Difference between revisions of "Dakoin"

From NSwiki, the NationStates encyclopedia.
Jump to: navigation, search
(Executive)
(Politics & Government)
Line 51: Line 51:
  
 
==Politics & Government==
 
==Politics & Government==
 +
 +
Dakoin's government is defined in the Articles I, II, III and IV of the Constitution. Undefined sections of government were, post 1821, either amended into the Constitution or explained in law.
  
 
===Executive===
 
===Executive===
Line 108: Line 110:
 
| Non-Aligned Independents (NAI)
 
| Non-Aligned Independents (NAI)
 
| align=center | n/a
 
| align=center | n/a
| Non-Aligned Independents (NAI), as officially known once in Congress, are members who refuse to ally with either the National Coalition or the Democratic Council. Independents are usually elected either on a single-issue basis, with 8 Greens being elected as NAIs in 1987 (who later joined the Democratic Council), or on a 'local representative' ticket. Only four have been elected to the current Congress, with all sitting in the Assembly. One is a Baile born 'Gaelic representative', two are seen as 'local representatives' and one, Patrick Hume, is an 'independent Socialist'.
+
| '''Non-Aligned Independents (NAI)''', as officially known once in Congress, are members who refuse to ally with either the National Coalition or the Democratic Council. Independents are usually elected either on a single-issue basis, with 8 Greens being elected as NAIs in 1987 (who later joined the Democratic Council), or on a 'local representative' ticket. Only four have been elected to the current Congress, with all sitting in the Assembly. One is a Baile born 'Gaelic representative', two are seen as 'local representatives' and one, Patrick Hume, is an 'independent Socialist'.
 
| align=center | 4, 0
 
| align=center | 4, 0
 
| align=center | 0.7%
 
| align=center | 0.7%
Line 114: Line 116:
  
 
The next election shall be a general election in 2011 unless the Congress, on the demand of the President, votes to hold such sooner.
 
The next election shall be a general election in 2011 unless the Congress, on the demand of the President, votes to hold such sooner.
 +
 +
===Judiciary===
 +
 +
''See [[Dakoin Supreme Court]] for full information and history of the Supreme Court.''
 +
 +
The Republic of Dakoin is a common law jurisdiction. The judiciary consists of the Supreme Court, the High Court and many lower courts established by law. Judges are appointed by the President and approved by majority in both houses of Congress and can be removed from office only for misbehaviour or incapacity, and then only by resolution of both houses of the Congress. The final court of appeal is the Supreme Court, which consists of the Chief Justice and other justices (currently nine). The Supreme Court has the power of judicial review and may declare to be invalid both laws and acts of the state which are repugnant to the constitution.
 +
 +
===Local Government===
 +
 +
Under the Kingdom of Dakoin each of the 25 regions of Dakoin were granted significant freedom from national interferance, with all but one (Baile) granted seemingly full autonomy on many matters. In 1821 this historic understanding was incorporated into the constitution and all regions were, in Article IV, granted 'equal and fair representation in the Senate' together with 'numerous devolved powers'. The powerful Senate features one Senator from each region granting the regions huge influence in government. Together with this, each region has a devolved government which, by constitution, must be able to enforce 'basic powers'. Further powers, such as raising or lowering tax, were added via amendments post 1821. Following the succession of Baile in 1987, twenty-four regions remain.
 +
 +
====Regional Government====
 +
 +
Each region is granted its own government; executive, legislature and judiciary, each with significant powers. Regional Government roughly mirrors national government with the executive led by a Governor, elected by the legislature (all of which are unicameral). Regional government elections are every 4 years, always together with Assembly elections (meaning, also, that every 8 years a general election will also feature regional elections).
 +
 +
=====Governors=====
 +
 +
*'''Democratic Council''' Governors - 13
 +
*'''National Coalition''' Governors - 11
 +
 +
====Local Government====
 +
 +
Municipal and county government is devolved by regional government with powers varying, but always significantly weaker tha regional government.

Revision as of 16:34, 30 September 2007

The Republic of Dakoin
Motto
  - English
Libertas
Freedom
Anthem Rally of the Republic
Official Language(s) English
Capital Ys
Government
  - President
  - Prime Minister
  - Deputy Prime Minister
Unitary Republic
President Anthony McKibben
Prime Minister Timothy Aktin
Deputy Prime Minister Edward Dodds
Population
  - Total

  - 200,451,000
Establishment
  - Formation of Kingdom of Dakoin
  - Formation of Republic of Dakoin

  - 600 A.D
  - 1821 A.D
GDP
  - Total (USD)
  - Per Capita (USD)

n/a4
n/a
Currency 1 RD Dollar = 100 hundreths
Calling Code +1821

Dakoin, officially the Republic of Dakoin, is a large unitary republic situated on the island of Dakoin. Preceded by the Kingdom of Dakoin, the Republic was based on founding principles of liberty and democracy following the Democratic Council led Summer Revolution of 1821.

Politics & Government

Dakoin's government is defined in the Articles I, II, III and IV of the Constitution. Undefined sections of government were, post 1821, either amended into the Constitution or explained in law.

Executive

Dakoin is a republic, with a parliamentary system of Government. The President of Dakoin, who serves a head of state, is elected every eight years in the general election. Whilst mainly serving as a figurehead, the President still has considerable constitutional powers and is highly influential in Dakoin politics. President Anthony McKibben (National Coalition) is the current President of 12 years, midway through his second term. The President is elected via the instant run off voting system. The Prime Minister, who wields significantly more power as Head of Government, is Timothy Atkin AM (Democratic Council) who is appointed by the President following the nomination by Congress. Every Prime Minister has been the leader of the largest coalition in Congress. The Deputy Prime Minister is appointed by the Prime Minister and is his Deputy. He is also, by convention, the 'Whip' of the majority party in the Assembly. He is bound to be of the same party or coalition as the Prime Minister. Dakoin political parties form into broad coalitions, with two being dominant - the Democratic Council and the National Coalition. As such, Dakoin is either a multi-party democracy (with most parties joining the coalitions), or a two-party democracy (consisting of the opposing coalitions).

Core Executive

The 'Core Executive' consists of Secretaries of State (who head each Government Department), the President, the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister. The current Cabinet is thus:

  • President of the Republic - Anthony McKibben
  • Prime Minister of the Republic - Timothy Atkin
  • Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic - Edward Dodds
  • Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs - Doreen Ryan
  • Secretary of State for Finance - Laura Benton
  • Secretary of State for the Home Department - Charles Summerfield
  • Secretary of State for Defence - Phil Collins
  • Secretary of State for the Environment - Neil Kennedy
  • Secretary of State for Health - Abraham Southgate
  • Secretary of State for Arts, Sports and Tourism -
  • Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food - Elliot Smith
  • Secretary of State for the Regions & Local Government - Ralph Horrison
  • Secretary of State for Social & Family Affairs - Angela Brown
  • Secretary of State for Energy - Nevil Fletcher
  • Secretary of State for Business, Trade & Employment - Matthew Walker

Legislature

The bicameral legislature, the Congress of Dakoin, consists of a Senate and a lower house, the National Assembly (known informally as the Assembly). In unison with most democracies, the lower house is the dominant chamber. The National Assembly consists of 318 Assembly Members, each elected from a single constituency using the plurality voting system. The Assembly is elected every four years, with each election signaling the start of a new government. The Senate consists of 24 Senators, one for each region of Dakoin, elected under the same system as the Assembly but with Senators serving eight year terms. As such, every eight years a general election occurs whereby all Congress and the President are elected.

Composition of Congress

Following the 2007 Assembly elections and 2003 General Election (which formed the current Senate) the composition of Congress is thus:

Party Leader(s) Description Seats in the National Assembly of 318 and Senate of 24 Percentage of the popular vote in the 2007 Assembly election
Democratic Council of Dakoin PM Timothy Atkin AM The Democratic Council has a rich history in the liberal tradition. Pioneers of the Summer Revolution, Dakoin' Forefathers were all members of the Council and collectively called an end to autocracy and demanded a democracy built on the principles of liberty for all and representative government. The now-coalition is led by the liberal Democratic Party although the social-democratic Progressive Party supplies Council leader, Timothy Atkin. For its first century the Council adhered to classical liberalism before adopting the social liberalism that most members of the Council promote today. With Progressive Atkin, however, the party is now following the 'Progressive Agenda' for the remainder of the current Congress. 176, 14 52.3%
National Coalition of Dakoin David Reid AM The National Coalition was formed in 1937 with a merger of the large conservative National Party and the Libertarian Party. Under the leadership of Reid the party has lost support gained under McKibben (now President) due to, as many claim, the shift rightwards. The party held the Assembly from the 1960s until the late 20th Century (with McKibben as Prime Minister for three terms), conceding it to the Democratic Council only in 1991. 138, 10 47.0%
Non-Aligned Independents (NAI) n/a Non-Aligned Independents (NAI), as officially known once in Congress, are members who refuse to ally with either the National Coalition or the Democratic Council. Independents are usually elected either on a single-issue basis, with 8 Greens being elected as NAIs in 1987 (who later joined the Democratic Council), or on a 'local representative' ticket. Only four have been elected to the current Congress, with all sitting in the Assembly. One is a Baile born 'Gaelic representative', two are seen as 'local representatives' and one, Patrick Hume, is an 'independent Socialist'. 4, 0 0.7%

The next election shall be a general election in 2011 unless the Congress, on the demand of the President, votes to hold such sooner.

Judiciary

See Dakoin Supreme Court for full information and history of the Supreme Court.

The Republic of Dakoin is a common law jurisdiction. The judiciary consists of the Supreme Court, the High Court and many lower courts established by law. Judges are appointed by the President and approved by majority in both houses of Congress and can be removed from office only for misbehaviour or incapacity, and then only by resolution of both houses of the Congress. The final court of appeal is the Supreme Court, which consists of the Chief Justice and other justices (currently nine). The Supreme Court has the power of judicial review and may declare to be invalid both laws and acts of the state which are repugnant to the constitution.

Local Government

Under the Kingdom of Dakoin each of the 25 regions of Dakoin were granted significant freedom from national interferance, with all but one (Baile) granted seemingly full autonomy on many matters. In 1821 this historic understanding was incorporated into the constitution and all regions were, in Article IV, granted 'equal and fair representation in the Senate' together with 'numerous devolved powers'. The powerful Senate features one Senator from each region granting the regions huge influence in government. Together with this, each region has a devolved government which, by constitution, must be able to enforce 'basic powers'. Further powers, such as raising or lowering tax, were added via amendments post 1821. Following the succession of Baile in 1987, twenty-four regions remain.

Regional Government

Each region is granted its own government; executive, legislature and judiciary, each with significant powers. Regional Government roughly mirrors national government with the executive led by a Governor, elected by the legislature (all of which are unicameral). Regional government elections are every 4 years, always together with Assembly elections (meaning, also, that every 8 years a general election will also feature regional elections).

Governors
  • Democratic Council Governors - 13
  • National Coalition Governors - 11

Local Government

Municipal and county government is devolved by regional government with powers varying, but always significantly weaker tha regional government.