areas, allowing more liberal ideas to gain traction within the church.
In 1928, the church's general council elected Hans Jösef Zakrisson as Head Priest of the church. Zakrisson, the ''de facto'' leader of the church's liberal wing and a staunch proponent of liberalism and democracy in society, led several reforms in the church that ultimately were very influential in the formation of modern Kara under the Union Treaty of 1934. Within a decade, the People's Church became strongly liberal-leaning (ironically, some conservative detractors defected to the Holy Grace Church, steering it to become more conservative than the People's Church). Since the 1930s, the church has held to a strongly liberal, universalist theology and a cultural emphasis on inclusion. However, the church has also remained open to a variety of theological and political ideas, and so there are some significant conservative factions within the faith, although many conservative detractors have left for the Holy Grace denomination in recent years.
Nonetheless, the liberal majority has steered the church's policy in a strongly progressive direction, such as was seen in its 1963 resolution urging the Karska government to open the country to refugees and its calls for preservation of minority languages in the 1980s. More recently, the church moved in 1995 to allow same-sex couples to be married by the church in places where such marriage was legal, and this move is widely agreed to have been a key catalyst of the 1997 legislative decision and 2002 constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to same-sex marriage in Kara.
In 2011, Jöne Mäjbjerg became the first openly transgender and non-binary priest in the People's Church, and a 2016 council canonized them and renamed their local church ([Https://opengeofiction.net/way/27859159 Sankte Jöne Mäjbjergs Folkes- og Domkärke Äjbsö]) in their honor.
===Languages===
As a multinational state, several languages are used across Kara, and three languages (Karska, Yumerth, and Vezhek).
==== Karska====
Karska (''Kårska'') is a Gaermanic language that is spoken in areas Kara once part of Karskat. It uses a 26-letter Latinic alphabet.
=====Karska Pronunciation=====
{| class="wikitable"
!Letter
!IPA
!Rough Federal States Ingerish Equivalence
|-
| rowspan="2" |Aa
|⟨a⟩
| g'''o'''t
|-
|⟨ə⟩ or ⟨ɜ⟩ when at the end of some words
|probl'''e'''m
|-
|Ää
| ⟨ɛ⟩
|'''e'''ver
|-
|Åå
|⟨ɔ⟩
|d'''aw'''n
|-
|Bb
|⟨b⟩
|'''b'''ake
|-
| rowspan="2" |Cc
|⟨s⟩
|'''c'''enter
|-
|⟨k⟩
|'''c'''ave
|-
|Dd
|⟨d⟩
|'''d'''ote
|-
| rowspan="2" |Ee
|⟨ə⟩ (schwa)
|probl'''e'''m
|-
|⟨ɛ⟩ (when the first letter of a word or accented)
|'''e'''ver
|-
|Ff
|⟨f⟩
|'''f'''ee
|-
|Gg
|⟨ɡ⟩
|'''g'''ood
|-
|Hh
| ⟨h⟩
|'''h'''ome
|-
|Ii
|⟨i⟩
| m'''e'''
|-
|Jj
|⟨j⟩
|'''y'''ou
|-
|Kk
|⟨k⟩
|'''c'''ave
|-
|Ll
|⟨l⟩
|'''l'''ow
|-
|Mm
|⟨m⟩
|'''m'''at
|-
| rowspan="2" |Nn
|⟨n⟩
|'''n'''ever
|-
|⟨ŋ⟩ (when before a "g")
|goi'''ng'''
|-
| rowspan="3" |Oo
|⟨ʊ⟩
|l'''oo'''k
|-
|⟨œ⟩
|same as Kalmish "ö" in '''ö'''l or m'''ö'''bel
|-
| ⟨o⟩ (when accented, uncommon otherwise)
|'''o'''ver
|-
|Öö
|⟨o⟩ in theory, in practice often a ⟨oʊ⟩ diphthong/slide
|'''o'''ver
|-
|-
|Völdans Län
|Pp
(Ísþèt Vÿoldáne)
|⟨p⟩
|Gÿrjòldbéoùyr
|'''p'''ine
|-
| rowspan="2" |Rr
| ⟨r⟩ or ⟨ɾ⟩
|rolled or tapped r (no Ingerish equivalent)
|-
|⟨ʁ⟩ (in a few locations with heavy Kalmish influence)
|related to Kalmish "r" as in g'''r'''oß or '''r'''ätsel
|-
|Ss
|⟨s⟩
|'''s'''o
|-
|Tt
|⟨t⟩
|'''t'''oo
|-
|Uu
|⟨u⟩
|cl'''ue'''
|-
|Vv
|⟨v⟩
|'''v'''ow
|-
|Yy
|⟨y⟩
|no Ingerish equivalent, essentially an ⟨i⟩ in m'''e''' with rounded lips
|-
|Zz
|⟨z⟩
|'''z'''oo
|}
|}
There are a few [[wikipedia:Multigraph_(orthography)|multigraphs]] in Karska:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Characters
!IPA
!Notes
|-
| rowspan="3" |ng
|⟨ŋg⟩
| rowspan="3" |Varies by region and speaker. A majority of speakers use ⟨ŋg⟩ for an "ng" not at the end of a word (ie Ljunga would be ⟨ljuŋga⟩) and ⟨ŋ⟩ for a final "ng" (ie Kojpeng or Kung as ⟨kœjpəŋ⟩ and ⟨kuŋ⟩, respectively). Some speakers use ⟨ŋg⟩ in all cases. A small minority use ⟨ng⟩.
|-
|⟨ŋ⟩
|-
|⟨ng⟩
|-
|sch
|⟨ʃ⟩
|Fairly uncommon. Equivalent to Ingerish "sh".
|-
|cc
| rowspan="3" |⟨ʧ⟩
| rowspan="3" |Very rare and only used in loanwords or place names, especially those with Kalmish influence. Equivalent to "ch" in Ingerish.
|-
|tsch
|-
|ctc
|-
|dsch
|⟨ʤ⟩
|Rare. Used only in loanwords and place names, especially those of Kalmish influence. Equivalent to Ingerish "j" as in "judge".
|}
=====Accent Marks =====
In Karska, the first syllable of a word is always emphasized, except when otherwise marked with an accent on the vowel of the syllable to be emphasized. Áá, Íí, and Úú are prononced the same as their "core" letters (Aa, Ii, and Uu, respectively), while Éé and Óó are pronounced as Ää and Öö, respectively.
=====Example pronunciations of words/terms/names=====
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Term/name
!IPA
! Rough Federal States Ingerish Equivalent
|-
|<bdi>Ädrúnaby</bdi>
|ɛdɾunaby
|Ed-'''run'''-ah-beu
|-
|<bdi>Bördäjgrådes Län</bdi>
|boɾdɛjgrɔdəs lɛn
|'''Bor'''-deyg-rawd-uhs '''Len'''
|-
|Fjörnåde Repúblikka Kåra
|fjornɔdə ɾəpublika kɔra
|'''Fyoor'''-nah-duh Ruh-'''poob'''-lee-kah '''Kaw'''-ra
|-
|Hjeplingåde
|hjəplingɔdə
|'''Hyuhp'''-leeng-ah-duh
|-
|Län
| lɛn
|'''Len'''
|-
|<bdi>Märänétjårp</bdi>
|mɛɾɛnɛttjɔrp
|Meh-reh-'''neht'''-tjawrp
|}
====Vezhek====
Vezhek is one of Kara's official languages, and it is spoken in Vezheks Stot in the northwest portion of the country. It is generally considered to be a Karska-influenced creole of Techerian and Yumerth. It also uses a Latin-based alphabet, but is not phonetically consistent like Karska and Yumerth (quite the contrary — it is known for its extremely complicated spellings of seemingly simple words).
{| class="wikitable"
|+Vezhek Places, People, and their Pronunciations
!Vezhek
!IPA
!Rough Ingerish Equivalent
|-
|<bdi>Čëllèdebjorkejt</bdi>
|t͡ʃəlɛdəbjorkaɪt
|Chuh-'''led'''-duh-byor-kait
|-
|<bdi>Kitŝ-Jʹapfijk</bdi>
|kit͡ʃ japfik
|'''Keetch''' '''Yahp'''-feek
|-
|Ahna Èlišabeta Škri-Mmonejž
|ana elɪʃabeta skri manaɪʒ
|'''Ahn'''-nah Ey-'''lih'''-shah-bey-tah '''Skree Mahn'''-aizh
|-
|<bdi>Vèžèkstodt</bdi>
|veʒɛkstot
|'''Vey'''-zhek-stoht
|-
|<bdi>Zjuët</bdi>
|zjyt
|'''Zyeut'''
|-
|Haatahhaŝa
|χataχaʃt͡ʃja
|'''Hah'''-tah-ha-shchyah
|}
==== Yumerth ====
Yumerth is the only living member of the isolated Yumerdic language family that is spoken in the eastern portions of Kara. In the centuries since Kjellic settlement, Yumerth has had some linguistic interaction with Karska, and both languages have shared some words and linguistic features. Nonetheless, it remains a distinct language.
Yumerth is believed to have started developing its own writing system just a few centuries before Kjellic settlement, but this writing system never took off and was quickly replaced by the developed Latinic script used in Karska, although some new characters were developed to represent sounds present in Yumerth but not Karska. The alphabet has a phonetic orthography and has 20 letters:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Yumerth Alphabet
!Letter
!IPA
|-
|Aa
|a
|-
|Ää
|-
|Bb
|-
|Ðð
|-
|Ee
|e-ɛ
|-
|Ii
|i-ɪ
|-
|Jj
|j
|-
|Ll
|l
|-
|Mm
|m
|-
|Nn
|n
|-
|Ŋŋ
|-
|Oo
|o
|-
|Rr
|-
|Яя
|ɚ-ɝ
|-
|Uu
|u
|-
|Üü
|y
|-
|Vv
|v
|-
|Ww
|w
|-
|Zz
|z
|-
|Ƹƹ
|}
<references />


== Demographics ==
{{Infobox demography|name=Kåra|official_languages=Kårska, Ingerish, Reuntha (Rēóùnþa), Vezhek (Vèžèk), Kireka (ᚲᛁᚱᛖᚲᚨ)|ethnicity_bars={{bar percent|Kårska|blue|41.7}}{{bar percent|Reunthan|blue|19.2}}{{bar percent|Thilshullian|blue|6.0}}{{bar percent|Vezhek|blue|5.7}}{{bar percent|Kireka|blue|4.2}}
{{bar percent|2 or more of the above|blue|19.4}}
{{bar percent|Älvedic|blue|0.3}}{{bar percent|Boscunian|blue|0.1}}{{bar percent|Other|blue|3.4}}|demonym=Kårska}}
[[Category:Kara]]
[[Category:Kara]]
[[Category:Countries in East Uletha]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kara}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kara}}

Latest revision as of 03:51, 11 April 2024

Button Icon Brown.svg This encyclopedia article is about the country in northeastern Uletha. You may be looking for a city of the same name.


Flag of Kara United Republic of Kara
Fjörnåde Repúblikke Kåra (Karska)
Capital: Kara
Motto: Fjörnåde för Dämókrati (United for Democracy)
Anthem: Sjänge som än (Sing as One)

Loading map...

Kara, officially known as the United Republic of Kara (Karska: Fjörnåde Repúblikke Kåra; Vezhek: Vorencka Republika Kyorja; Yumerth: Rebulið Jarala Bäðя) is a country in East Uletha. It shares a border with Älved, Boscunis, Wyster, and Ogesten.

The United Republic of Kara was established in January 1934 with the signing of the Union Treaty of Kara, which united the independent states of Karskat, Vezhekja, and Yumerd under a federal democratic republic.

Initially a 3-state federal union with a very weak federal government, Kara's states remained relatively distinct culturally and linguistically. However, increased cultural mixing and growing demands for federal infrastructure and social programs led to the drafting of the United Kara Amendment of 1978, which passed with strong support from voters of all regions. The amendment, which took effect on 1 January 1979, created a new constitution that replaced the Union Treaty as the law of the land, replacing the initial 3-member national council that ruled with the current system of a national president and a 300-member legislature. It also abolished the 3-state system, replacing it with the current 17-state federal system.

Today, Kara is a modern, highly developed country with a regulated capitalist economy focused on modern agriculture, technology, and a rapidly-growing renewable energies sector. The government provides many benefits to citizens, especially to the socioeconomically disadvantaged. The national constitution guarantees significant freedoms to individuals and protection for ethnic minority groups.

Geographically, most of the country is situated in or around the valleys of the Tebbjet and Roving Rivers or their tributaries. Both rivers' valleys and the coastline between their mouths are highly populated, with their fertile soil and temperate climate providing an environment in which agriculture has flourished. Kara, the capital city, is located at the mouth of the Tebbjet River and is the center of a chain of urban areas stretching from Täbbjetsstad to Mynnestad. Much of the north of the country is covered in semi-mountainous forests, and the extreme north has a more tundra-like climate around the southern bit of the Boscunian Alps that reaches into the country.


Geography and Climate

Kara has a mixed temperate climate. The southern coast and Tebbjet River valley are particularly temperate, while the northern states are characterized by an alpine mountain climate.

History

Pre-Unification (before 1934)

Prior to the formation of the republic, Kara existed as three separate states: Karskat, Vezhekja, and Yumerd.

Karskat

The areas making up Karskat were once occupied by Yumerthic and Techerian peoples. Sometime during the late 11th or early 12th centuries, however, a large group of West Ulethan people known as Kjels migrated to the area surrounding the mouth of the Tebbjet River. Within a few centuries, Kjellic peoples had intermixed with the Yumerthic and Techerian peoples in the area, and Kjellic religion, culture, and language became dominant. The Kjellic language was influenced to some extent by Yumerthic and Techerian languages, creating the modern language of Karska.

The Kingdom of Karskat was a country that made up much of what is now southern coastal Kara, and it contained Kara City, which is now the capital. The kingdom was officially founded in 1309 by Eryk Johansson af Kåra when he declared himself king over the Duchy of Kara, which was founded by his grandfather, a Lord Birjer of Kara, 50 years prior. Within its first few centuries, the kingdom grew in size through conquest and treaty. Karskat was ruled by monarchs until unification into Kara in 1934; from 1782 to 1934 the monarch was limited by a constitution and eventually a parliament.

Monarchs

Monarchs of Karskat, 1309-1934
# Reign Regnal Name Birth & Death Photo Consort(s)
Years Length
1 1309 - 1330 19 yrs. Eryk I 1272 - 1330 ErykI.jpg Äddet Birjersdytter
2 1330 - 1354 24 yrs. Hans I 1309 - 1354 HansI.jpg Sara Söfje Haskfryrsdytter
3 1354 - 1380 26 yrs. Birjer II[1] 1336 - 1380 Mari Svänsdytter

Johánne Jöhansdytter

4 1380 - 1386 6 yrs. Birjer III 1365 - 1386 N/A
5 1386 - 1388 2 yrs. Eryk II 1372 - 1388 N/A
6 1388 - 1402 14 yrs. Haskfryr I 1342 - 1402 Kiri Byrman

Johánne Jöhansdytter

7 1402 - 1414 12 yrs. Johánnes I 1374 - 1414 Anna Kꝏvrœ
8 1414 - 1422 8 yrs. Birjer IV 1406 - 1422 N/A
9 1422 - 1425 3 yrs. Kiri I 1412 - 1425 N/A
10 1425 - 1440 15 yrs. Jönas I 1383 - 1440 N/A
11 1440 - 1458 18 yrs. Johánne I 1393 - 1458 Öskar Jösefsson
12 1458 - 1486 28 yrs. Jösef I 1430 - 1486 Svän Byrman[2]
13 1486 - 1515 29 yrs. Kristaf I 1457 - 1515 Sara Lisa Svänsdytter
14 1515 - 1530 15 yrs. Sara I 1486 - 1530 Franz Oskar Byrkamp
15 1530 - 1540 10 yrs. Johánne II 1513 - 1540 Ande Svänsson
16 1540 - 1570 30 yrs. Haskfryr II 1521 - 1570

Vezhekja

The Vezhek people appear to have differentiated as a distinct group during around the 15th century. Genetic testing has shown that most Vezheks descend from a thoroughly-mixed group of Yumerths and Techerians, with some Kjellic ancestry as well. The Vezhek language appears to have originated as a hybrid of Techerian and a now-extinct relative of Yumerth, but several centuries of contact with Karska have significantly influenced the language as well.

Post-Unification (1934-present)

Pre-Amendment (1934-1978)

Leaders

The Union Treaty created a national council that served as the presidency of the otherwise separate states of Karskat, Vezhekja, and Yumerd. The council consisted of one member from each state who was elected on a staggered 6-year term.

National Council of the Union of Kara
Years Council Members
Karskat Vezhekja Yumerd
1934-1935 Haskfryr Birjär Nilsson Dannjell Šafbvrie Ƹiva Bяla Яvleb
1936-1937 Jandreijž Pjotr Mižgailžon
1938-1939
1940-1941
1942-1943
1944-1945 Mloŋ Bävяne
1946-1947
1948-1949 Ungoillam Šajhigle
1950-1951 Jon Rowela
1952-1953 Danjäl Jaköbsson-Berg
1954-1955
1956-1957
1958-1959
1960-1961
1962-1963 Eume Lяŋä
1964-1965 Öskar Vilhelm Åttesson
1966-1967 Fvillhëim Ežnekk Ŝitzže
1968-1969 Ezðя Bяla Rebe
1970-1971
1972-1973
1974-1975
1976-1977 Jöns-Ålåf Brydeblom
1978 Ahna Sofjaa Bljèlfve

Post-Amendment (1979-present)

Presidents

The first president of the new governmental structure, Jöns-Ålåf Brydeblom, was sworn into office on January 1st, 1979. Elections for president are held every six years, and no president may be elected to office more than once. Currently, elections are held on December 20th, and the new president takes office on January 5th of the following year. In the case of the death, resignation, or impeachment of the president, the current Speaker of the Legislature becomes the de facto president until an election can be held; however, this procedure has never taken place as every president has completed their full term.

Presidents of Kara
Term Name Party
1979-1985 Jöns-Ålåf Brydeblom

JABrydeblom.jpg

Conservative
1985-1991 Mattéas-Vilhelm Gustafsson

MVGustafsson.jpg

National Democrats
1991-1997 Äƹe Olяmeð Ebrenя

AEbrener.jpg

National Democrats
1997-2003 Klara Birgitta Haskfryrsson

ABHaskfryrsson.jpg

Independent
2003-2009 Bяla Jozev Ŋelävя

BJNglaver.jpg

Centrist
2009-2016 Jaköb Üŋoilam Rubeŋя-Ultermann

JURUltermann.jpg

Independent
2016-2022 Ahna Èlišabeta Škri-Mmonejž

SMShkriMmonejzh.jpg

National Democrats
2023-present Kiri-Anna Päjtersson-Årdl

KAPajterssonArdl.jpg

Centrist

Government and Politics

Administrative Divisions


Government Data - The Noun Project.svg
Administrative divisions of Kara
First-level17 länär (states)
Second-level151 kommunär (municipalities)


Kara is divided into of 17 federal divisions, known as länär (LE-ner) or states, which have considerable governing power. Each state is further divided into municipalities, known as kommunär (CO-moon-eyr); each municipality administers public works and utilities as well as some local community programs. The capital city, Kara, is incorporated as its own state with the same privileges as the other states but is not split up into municipalities due to the impracticality of subdividing a single conurbation, and so the state government also carries out municipality-level responsibilities.

State Municipalities
Name (Native Name) Capital Area (km2) Names # in State
Bjergdals Län Kärrstad 2,967.40
Älfeslätts Kommun
Gaffets Kommun
Jånåjks Kommun
Johansbergs Kommun
Kärrstads Kommun
Kyrillebjörgs Kommun
Nådensteds Kommun
7
Bördäjgrådes Län Fjäjstelstad 1,587.68
Äjbsö Kommun
Åbbåkens Kommun
Dröfverdys Kommun
Fjäjstelstads Kommun
Hagalids Kommun
Johánneskvärns Kommun
Katädrálbjörgs Kommun
Kvöde Kommun
Lilskrufs Kommun
Mjölysse Kommun
Nåkla Kommun
Pjästurby Kommun
Skönkojpengs Kommun
Skryppe Kommun
Starkefjä Kommun
Störsökke Kommun
Stramsdeböde Kommun
Svänskärke Kommun
Västredåls Kommun
Viktórjäne Kommun
Vrudjála Kommun
21
Dilsryls Län

(Rüv Ðilzrüla)

Ðilzrül 1,430.66
Beðяŋ Ailvejaðla
Beðяŋ Ajanmяla
Beðяŋ Bяlarivяmojuzяla
Beðяŋ Ðilzrüla
Beðяŋ Evelƹoŋla
Beðяŋ Ŋuvuŋlela
Beðяŋ Obяðla
Beðяŋ Яvulväƹrola
Beðяŋ Ƹarvela
9
Dörds Län

(Rüv Ðoяðla)

Ŋülяwiƹa 3,246.80
Beðяŋ Ðovaŋla
Beðяŋ Eblaðanla
Beðяŋ Joneboðla
Beðяŋ Lяväla
Beðяŋ Ŋülяwiƹala
Beðяŋ Oweaðrinlala
Beðяŋ Reviala
Beðяŋ Zäzяvlula
8
Gaffedals Län

(Rüv Ðialƹaiðaiяlala)

Vrolevroð 1,979.04
Beðяŋ Bluvla
Beðяŋ Ðevяƹla
Beðяŋ Moäwala
Beðяŋ Vrolevroðla
Beðяŋ Wяŋjajovlala
5
Gränös Län Gröndälf 2,901.37
Flyveryds Kommun
Fjäjtorps Kommun
Gröndälfs Kommun
Haraldsbjörgs Kommun
Jåtténe Kommun
Kväränlänge Kommun
Måna Kommun
Onderyds Kommun
Sankta Söfíje Kommun
9
Gvajllåds Län Söjlestad 1,312.59
Andräjshäms Kommun
Ädrúnaby Kommun
Bladstrams Kommun
Brynderyds Kommun
Frydekärke Kommun
Fvilhävns Kommun
Gåvetorps Kommun
Hjäffeblums Kommun
Jusingå Kommun
Liljeryds Kommun
Måsséts Kommun
Sådabuls Kommun
Söjlestads Kommun
Stänhöge Kommun
Storkvärns Kommun
Vilhelmstads Kommun
Viskestads Kommun
Zakrisfjälds Kommun
18
Kåra Stads Län Kåra 174.79 Kåra Stads Län[3] 1
Kireks Län Öddeskryfve 2,262.32
Anderslyds Kommun
Ågresköns Kommun
Öddeskryfve Kommun
Svänbergs Kommung
4
Ljenbäkks Län Nykojpeng 1,111.98
Björnaryds Kommun
Märänétjårps Kommun
Nykojpengs Kommun
Tålle Kommun
4
Mittedålts Län Strammesdal 2,392.60
Ängeskögs Kommun
Dålby Kommun
Krökekjulle Kommun
Strammesdals Kommun
4
Murräs Län Väjtspläjt 2,246.27
Flödsdålts Kommun
Jystehjälms Kommun
Nilshage Kommun
Stärríngebjörgs Kommun
Väjtspläjts Kommun
5
Rövings Län Hjeplingåde 2,056.14
Bjurbo Kommun
Brövensby Kommun
Flugesåms Kommun
Hajdlmälms Kommun
Hjeplingåde Kommun
Johansjyns Kommun
Kållkärke Kommun
Kvajls Kommun
Låkulle Kommun
Lårreby Kommun
Mynnestads Kommun
Niklasbruks Kommun
Ollefjäjls Kommun
Pådelsteds Kommun
Rökkehytte Kommun
Sanktestads Kommun
Värnbäkks Kommun
18
Söjdrekösts Län Fyrans 1,180.22
Annasbjörgs Kommun
Bö Kommun
Dalóveskjons Kommun
Fräddekjufs Kommun
Fyrans Kommun
Hämsderyds Kommun
Ljunga Kommun
Manúve Kommun
Måndeskryfs Kommun
Pålykestads Kommun
Tränneskjö Kommun
Vättsbjörgs Kommun
Vikehamms Kommun
Vrylle Kommun
15
Täbbjets Län Täbbjetsstad 1,254.55
Älfesjyns Kommun
Äseryds Kommun
Böngovs Kommun
Bröby Kommun
Färgangs Kommun
Förstekjulle Kommun
Grassemarks Kommun
Jönslunds Kommun
Lilhage Kommun
Störkärke Kommun
Täbbjetstads Kommun
11
Upplandas Län Kvröndesbljum 1,627.67
Fjurve Kommun
Kvröndesbljums Kommun
Lillebjörgs Kommun
3
Vejeks Län

(Vèžèks Stot)

Vèžèkstot 1,823.56
Čëllèdebjorkejts Kommun
Kitš-Jʹapfijks Kommun
Mjelmstrums Kommun
Vèžèkstodts Kommun
4
Government icon (black).svg
Government of Kara
Federal presidential constitutional republic
CapitalKara
Head of state
• Präsident (President)Kiri-Anna Päjtersson-Årdl
• Legisatur-Tålare (Speaker of the Legislature)Astrid Mari Gabrjälsson
Legislature
• Upper houseNationallegislatur (National Legislature)
Kara legislature diagram.svg
JudiciaryHövda-Demstoll (High Court)
Öfverdeme (Chief Judge)Vяn Jozev Jäðwяn
Major political parties
  Socialist
  Green
  Vezhek Advocates
  National Democrats
  Independent
  Centrist
  Conservative
  Christic
Assembly of Nations - member state • Association of South Ulethan Nations - observer state


Politics

The members of the legislature as well as the president are elected in partisan elections, although many candidates run (and win) without a party affiliation. Elections for the legislature are held every 2 years, with presidential elections occurring every 6 years. The legislature creates, debates, and passes federal laws with a simple (50% + 1) majority. Federal laws are subject to presidential veto, although this veto can be overridden with a 200-vote (or 2/3) majority in the legislature.

Several political parties have significant influence in the legislature, with the National Democratic, Centrist, and Conservative parties each holding significant power. Independent, non-party-affiliated representatives also hold a substantial number of seats in the legislature, but members do not vote as a group or in a bloc. The current president, Kiri-Anna Päjtersson-Årdl, is a member of the Centrist party.

Kåra Government Officials
President Kiri-Anna Päjtersson-Årdl
Speaker of the Legislature Astrid Mari Gabrjälsson
Chief Judge Vяn Jozev Jäðwяn
Political Parties in Kara[4]
Name Current Leader Left/Right Ideology Core Ideologies Seats Held
National Democrats Astrid Mari Gabrjälsson Center-left to left Social liberalism

Ulethanism

Liberal capitalism

92/300 (30.7%)
Conservative Jöns-Rudolf Björgman Center-right to right Classical liberalism

Conservatism

Ulethanism

54/300 (18.0%)
Centrist Ana Яŋvlaj Center-left to center Third-way centrism

Regulated capitalism

Ulethanism

50/300 (16.7%)
Green Äve Gröndblad Left to far left Environmentalism

Social democracy

Ulethanism

15/300 (5.0%)
Vezhek Advocates Rašnar Glidèž Varies Vezhek nationalism

Karaskepticism

Ulethaskepticism

4/300 (1.3%)
Socialist Ruejя Ŋяoveƹ Far left Socialism

Isolationism

Populism

4/300 (1.3%)
Christic Jön Adam Bånövre Right to far right Social paleoconservatism

Christic nationalism

Antiliberalism

3/300 (1.0%)
Independent none Varies Varies 78/300 (26.0%)

Constitution

The current constitution took effect in 1979 after it passed a national referendum. The document can be changed with the support of the majority of the legislature and a 66% majority of voters in the next legislative election.

Individual Rights

The Indevídjalle-Frydhäter (Individual Freedoms) section of the Karska constitution guaranteed several liberties and rights in its original iteration, with some later additions:

Liberty or Right Year Added to Constitution
Freedoms of speech and press 1979 (part of original consitution)
Freedoms of peaceful assembly and peaceful protest
Freedom of religious belief and practice
Right to speedy, public trial by impartial jury
Right to vote for all Karska citizens over the age of 18
Right to refuse to testify against oneself
Freedom from invasive searches without a warrant or probable cause
Freedom from discrimination on the basis of race, color, class, sex, gender, ethnicity, or nationality
Right to citizenship for children born to at least one Karska citizen parent
Freedom from discrimination on the basis of religion or disability status 1980
Freedom from enslavement beyond the reasonable punishment of a crime
Right to own weapons for purposes of hunting or personal defense, subject to reasonable government regulation intended to preserve public safety 1984
Freedom from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or preference 1988
Right to vote for all legal, permanent-resident aliens over the age of 18 who have resided in Kara for at least 5 years 1994
Right to marry without regard to gender for all unmarried, consenting individuals over 18[5] 2002
Freedom from discrimination on the basis of being transgender or gender-nonconforming 2007
Right to citizenship for children born to at least one permanent-resident alien parent 2018

National Anthem

The official Karska choral version of the national anthem, Sjänge som Än.
The official Karska choral version of the national anthem, Sing as One.

Kara's national anthem, Sing as One, was written for the ratification ceremony of the United Kara Amendment; the first act of the National Legislature made it the official national anthem.


Audio

Karska Ingerish
Sjänge som Än Sing as One
Komme og sjänge som än

Komme, föräna vårt land

Vi kommer åt stå tillsamms

Vi kommer åt vår bara

Låt os stå för saningen

Låt os sjänge för rättvis


Vi är starka; vi är fräj

Vi älskar dämókrati

Vi ska hjälpe varandra

Vi ska sjänge för frädhät

Vi räspékterar andra

Vi räspékterar vårt häm


Utmaningar ställs inför

Utmaningar ställs öfferfun

Örättvis attakkärar

Örättvis vi bäkämpa

Komme, vi vinner kampän

Komme og sjänge som än

Let us come and sing as one

Let us go unite our land

For we are united as one

We unite for all that's fair

Let us stand for what is true

Let us stand for what is just


We are strong and we are free

And we love democracy

We will lend each other aid

We will sue for lasting peace

We respect each human heart

We respect this land that's ours


Challenges will come our way

Challenges, they shall not stay

And injustice may molest

But we fight it to the end

Come, the battle must be won

Let us come and sing as one

Demographics

Noun project 288.svg
Demographics of Kara
DemonymKarskan
Official languagesKarska, Vezhek (Vèžèk), Yumerth (Jumяð)


Religion

Kara has not had an established state religion since the United Kara Amendment of 1979. Previous to that amendment, the government designated 3 state Christic churches (one for each ethnic/linguistic region). The 3 state churches have since united to form the People's Church of Kara.

Religious Identification in Kara, 2021

  People's Church of Kara (Christic) (51%)
  Holy Grace Church (Christic) (15%)
  Darcodian (Christic) (3%)
  Ortholic (Christic) (2%)
  Other Christic (2%)
  Judic (2%)
  Animist/Spiritualist (2%)
  General Spirituality (8%)
  Secular (14%)
  Other (1%)

Historically a Christic area, a significant majority of Karskans identify as Christic, although some other minority faiths have also gained traction, particularly through immigration. Religiously unaffiliated individuals also make up a substantial minority of the population.

People's Church of Kara

Initially founded in Kara city from a group of Christic groups in the area in the 15th century, the Church of Kara was under the leadership of the Karska monarch until the mid-18th century. It uses a traditional liturgical service, with a particular emphasis placed on music and collective prayer in services. The church continues to play a significant role in Karska society.

For its first several centuries of existence, the church's leadership exerted tight control on ideas and information within the faith, maintaining a strongly conservative belief and policy system, which continued to be very influential in society, although this influence did decrease in the 17th and 18th centuries with growing secularism and independent thought. However, the church's direction changed as a result of the 1784 secession of the Holy Grace Church in Nådensted in Bjergdals Län, which attracted many believers with its strong yet liberal belief system. In response to this crisis, the People's Church loosened control in many areas, allowing more liberal ideas to gain traction within the church.

In 1928, the church's general council elected Hans Jösef Zakrisson as Head Priest of the church. Zakrisson, the de facto leader of the church's liberal wing and a staunch proponent of liberalism and democracy in society, led several reforms in the church that ultimately were very influential in the formation of modern Kara under the Union Treaty of 1934. Within a decade, the People's Church became strongly liberal-leaning (ironically, some conservative detractors defected to the Holy Grace Church, steering it to become more conservative than the People's Church). Since the 1930s, the church has held to a strongly liberal, universalist theology and a cultural emphasis on inclusion. However, the church has also remained open to a variety of theological and political ideas, and so there are some significant conservative factions within the faith, although many conservative detractors have left for the Holy Grace denomination in recent years.

Nonetheless, the liberal majority has steered the church's policy in a strongly progressive direction, such as was seen in its 1963 resolution urging the Karska government to open the country to refugees and its calls for preservation of minority languages in the 1980s. More recently, the church moved in 1995 to allow same-sex couples to be married by the church in places where such marriage was legal, and this move is widely agreed to have been a key catalyst of the 1997 legislative decision and 2002 constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to same-sex marriage in Kara.

In 2011, Jöne Mäjbjerg became the first openly transgender and non-binary priest in the People's Church, and a 2016 council canonized them and renamed their local church (Sankte Jöne Mäjbjergs Folkes- og Domkärke Äjbsö) in their honor.

Languages

As a multinational state, several languages are used across Kara, and three languages (Karska, Yumerth, and Vezhek).

Karska

Karska (Kårska) is a Gaermanic language that is spoken in areas Kara once part of Karskat. It uses a 26-letter Latinic alphabet.

Karska Pronunciation
Letter IPA Rough Federal States Ingerish Equivalence
Aa ⟨a⟩ got
⟨ə⟩ or ⟨ɜ⟩ when at the end of some words problem
Ää ⟨ɛ⟩ ever
Åå ⟨ɔ⟩ dawn
Bb ⟨b⟩ bake
Cc ⟨s⟩ center
⟨k⟩ cave
Dd ⟨d⟩ dote
Ee ⟨ə⟩ (schwa) problem
⟨ɛ⟩ (when the first letter of a word or accented) ever
Ff ⟨f⟩ fee
Gg ⟨ɡ⟩ good
Hh ⟨h⟩ home
Ii ⟨i⟩ me
Jj ⟨j⟩ you
Kk ⟨k⟩ cave
Ll ⟨l⟩ low
Mm ⟨m⟩ mat
Nn ⟨n⟩ never
⟨ŋ⟩ (when before a "g") going
Oo ⟨ʊ⟩ look
⟨œ⟩ same as Kalmish "ö" in öl or möbel
⟨o⟩ (when accented, uncommon otherwise) over
Öö ⟨o⟩ in theory, in practice often a ⟨oʊ⟩ diphthong/slide over
Pp ⟨p⟩ pine
Rr ⟨r⟩ or ⟨ɾ⟩ rolled or tapped r (no Ingerish equivalent)
⟨ʁ⟩ (in a few locations with heavy Kalmish influence) related to Kalmish "r" as in groß or rätsel
Ss ⟨s⟩ so
Tt ⟨t⟩ too
Uu ⟨u⟩ clue
Vv ⟨v⟩ vow
Yy ⟨y⟩ no Ingerish equivalent, essentially an ⟨i⟩ in me with rounded lips
Zz ⟨z⟩ zoo

There are a few multigraphs in Karska:

Characters IPA Notes
ng ⟨ŋg⟩ Varies by region and speaker. A majority of speakers use ⟨ŋg⟩ for an "ng" not at the end of a word (ie Ljunga would be ⟨ljuŋga⟩) and ⟨ŋ⟩ for a final "ng" (ie Kojpeng or Kung as ⟨kœjpəŋ⟩ and ⟨kuŋ⟩, respectively). Some speakers use ⟨ŋg⟩ in all cases. A small minority use ⟨ng⟩.
⟨ŋ⟩
⟨ng⟩
sch ⟨ʃ⟩ Fairly uncommon. Equivalent to Ingerish "sh".
cc ⟨ʧ⟩ Very rare and only used in loanwords or place names, especially those with Kalmish influence. Equivalent to "ch" in Ingerish.
tsch
ctc
dsch ⟨ʤ⟩ Rare. Used only in loanwords and place names, especially those of Kalmish influence. Equivalent to Ingerish "j" as in "judge".
Accent Marks

In Karska, the first syllable of a word is always emphasized, except when otherwise marked with an accent on the vowel of the syllable to be emphasized. Áá, Íí, and Úú are prononced the same as their "core" letters (Aa, Ii, and Uu, respectively), while Éé and Óó are pronounced as Ää and Öö, respectively.

Example pronunciations of words/terms/names
Term/name IPA Rough Federal States Ingerish Equivalent
Ädrúnaby ɛdɾunaby Ed-run-ah-beu
Bördäjgrådes Län boɾdɛjgrɔdəs lɛn Bor-deyg-rawd-uhs Len
Fjörnåde Repúblikka Kåra fjornɔdə ɾəpublika kɔra Fyoor-nah-duh Ruh-poob-lee-kah Kaw-ra
Hjeplingåde hjəplingɔdə Hyuhp-leeng-ah-duh
Län lɛn Len
Märänétjårp mɛɾɛnɛttjɔrp Meh-reh-neht-tjawrp

Vezhek

Vezhek is one of Kara's official languages, and it is spoken in Vezheks Stot in the northwest portion of the country. It is generally considered to be a Karska-influenced creole of Techerian and Yumerth. It also uses a Latin-based alphabet, but is not phonetically consistent like Karska and Yumerth (quite the contrary — it is known for its extremely complicated spellings of seemingly simple words).

Vezhek Places, People, and their Pronunciations
Vezhek IPA Rough Ingerish Equivalent
Čëllèdebjorkejt t͡ʃəlɛdəbjorkaɪt Chuh-led-duh-byor-kait
Kitŝ-Jʹapfijk kit͡ʃ japfik Keetch Yahp-feek
Ahna Èlišabeta Škri-Mmonejž ana elɪʃabeta skri manaɪʒ Ahn-nah Ey-lih-shah-bey-tah Skree Mahn-aizh
Vèžèkstodt veʒɛkstot Vey-zhek-stoht
Zjuët zjyt Zyeut
Haatahhaŝa χataχaʃt͡ʃja Hah-tah-ha-shchyah

Yumerth

Yumerth is the only living member of the isolated Yumerdic language family that is spoken in the eastern portions of Kara. In the centuries since Kjellic settlement, Yumerth has had some linguistic interaction with Karska, and both languages have shared some words and linguistic features. Nonetheless, it remains a distinct language.

Yumerth is believed to have started developing its own writing system just a few centuries before Kjellic settlement, but this writing system never took off and was quickly replaced by the developed Latinic script used in Karska, although some new characters were developed to represent sounds present in Yumerth but not Karska. The alphabet has a phonetic orthography and has 20 letters:

Yumerth Alphabet
Letter IPA
Aa a
Ää æ
Bb β
Ðð ð
Ee e-ɛ
Ii i-ɪ
Jj j
Ll l
Mm m
Nn n
Ŋŋ ŋ
Oo o
Rr ɹ
Яя ɚ-ɝ
Uu u
Üü y
Vv v
Ww w
Zz z
Ƹƹ ʒ
  1. When declaring himself king, Eryk posthumously crowned his grandfather and father as Birjer I and Johan I, respectively, and so the first living monarchs named Birjer and Johan ruled as Birjer II and Johan II.
  2. While same-sex marriages were not allowed at this time, unmarried but long-term same-sex partners (like Jösef and Svän) were usually accepted as being a valid (although less "important" than a marriage) relationship, especially for royalty and nobility. In fact, in some wealthy families, same-sex partners could even adopt children, as did Jösef and Svän with their son, King Kristaf I.
  3. The state government fills the role of municipal government and is considered a municipality for statistical purposes.
  4. Thanks to Timboh's article on Navenna for the inspiration for this table!
  5. The amendment was purely symbolic as the legislature guaranteed the right to same-sex marriage in 1997.