Ullanyé and Government of Freedemia: Difference between pages

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{{Infobox history
'''This page is about the government and politics of [[Freedemia]].'''
| name = Ullanyé
{{See also|Freedemia}}
| era_A = Prehistory
{{Infobox government
| era_A_dates = 9000BCE - 700CE
| name = Free Reedemia
| event_A1 =
| government_type = Constitutional Presidential Republic
| dates_A1 =
| capital = Quentinsburgh
| event_A2 =
| title1 = President
| dates_A2 =
| hos1 = Angela Rosenthal
| event_A3 =
| title2 = Vice President
| dates_A3 =
| hos2 = Patrick Houser
| event_A4 =
| title3 = Executive Whip & Vice Executive Whip
| dates_A4 =
| hos3 = Katherine Nelzer, Lily Mae Clarington
| era_B = Classical Taukan
| title4 = Vice Executive Whip
| era_B_dates = (optional)
| hos4 = Lily Mae Clarington
| event_B1 =
| legislature = National Legislature
| dates_B1 =
| upper_house = House of Populus
| event_B2 =
| upper_house_diagram = Freedemian Legislature Upper House.png
| dates_B2 =
| lower_house = House of Equal Representation<br>House of Referenda
| event_B3 =
| lower_house_diagram = Freedemian Legislature Lower House.png
| dates_B3 =
| judiciary = National Court
| event_B4 =
| political_parties = No official political parties.<br>'''Main ideological factions:'''<br>{{legend|#cc0000|Center-Left Authoritarians}} {{legend|#9b59b6|Left Soc Libertarians}} {{legend|#2986CC|Conservative Protectionists}} {{legend|#000000|Far-Right Nationalists}}
| dates_B4 =
| international_orgs = TCC, Ingerish Commonwealth, AN
| era_C = Modern
| era_C_dates = (optional)
| event_C1 =
| dates_C1 =
| event_C2 =
| dates_C2 =
| event_C3 =
| dates_C3 =
| event_C4 =
| dates_C4 =
}}
}}
The '''National Government of [[Freedemia|Free Reedemia]]''' usually referred to as the Federal or National Government, is the highest level of government created by the constitution as the legislative, executive and judicial authority over Freedemia's thirteen states and all municipalities and counties therein. The seat of the government is located in Quentinsburgh, Quentins.


{{infobox country
== National Government ==
|coords_zoom = 6
Freedemia is a federation, and as such the National Government is the strongest government level with the power to overrule states and municipalities within constitutional limits. The National Government consists of three primary branches '''(executive, legislative, and judiciary)''', as well as a separate bureaucracy to handle things such as ethics complaints. This system was made to have a degree of '''checks and balances''', so that no individual branch would have too much concentrated power. The current setup of the National Government was adopted in 1898 as part of the 1898 Constitution.
|coords_lat = -45.193
|coords_long = 59.711
|conventional_long_name = Ullanyé
|common_name = Ullanyé
|native_name =
|image_flag =
|image_coat =
|national_motto =
|english_motto =
|national_anthem =
|capital = Etatono
|largest city = Etatono
|image_map = Kofuku-location.png
|area_km2 = 43456
|area_sq_mi = 16778
|population_estimate = 6,177,823
|population_density = 142 people per km2
|official_languages =
|regional_languages =
|demonym =
|nationalities =
|government_type = Presidential Republic
|president_name =
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'''Ullanyé''' /uːlaɲeː/ is an island in the south Asperic Ocean. It has a population of 6.17 million and an area of 43500 km². Ullanyé is the northernmost large island of the Harda Archipelago. The capital and largest city is Etatono. Etatono and the surrounding areas in the eastern coastal region are home to over half the population.


==History==
=== Executive ===
The '''executive branch''' is headed by the President and Vice President and includes an administration of various advisory positions. The president has the power to veto laws sent to them, though the legislature can override. They are also generally seen as the head of state. Unlike most other countries with a presidential system, the runner up candidate and running mate of each presidential election become Executive Whip and Vice Executive Whip, positions within the administration where they play an advisory role to the president and try to work with them on certain ideas. The Executive Whip is also the 3rd in line for the presidency behind the Vice President, with the Vice Executive Whip 4th in line. The idea behind the Executive Whips is to ensure that candidates with reasonably different ideas are made to work together on a solution that's more problem-solution focused than strictly partisan or ideological, and that candidates coming from different perspectives can help ensure that problems the President and Vice President may not see are brought to light.


===Prehistory (9000 BCE-500 BCE)===
=== Legislature ===
Prehistoric Ullanyé encompasses a period that begins with the first evidence of human activity on the island around 9000 BCE through to the arrival of literate ironworking cultures in the 5th century BCE.
Freedemia's '''legislature''' is tricameral, consisting of the House of Poplators, an upper house where representatives are based on population, the House of Equal Representation, a lower house where each state gets an equal number, and the House of Referenda, which decides whether legislative-introduced bills need to be approved by the public by referendum to become law and oversee referendas initiated by the public. The legislature makes federal laws, and has the ability to override a presidential veto with enough support. The legislature is located in the old [https://opengeofiction.net/#map=18/-21.13919/28.51688&layers=B Parliament Building] at the western end of the Capitol Mall in Quentinsburgh.
====Mesolithic Ullanyé====
[[File:Hunter_gatherer%27s_camp_at_Irish_National_Heritage_Park_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1252699.jpg|260px|thumb|right|A reconstruction of hunter gatherer's camp based on excavations near the confluence of the Dada and Chanyú Rivers.]]


The earliest inhabitants of Ullanyé arrived during the 9th millennium BCE, most likely by boat from the Antarephian mainland. They were hunter-gatherers who lived in small groups of around 40 individuals and built dwellings from light-weight timber, animal hide and thatch. They made use of small inland camps for seasonal hunting as well as larger permanent structures near rivers and lakes. Their diet consisted mainly of shell food and fish but bones from deer, wild pigs and a range of fowl indicates they were also making use of the food resources from forests adjacent to the river systems.
==== House of Populus ====
[[File:Freedemian Legislature Upper House.png|thumb|right|The setup of the House of Poplators and Poplator distribution by state.]]
The '''House of Populus''' is Freedemia's upper house, where Poplators are elected at large from each state based on the population of the state. While the number of Poplators each state gets is based on state population, they are not proportional to the actual population number- states have set amounts of Poplators that can be amended to accommodate major changes in population, though this has not been triggered since the establishment of the modern national government under the 1898 Constitution. Together with the House of Equal Representation, the House of Populus introduces bills, debates and amends them, and votes whether to pass them into law.


The first evidence of burials during this period, dating to between 4200 and 4100 BCE, comes from the excavation of a Mesolithic village on Isá Nalé in the Fomi River. It consisted of a teenage girl who had been placed in a stone lined pit along with the remains of a bow, arrows, bone dice, beads, carved antler eating utensils and kit of flint blades. Preserved by its water logged surroundings, this presumably high status individual constitutes the oldest human remains ever found in the country. Evidence of cremation in other parts of the island indicate a variety of burial rites were operating during this time.
==== House of Equal Representation ====
[[File:Freedemian Legislature Lower House.png|thumb|right|The setup of the House of Equal Representation, including each state's 20 District Representatives and 5 Statewide Representatives, as well as setup of the House of Referenda.]]
The '''House of Populus''' is Freedemia's primary lower house, meant to represent each state internally. Each state gets 25 Representatives, for a total of 325. 20 Representatives are elected by district, while 5 Representatives are elected statewide. The House of Equal Representation, like the House of Populus, introduces bills, debates and amends them, and votes whether to pass them into law.


====Neolithic Ullanyé====
==== Passing a Law ====
The start of the Neolithic period is marked by arrival of the first farmers in Ullanyé who brought with them food crops, domesticated animals and advanced stone working techniques. Forest clearance increased during the period and a variety of monumental burial structures appeared.


====Bronze Age - Dyákunda & Moda Benyé Period====
==== House of Referenda ====
[[File:Burial_scene_prepresented_in_rock-painting,_Zimbabwe._Wellcome_M0015097.jpg|260px|thumb|right|Illustration of a rock painting discovered in the Imás Dyer cave system. It is dated from between the 4th - 3rd millenium BCE and depicts the funerary rites of prehistoric peoples from Central Antarephia.]]
The '''House of Referenda''' serves two primary purposes. It decides whether bills introduced in the legislature need to be voted on by the public to become law, as well as oversees referenda initiated by the public, either getting them to ballot or voting them down. While considered a "lower house", because of its unique function the House of Referenda is somewhat independent of the other two houses of the legislature. It is also not involved in the normal bill passing process other than to decide whether something needs to be voted on by the public. Each state gets 2 Referenda Councilmen, and one tiebreaker Referenda Councilman is elected at large nationally, for a total of 27. The election for the at-large Referenda Councilman is often one of the biggest national elections alongside president/executive whip.
The Dyákunda were a bronze age agricultural civilisation occupying much of Ullanyé between approximately 1900 - 1200 BCE. The name Dyákunda is a modern label meaning 'westerner' although archaeological evidence for their presence has been excavated throughout the island. They were sophisticated farmers and metal workers manufactured a variety of blades and decorative items.


The Dyákunda had several of their largest population centres on the islands and coastal lands to the north west of the Olcu volanco. This highly fertile agricultural land allowed them to support a large population with many specialised trades people.  
=== Judiciary ===
Freedemia's '''judiciary,''' known as the '''National Court''', handles major cases that involve constitutional rights as well as appeals that reach the highest level of the court system. The National Court is located in the old [https://opengeofiction.net/#map=18/-21.13992/28.52420&layers=B Royal Palace] within the Capitol Mall in Quentinsburgh across from the Executive Residence.


Dyákunda civilisation went into decline between 900 - 400 BCE. No significant monument construction occurred during the period and there is evidence that the population was depleted and settlements became abandoned. Mass burial pits at Imdyél, combined with evidence of widespread burning, may suggest that the city was destroyed during warfare.
== State Governments ==


The Moda Benyé (Motipeni) were a population group that seem to have occupied the eastern coast of Ullanyé for an undetermined period of time before the arrival of Dyadyé speakers around 400 BCE. It is unclear whether the Moda Benyé were a related to the Dyákunda or a separate culture as there seems to have been significant sharing of material culture. Artefacts from this group share similarities with populations further south in the Harda Archepelago that went on to become the Kopa peoples.
== Municipal Governments ==
== Poltical Party Ban ==


====Arrival of the Dyadyé====
Freedemia, unlike many democracies, lacks a political party system, with a constitutional amendment banning parties from the political system since the early 1960s. This was largely put in place to avoid party line votes and to encourage voters and legislators to look at each candidate and policy individually. This policy has been criticized by some as rewarding name recognition and reinforcing power structures, but applauded by others for a reduction in partisanship and attraction of a diversity of individualized candidate platforms.
The arrival of Dyadyé speaking populations around the end of the 1st millennium BCE also marked the beginning of the Iron Age in Ullanyé. The Dyadyé migrated from central and eastern Antarephia, bringing with them a new language, technologies and customs. Their arrival in Ullanyé marked the end of eastward expansion by West Antarephian populations. They gradually became established across the island, though it is unclear whether this process was ongoing throughout the period or if the new arrivals came in several distinct waves between 600 - 200 BCE. The island was divided into a patchwork of over a dozen tribal lands, each supporting a number of towns and small cities. Most, but not all, of these settlements were ruled through a Council as was traditional in other cultures descending from the Tauka. It is a matter of debate as to whether or not the Dyadyé merged peacefully with the pre-existing populations but by the 100s BCE the islands Bronze Age culture had been entirely replaced.


===Classical Period (500 BCE-700 CE)===
== Politics ==
=== Major Ideological Factions ===
As Freedemia lacks a party system, there tends to be a bit more variety in political beliefs represented. However, there are still some main political factions that have formed. Freedemia's politics are currently dominated by '''center-left authoritarianism''', mostly exemplified by support for publicly run government programs along with support for existing bans on things like alcohol sales and drug use.  However, '''left social libertarianism''' has seen a significant rise in recent years, with more support for legalization of things like sex work and alcohol, pushes for further deregulation and public-private partnerships, and a greater focus on liberty. Both groups have a global focus, supporting regional collaboration efforts like the [[Tarephia Cooperation Council]] alongside domestic security. In contrast, '''conservative protectionism''' is very focused on domestic safety and economy over all else, with the belief that regional cooperation has done more to hurt Freedemia than help and that global connections have put the country at greater risk of conflict. Conservative protectionists are the minority, but have strong support in areas that lost the most jobs to outsourcing like [[Lawrence]] and [[Lenseter]].


====Early Federations====
=== Major Political Issues ===
[[File:Lombard_buckle_and_bead_necklace_from_Szentendre,_Hungary.jpg|260px|thumb|right|A bead necklace worn by a woman who was buried in the Ullan Astir necropolis (site Ad01) between 950-900 BCE.]]
==== Split over Alliances, Trade, and the Open Economy ====
In the following centuries Dyadyé culture became firmly established. Rival cities vied for dominance and boundaries regularly shifted as the power of individual groups waxed and waned.


The island became divided into three regions corresponding roughly to the three sides of the island. Each region was governed from at least one major city, to which several minor cities were bound. These subordinate relationships could switch over time as particular cities gained or lost influence. Cities would often switch allegiances or coordinate their activities to counter balance stronger rivals.
Moves like joining the TCC and taking a liberal approach on trade and immigration beginning in the ~1970s made a large impact on Freedemia's rise. The new approach helped Freedemian businesses in tech, fast food, retail, and other major sectors expand and succeed internationally, attracted the best from around the world to its universities and technology/engineering firms, and allowed tourism and entertainment to flourish. These in turn directly helped most cities like Quentinsburgh, Frankelyn, Vandoveur, and Jhuandan thrive and grow. In addition, new direct rail ferry trade routes from Cabelia and Aerágny to the Vandoveur shore helped Frankelyn and Vandoveur thrive as trade-centered port cities on top of their already growing entertainment industry.


The western region, Amarr, was the smallest of the emerging regional powers. It was ruled from Fíra during the early period with important spiritual centres in Cacamarr and refuges in the islands of Ke Teterayba District. The regional centre of power would later shift to the northern urban centre in Lagarú District. Amarr had close trading relationships with the continent and the local dialect of Dyadyé came to adopt many continental characteristics.
However, in contrast, increased trade and patronage of goods and industry from other TCC nations like Aerágny, Paroy, and Tigeria directly hurt Freedemian heavy industry, as other nations, especially Aerágny, had the edge on manufacturing ability and cost. Lawrence and Lenseter, home to much of said industry, were hit extremely hard and went into a state of stagnation and decline. Many industry jobs have actually returned in recent years in the form of Cabelia-owned companies opening factories in cities like Lawrence. However, for some conservatives with the strongest "Freedemia First" beliefs, losing ownership of the factories was still a major loss even when the jobs were retained.


The eastern region, Chanyu, was ruled from the city of Imdyél and was the only region not to have it's capital located on an island.
This has led to a major political split within Freedemia, where most of the country is strongly in favor of globalization and an open economy but the Lawrence-Lenseter metro is fiercely in opposition. Lawrence State is known to strongly favor protectionism and to vote heavily against globalization/free trade/TCC alliances and those that support it, while metros like Quentinsburgh, Frankelyn/Vandoveur, and Jhuandan that thrive on it overwhelmingly outvote them.


The southern region, Ní Onay, was the largest of the three regions and had it's capital in Ullan Astir. Ullan Astir established itself as the preeminent city along the southern coast and during the classical period it gained dominance over the entire island.
==== Neglect and Exploitation of Northern Interior ====


In many ways the natural resource exploitation of the northern interior is part of what allows Freedemia to function as a somewhat wealthy regional power, but the region's low population leaves its residents with little voting power, and many of the area's unique issues are largely taken for granted or ignored by the populated and wealthier coastal population.


==Politics==
The rural areas of the northern interior are home to the highest levels of poverty in the nation, with most living conditions ranging from rundown mining towns full of trailer parks to villages of tiny shed homes with unreliable electricity, outhouses and water basins. Fotja Rejt, the largest city in the interior, has slightly better conditions, but is still one of the poorest cities in the nation. The region also sees heavy environmental exploitation, as the location where most of Freedemia's natural/mineral resources are mined. These dirty industries tend to be the largest employers in the north and are notorious for terrible working conditions and insufficient protections for employees and for those living in the area. Pollution and contamination of towns and villages throughout the Northern Interior is common, and the region has the highest rates of cancer and other health issues in the country.
===Government===


===Foreign Relations===
The northern interior also has the highest concentration of Native Tarephian population, partially due to many natives having moved inland during the colonial era to flee the encroachment of the colonies along the coast. In contrast to most other parts of the country where assimilation and erasure of native cultures was emphasized, Budrian culture and language are still strong in the communities of the northern interior.
==Geography==
Ullanyé has a roughly triangular shape with short coastal plains spreading out on three sides from the mountainous interior. To the west, it is separated from the Antarephian mainland by the Sindyé Tasóndy (Whale Channel) which is around 60km wide at it's narrowest point. In the east the 25km wide Sindyé Beraig (Narrow Channel) separates Ullanyé from Grand Harda Island, it's nearest neighbour in the Harda Archipelago. Ullanyé shares maritime borders across these straits with the Community of Nalkor-Kochi and Osaseré.


===Geology===
Many theorize that subconscious racism and prejudice against non-assimilated native Tarephians is the true reason for the geographical neglect and heavy exploitation, similar to deliberate disinvestment in areas de-facto segregated in other nations. However, this is often difficult to prove due to the population and geography factors. The northern interior has by far the lowest and least concentrated population in the nation and a difficult mountainous jungle-filled terrain. Because of this provision of services and infrastructure to the most isolated communities is difficult, and many leaders from the higher populated coasts claim that the investments being asked for are not financially feasible for such a large area with such low population density.
Like many countries in the region, Ullanyé is volcanically and geologically active. The interior of the island is hilly and mountainous, with many of the highest peaks, of over 1500 metres, in the island's northern ranges. Aside from numerous earthquakes there are two active volcanoes, Olcú and Udyut, both having had at least one major eruption since 1917. There are many other signs of tectonic activity, including numerous areas of hot springs.
===Hydrology===
A list of rivers of Ullanyé
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===Climate===
==== National Stability and Avoiding War as Number One Priority ====
It's been said that the easiest way to get Freedemians to turn on an ally is to make them fear that their partnership puts them at risk of war. This tends to stand true.


==Flora & Fauna==
Outside of regions like Lawrence state that have been hit hard by regional competition, support for involvement in the TCC, open trade alliances, and other various global partnerships tends to be fairly high across the board. That support, however, though strong, is extremely fragile. For most Freedemians, regardless of what other beliefs they hold or what stances they have on controversial issues, the number one priority is domestic stability and avoiding war/international conflict. While it hasn't come to be in recent decades, polling has consistently shown that the overwhelming majority of Freedemians would swing heavily in favor of isolationism and disengaging from regional partners in the name of national security and peace.  
===Caztobal===
The '''Caztobal''' is an epiphytic tree native to Antarephia, with a range extending northwest from Ullanyé to southern Sabishii in Paxtar. It can grow to over 15 metres in height and has a lifespan of several centuries. It usually begins life as a hemi-epiphyte high in the branches of an already mature forest tree. Young Caztobal plants send roots to the forest floor, forming a hollow trunk that eventually encloses the entire host tree.  


[[File:Cactus flower -- Epiphyllum hookeri.jpg|260px|thumb|The white flower of a mature Caztobal tree growing in the [[Etatono]] University Botanic Research Unit.]]
In many ways, it is the prolonged peace itself that Freedemia has experienced that has allowed the pro-cooperation culture and attitude to thrive in Freedemian government and society. While initially met with skepticism in the 60s and 70s, the idea that a country could have close international relationships and lasting peace/good relations simultaneously is somewhat taken for granted in Freedemian society today. However, polling shows risk of war is the one area where fearmongering is very effective on Freedemians. Unlike concerns of loss of industry or changes in culture, Freedemians tend to be legitimately horrified of the risk of being drawn into international conflicts, and such fears have at times been exploited to rile up a very strong protectionist "Freedemia First" anti-collaboration sentiment among much of the population.
Caztobal seedlings are hemi-epiphytes and the resultant tree has a hollow trunk made of interlocking roots enclosing the space left by the former tree host. It's seeds, found in energy rich berries, are dispersed by birds and other canopy dwelling animals, germinating in the cervices on other trees. This is an adaption suited for growing in dense forests where competition for light is intense. While the original support tree will often die it has been suggested that the Caztobal can only become established on trees that are already in decline. In disturbed ground and gaps in the forest cover the Caztobal will grow with a normal but much shorter trunk. The tallest tree on record stood at 22 metres and the oldest tree was dated as approximately 350 years old.


====Pharmaceutical applications====
==== Debates Over Strict Approaches to Alcohol, Smoking, Drugs ====
The flowers and bark of the Caztobal contain several powerful psychoactive and analgesic compounds that have been extracted or synthesised for clinical use. The flowers contain molecules that inhibit the re-uptake of neurotransmitters in the brain and have been used anti-depressants to treat depressive disorders and other conditions including anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and eating disorders. The bark contains analgesic compounds that are used in many prescription and over the counter medications. The tree is usually cultivated for pharmaceutical use in it more manageable ground based form.  
Freedemia has fairly strict laws banning the sale of alcohol or tobacco products within the country, as well as public intoxication and public smoking. While possession itself and even private use of alcohol or tobacco products are not illegal, any form of sales or public use is fully prohibited. Freedemians generally cite the damage both can have on others (drunk individuals being more of a risk for drunk driving, domestic violence, etc; secondhand smoke causing damage to bystanders and others) as justification.


====Religious traditions====
Rather than being punished with jail time, there has been an attempt in the past decades to turn sentencing towards rehabilitation. Public intoxication, possession of hard drugs, and crimes (especially domestic violence) committed under the influence of alcohol or drugs come with mandatory rehab sentencing. In addition, voluntary rehab is offered at no risk to those who come forward if they have not committed a crime by these standards.
[[File:Witch_Bottles_Curse_Protection.jpg|260px|thumb|A 19th century bottle used to make Caztobal infusion. Held in the collection of the Lida-Boro Agsán Museum.]]
In [[Agsán]] practices the Caztobal is one of the four Winter Plants used in traditional palliative and end-of-life care. The bark is soaked in hot water for several days and strained to produce a bitter infusion that is sweetened with natural herbs. The strong analgesic compounds in the drink make it an effective method of pain control and can bring on a deep sleep. In strong doses it can lead to death or permanent coma. The flower is rarely used in modern Agsán traditions outside of obscure divination practices.


====Recreational use and popular culture====
In recent years, there have been debates over whether this approach is too harsh, with some critics advocating for a more libertarian approach, especially to alcohol. Many cite several other countries where alcohol use is fully legal that don't see rampant drinking-related offenses, as well as have a strong economic benefit from breweries and alcohol-serving restaurants and groups. Some also argue that the banning of safe regulated alcohol has led to many turning to even more dangerous moonshines or to mouthwashes and other products with alcohol content. While similar arguments have been made for smoking and drugs, the understanding of the effects of secondhand smoke and some of the more direct effects of hard drugs have prevented them from gaining any traction. In contrast, the debate on alcohol has continued to grow, though the vast majority still currently support the ban.
The Caztobal flower has been used for hundreds of years to induce trances and hallucination. It has a long history of recreational use in Ullanyé and is sold by licenced sellers in specialised shops. The dried petals are usually smoked, often with other dried plants that contain nicotine and cannabinoid compounds. When smoked the mixtures induce effects including a feeling of euphoria, the sensation of weightlessness, synaesthesia and alteration of visual perception characterised by 'stain-glass window' type hallucinations. During the last 20 years methods of extraction have been developed that allows the psychoactive compound to be made into tablets of standardised dosages. Regular use can lead to addiction.


As it stands currently, Freedemia has a thriving and somewhat unrivaled mocktail industry, with nonalcoholic mocktail bars and pubs thriving in the place of their alcoholic counterparts (partially because of a lack of competition from them). The industry has seemed split on proposals for less strict alcohol policies, with some wanting to be able to expand offerings and others fearing competition. Some pro-alcohol-policy-reform groups have claimed "Big Mocktail" has lobbied to keep alcohol illegal to help their own industry.


The current leading proposal by pro-legalization groups is to legalize but with strict limits on amount purchased at any one establishment and limits on alcohol content in all sold alcohol.


==Demographics==
== Foreign Relations ==
===Divisions & Settlements===
[[File:FreedemianPassport.png|thumb|200px|A Freedemian passport, including the Tarephia Cooperation Council logo.|link=Special:FilePath/FreedemianPassport.png]]
Free Reedemia has an established structure of foreign relations. While historically it had been somewhat isolationist out of pacifist tendencies and fear of war, today Freedemia is known for its regional and internartional collaboration. Freedemia is a founding member of the [[Tarephia Cooperation Council]], allowing free trade and visa-free travel to member nations. Freedemia is also a less active member of the [[Ingerish Commonwealth]] and a member of the Assembly of Nations.


Ullanyé has three tiers of governmental organisation made up of national, regional and district authorities.
Freedemia has especially close partnerships with several neighboring countries in Tarephia and Antarephia, including [[Paroy]], [[Aerágny]], [[Cabelia]], [[Geare]], and [[Mandatory Meilan]]. Countries such as [[Vodeo]], [[Allendea]], and [[Barzona]] are also close regional partners, and Freedemia has strong relationships with most other Ingerish colonies such as [[New Ingerland]] and the [[Federal States]]. Freedemia also has many close partners across other continents.


====Regions====
Freedemia is generally understood to aim for diplomacy and mutual understanding with most countries, even those it is not very closely allied with. While relations with countries like [[Bai]], [[Suria]], and [[Demirhan Devleti]] sometimes see tensions, collaboration still occurs frequently, and the only countries Freedemia currently does not recognize relations with at this point in time are [[Antigo]] and [[Kuehong]], both over human rights violations and militarism.
There are 3 administrative regions in Ullanyé run by Regional Councils that are elected every five years in local elections, although many of their statutory functions fall under the remit of career officials, termed Chief Administrators, who are appointed by central government.
The Regional Councils have a responsibility for planning and roads, waste and recycling services, leisure, community services, housing and local economic and cultural development.
<br/>
*'''Amarr''' (12,208 km<sup>2</sup>) on the west coast is the smallest and least populated of the regions. The city of Fíra has been home to Amarr Regional Council since the late 1940s. Before then, and for much of the preceding 200 years, the more northerly city of Lagarú had been the seat of regional government. <br/>
*'''Nyéchaha''' (15,522 km<sup>2</sup>) runs the length of the island east of the central mountain range. The capital city and seat of the Nyéchaha Regional Council is Etatono.<br/>
*'''Sechufa''' (16,836 km<sup>2</sup>) is the largest of the three regions. The Sechufa Regional Council headquarters in the city of Níasa.<br/>
<br/>
====Districts====
There are fifteen districts with responsibility for certain types of planning, local roads, sanitation and libraries. District Councils are elected by universal franchise every five years and are the most accessible form of government to people in their local communities.
<br/>
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====Sub-divisions====
These are small geographical divisions of land used in Ullanyé for judicial and religious purposes.  


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Partially due to the good relationship Freedemia has with most countries in addition to membership in the Tarephia Cooperation Council and Ingerish Commonwealth, Freedemia has one of the strongest passports in the world.
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===Language===
Olonyé is spoken by the majority of the population. It is part of the Taukan Language Family, of the Asperic branch and a member of the Dyadyé group.
 
==Culture==
A list of culturally important graves and historic memorials in Ullanyé.
 
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===Arts===
=== Strategic Internationalism ===
Arno J Dalz-Anbor
Due to the strategic position along the Strait of Lyc, Freedemia is theoretically a ripe target for attack. As such, Freedemia has a fairly large and strong defense-oriented military, but does not use it as an exploratory military.  
===Science===
===Sport===
'''Rabú''' is a considered the national sport of Ullanyé.


==Economy==
The typical foreign policy stance is that Freedemia would only go to war when attacked or at very imminent threat of being attacked, and as an anti-interventionalist nation, never to initiate an attack. However, Freedemia will fight back whenever and wherever it is attacked.  Freedemia does not attempt complete neutrality, and it will generally assist nations it aligns with using internationalist methods- monetary assistance, diplomatic assistance, and in select cases weapons and assistance. However, it will almost never take militaristic action against another country or in favor of another nation unless put directly at risk. One major exception is [[Geare]], as Freedemia has an agreement with Geare to provide defense services.
===Overview & GDP===
===Economic History===
===Major Industries===


[[Category:Ullanyé]]
[[Category:Freedemia]][[Category:Government]]

Revision as of 16:28, 23 January 2022

This page is about the government and politics of Freedemia.

Gnome-edit-redo-bw.svg See also: Freedemia
Government icon (black).svg
Government of Free Reedemia
Constitutional Presidential Republic
CapitalQuentinsburgh
Head of state
• PresidentAngela Rosenthal
• Vice PresidentPatrick Houser
• Executive Whip & Vice Executive WhipKatherine Nelzer, Lily Mae Clarington
LegislatureNational Legislature
• Upper houseHouse of Populus
Freedemian Legislature Upper House.png
• Lower houseHouse of Equal Representation
House of Referenda
Freedemian Legislature Lower House.png
JudiciaryNational Court
Major political parties
No official political parties.
Main ideological factions:
  Center-Left Authoritarians
  Left Soc Libertarians
  Conservative Protectionists
  Far-Right Nationalists
TCC, Ingerish Commonwealth, AN

The National Government of Free Reedemia usually referred to as the Federal or National Government, is the highest level of government created by the constitution as the legislative, executive and judicial authority over Freedemia's thirteen states and all municipalities and counties therein. The seat of the government is located in Quentinsburgh, Quentins.

National Government

Freedemia is a federation, and as such the National Government is the strongest government level with the power to overrule states and municipalities within constitutional limits. The National Government consists of three primary branches (executive, legislative, and judiciary), as well as a separate bureaucracy to handle things such as ethics complaints. This system was made to have a degree of checks and balances, so that no individual branch would have too much concentrated power. The current setup of the National Government was adopted in 1898 as part of the 1898 Constitution.

Executive

The executive branch is headed by the President and Vice President and includes an administration of various advisory positions. The president has the power to veto laws sent to them, though the legislature can override. They are also generally seen as the head of state. Unlike most other countries with a presidential system, the runner up candidate and running mate of each presidential election become Executive Whip and Vice Executive Whip, positions within the administration where they play an advisory role to the president and try to work with them on certain ideas. The Executive Whip is also the 3rd in line for the presidency behind the Vice President, with the Vice Executive Whip 4th in line. The idea behind the Executive Whips is to ensure that candidates with reasonably different ideas are made to work together on a solution that's more problem-solution focused than strictly partisan or ideological, and that candidates coming from different perspectives can help ensure that problems the President and Vice President may not see are brought to light.

Legislature

Freedemia's legislature is tricameral, consisting of the House of Poplators, an upper house where representatives are based on population, the House of Equal Representation, a lower house where each state gets an equal number, and the House of Referenda, which decides whether legislative-introduced bills need to be approved by the public by referendum to become law and oversee referendas initiated by the public. The legislature makes federal laws, and has the ability to override a presidential veto with enough support. The legislature is located in the old Parliament Building at the western end of the Capitol Mall in Quentinsburgh.

House of Populus

The setup of the House of Poplators and Poplator distribution by state.

The House of Populus is Freedemia's upper house, where Poplators are elected at large from each state based on the population of the state. While the number of Poplators each state gets is based on state population, they are not proportional to the actual population number- states have set amounts of Poplators that can be amended to accommodate major changes in population, though this has not been triggered since the establishment of the modern national government under the 1898 Constitution. Together with the House of Equal Representation, the House of Populus introduces bills, debates and amends them, and votes whether to pass them into law.

House of Equal Representation

The setup of the House of Equal Representation, including each state's 20 District Representatives and 5 Statewide Representatives, as well as setup of the House of Referenda.

The House of Populus is Freedemia's primary lower house, meant to represent each state internally. Each state gets 25 Representatives, for a total of 325. 20 Representatives are elected by district, while 5 Representatives are elected statewide. The House of Equal Representation, like the House of Populus, introduces bills, debates and amends them, and votes whether to pass them into law.

Passing a Law

House of Referenda

The House of Referenda serves two primary purposes. It decides whether bills introduced in the legislature need to be voted on by the public to become law, as well as oversees referenda initiated by the public, either getting them to ballot or voting them down. While considered a "lower house", because of its unique function the House of Referenda is somewhat independent of the other two houses of the legislature. It is also not involved in the normal bill passing process other than to decide whether something needs to be voted on by the public. Each state gets 2 Referenda Councilmen, and one tiebreaker Referenda Councilman is elected at large nationally, for a total of 27. The election for the at-large Referenda Councilman is often one of the biggest national elections alongside president/executive whip.

Judiciary

Freedemia's judiciary, known as the National Court, handles major cases that involve constitutional rights as well as appeals that reach the highest level of the court system. The National Court is located in the old Royal Palace within the Capitol Mall in Quentinsburgh across from the Executive Residence.

State Governments

Municipal Governments

Poltical Party Ban

Freedemia, unlike many democracies, lacks a political party system, with a constitutional amendment banning parties from the political system since the early 1960s. This was largely put in place to avoid party line votes and to encourage voters and legislators to look at each candidate and policy individually. This policy has been criticized by some as rewarding name recognition and reinforcing power structures, but applauded by others for a reduction in partisanship and attraction of a diversity of individualized candidate platforms.

Politics

Major Ideological Factions

As Freedemia lacks a party system, there tends to be a bit more variety in political beliefs represented. However, there are still some main political factions that have formed. Freedemia's politics are currently dominated by center-left authoritarianism, mostly exemplified by support for publicly run government programs along with support for existing bans on things like alcohol sales and drug use. However, left social libertarianism has seen a significant rise in recent years, with more support for legalization of things like sex work and alcohol, pushes for further deregulation and public-private partnerships, and a greater focus on liberty. Both groups have a global focus, supporting regional collaboration efforts like the Tarephia Cooperation Council alongside domestic security. In contrast, conservative protectionism is very focused on domestic safety and economy over all else, with the belief that regional cooperation has done more to hurt Freedemia than help and that global connections have put the country at greater risk of conflict. Conservative protectionists are the minority, but have strong support in areas that lost the most jobs to outsourcing like Lawrence and Lenseter.

Major Political Issues

Split over Alliances, Trade, and the Open Economy

Moves like joining the TCC and taking a liberal approach on trade and immigration beginning in the ~1970s made a large impact on Freedemia's rise. The new approach helped Freedemian businesses in tech, fast food, retail, and other major sectors expand and succeed internationally, attracted the best from around the world to its universities and technology/engineering firms, and allowed tourism and entertainment to flourish. These in turn directly helped most cities like Quentinsburgh, Frankelyn, Vandoveur, and Jhuandan thrive and grow. In addition, new direct rail ferry trade routes from Cabelia and Aerágny to the Vandoveur shore helped Frankelyn and Vandoveur thrive as trade-centered port cities on top of their already growing entertainment industry.

However, in contrast, increased trade and patronage of goods and industry from other TCC nations like Aerágny, Paroy, and Tigeria directly hurt Freedemian heavy industry, as other nations, especially Aerágny, had the edge on manufacturing ability and cost. Lawrence and Lenseter, home to much of said industry, were hit extremely hard and went into a state of stagnation and decline. Many industry jobs have actually returned in recent years in the form of Cabelia-owned companies opening factories in cities like Lawrence. However, for some conservatives with the strongest "Freedemia First" beliefs, losing ownership of the factories was still a major loss even when the jobs were retained.

This has led to a major political split within Freedemia, where most of the country is strongly in favor of globalization and an open economy but the Lawrence-Lenseter metro is fiercely in opposition. Lawrence State is known to strongly favor protectionism and to vote heavily against globalization/free trade/TCC alliances and those that support it, while metros like Quentinsburgh, Frankelyn/Vandoveur, and Jhuandan that thrive on it overwhelmingly outvote them.

Neglect and Exploitation of Northern Interior

In many ways the natural resource exploitation of the northern interior is part of what allows Freedemia to function as a somewhat wealthy regional power, but the region's low population leaves its residents with little voting power, and many of the area's unique issues are largely taken for granted or ignored by the populated and wealthier coastal population.

The rural areas of the northern interior are home to the highest levels of poverty in the nation, with most living conditions ranging from rundown mining towns full of trailer parks to villages of tiny shed homes with unreliable electricity, outhouses and water basins. Fotja Rejt, the largest city in the interior, has slightly better conditions, but is still one of the poorest cities in the nation. The region also sees heavy environmental exploitation, as the location where most of Freedemia's natural/mineral resources are mined. These dirty industries tend to be the largest employers in the north and are notorious for terrible working conditions and insufficient protections for employees and for those living in the area. Pollution and contamination of towns and villages throughout the Northern Interior is common, and the region has the highest rates of cancer and other health issues in the country.

The northern interior also has the highest concentration of Native Tarephian population, partially due to many natives having moved inland during the colonial era to flee the encroachment of the colonies along the coast. In contrast to most other parts of the country where assimilation and erasure of native cultures was emphasized, Budrian culture and language are still strong in the communities of the northern interior.

Many theorize that subconscious racism and prejudice against non-assimilated native Tarephians is the true reason for the geographical neglect and heavy exploitation, similar to deliberate disinvestment in areas de-facto segregated in other nations. However, this is often difficult to prove due to the population and geography factors. The northern interior has by far the lowest and least concentrated population in the nation and a difficult mountainous jungle-filled terrain. Because of this provision of services and infrastructure to the most isolated communities is difficult, and many leaders from the higher populated coasts claim that the investments being asked for are not financially feasible for such a large area with such low population density.

National Stability and Avoiding War as Number One Priority

It's been said that the easiest way to get Freedemians to turn on an ally is to make them fear that their partnership puts them at risk of war. This tends to stand true.

Outside of regions like Lawrence state that have been hit hard by regional competition, support for involvement in the TCC, open trade alliances, and other various global partnerships tends to be fairly high across the board. That support, however, though strong, is extremely fragile. For most Freedemians, regardless of what other beliefs they hold or what stances they have on controversial issues, the number one priority is domestic stability and avoiding war/international conflict. While it hasn't come to be in recent decades, polling has consistently shown that the overwhelming majority of Freedemians would swing heavily in favor of isolationism and disengaging from regional partners in the name of national security and peace.

In many ways, it is the prolonged peace itself that Freedemia has experienced that has allowed the pro-cooperation culture and attitude to thrive in Freedemian government and society. While initially met with skepticism in the 60s and 70s, the idea that a country could have close international relationships and lasting peace/good relations simultaneously is somewhat taken for granted in Freedemian society today. However, polling shows risk of war is the one area where fearmongering is very effective on Freedemians. Unlike concerns of loss of industry or changes in culture, Freedemians tend to be legitimately horrified of the risk of being drawn into international conflicts, and such fears have at times been exploited to rile up a very strong protectionist "Freedemia First" anti-collaboration sentiment among much of the population.

Debates Over Strict Approaches to Alcohol, Smoking, Drugs

Freedemia has fairly strict laws banning the sale of alcohol or tobacco products within the country, as well as public intoxication and public smoking. While possession itself and even private use of alcohol or tobacco products are not illegal, any form of sales or public use is fully prohibited. Freedemians generally cite the damage both can have on others (drunk individuals being more of a risk for drunk driving, domestic violence, etc; secondhand smoke causing damage to bystanders and others) as justification.

Rather than being punished with jail time, there has been an attempt in the past decades to turn sentencing towards rehabilitation. Public intoxication, possession of hard drugs, and crimes (especially domestic violence) committed under the influence of alcohol or drugs come with mandatory rehab sentencing. In addition, voluntary rehab is offered at no risk to those who come forward if they have not committed a crime by these standards.

In recent years, there have been debates over whether this approach is too harsh, with some critics advocating for a more libertarian approach, especially to alcohol. Many cite several other countries where alcohol use is fully legal that don't see rampant drinking-related offenses, as well as have a strong economic benefit from breweries and alcohol-serving restaurants and groups. Some also argue that the banning of safe regulated alcohol has led to many turning to even more dangerous moonshines or to mouthwashes and other products with alcohol content. While similar arguments have been made for smoking and drugs, the understanding of the effects of secondhand smoke and some of the more direct effects of hard drugs have prevented them from gaining any traction. In contrast, the debate on alcohol has continued to grow, though the vast majority still currently support the ban.

As it stands currently, Freedemia has a thriving and somewhat unrivaled mocktail industry, with nonalcoholic mocktail bars and pubs thriving in the place of their alcoholic counterparts (partially because of a lack of competition from them). The industry has seemed split on proposals for less strict alcohol policies, with some wanting to be able to expand offerings and others fearing competition. Some pro-alcohol-policy-reform groups have claimed "Big Mocktail" has lobbied to keep alcohol illegal to help their own industry.

The current leading proposal by pro-legalization groups is to legalize but with strict limits on amount purchased at any one establishment and limits on alcohol content in all sold alcohol.

Foreign Relations

A Freedemian passport, including the Tarephia Cooperation Council logo.

Free Reedemia has an established structure of foreign relations. While historically it had been somewhat isolationist out of pacifist tendencies and fear of war, today Freedemia is known for its regional and internartional collaboration. Freedemia is a founding member of the Tarephia Cooperation Council, allowing free trade and visa-free travel to member nations. Freedemia is also a less active member of the Ingerish Commonwealth and a member of the Assembly of Nations.

Freedemia has especially close partnerships with several neighboring countries in Tarephia and Antarephia, including Paroy, Aerágny, Cabelia, Geare, and Mandatory Meilan. Countries such as Vodeo, Allendea, and Barzona are also close regional partners, and Freedemia has strong relationships with most other Ingerish colonies such as New Ingerland and the Federal States. Freedemia also has many close partners across other continents.

Freedemia is generally understood to aim for diplomacy and mutual understanding with most countries, even those it is not very closely allied with. While relations with countries like Bai, Suria, and Demirhan Devleti sometimes see tensions, collaboration still occurs frequently, and the only countries Freedemia currently does not recognize relations with at this point in time are Antigo and Kuehong, both over human rights violations and militarism.

Partially due to the good relationship Freedemia has with most countries in addition to membership in the Tarephia Cooperation Council and Ingerish Commonwealth, Freedemia has one of the strongest passports in the world.

Strategic Internationalism

Due to the strategic position along the Strait of Lyc, Freedemia is theoretically a ripe target for attack. As such, Freedemia has a fairly large and strong defense-oriented military, but does not use it as an exploratory military.

The typical foreign policy stance is that Freedemia would only go to war when attacked or at very imminent threat of being attacked, and as an anti-interventionalist nation, never to initiate an attack. However, Freedemia will fight back whenever and wherever it is attacked. Freedemia does not attempt complete neutrality, and it will generally assist nations it aligns with using internationalist methods- monetary assistance, diplomatic assistance, and in select cases weapons and assistance. However, it will almost never take militaristic action against another country or in favor of another nation unless put directly at risk. One major exception is Geare, as Freedemia has an agreement with Geare to provide defense services.

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