Difference between revisions of "Braunekuste"
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! align="right" | Population: | ! align="right" | Population: | ||
| − | | 2. | + | | 2.5% |
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! align="right" | Capital: | ! align="right" | Capital: | ||
| − | | Grandville ( | + | | Grandville (0.4%) |
|- | |- | ||
! align="right" | Metropolis: | ! align="right" | Metropolis: | ||
| − | | Johnstown ( | + | | Johnstown (0.5%) |
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! align="right" | Leader: | ! align="right" | Leader: | ||
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| − | The '''Province of Braunekuste''' is a charter province of the Community of [[Sober Thought]]. Although it bears a Germanic name, its population is mainly English and French speaking. | + | The '''Province of Braunekuste''' is a charter province of the Community of [[Sober Thought]]. Although it bears a Germanic name, its population is mainly English and French speaking. On January 1, 2006, the formerly independent province of [[Potato Island]] adhered to the Braunekuste as a chartered municipality. |
==Geography== | ==Geography== | ||
===Physical geography=== | ===Physical geography=== | ||
| − | + | Mainland Braunekuste shares many geological features with its offshore neighbours on [[Bristle Island|Bristle]] and [[Potato Island|Potato]] Islands. It is surrounded on two sides by the ocean. In fact, the exposed low-grade iron ore deposits -- combined with the salt water of the sea -- combined to form the brown coast after which the province was named. | |
| − | River valleys and treed plains supplement its well-worn mountains. The soil outside the valleys is conducive only to marginal farming and livestock grazing. The moderately rugged terrain dominated by many small rivers is attractive to tourists but makes highways expensive to build. | + | River valleys and treed plains supplement its well-worn mountains. The soil outside the valleys is conducive only to marginal farming and livestock grazing. The moderately rugged terrain dominated by many small rivers is attractive to tourists but makes highways expensive to build. In contrast, Potato Island is rather flat and devoted to agriculture. |
===Economic geography=== | ===Economic geography=== | ||
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Pulp and paper mills, wooden building and carpentry industries were the only secondary industry that really developed in Braunekuste. Ill-advised attempts at specialty automobile manufacturing collapsed due to technical problems and the withdrawal of tariffs against higher quality and lower priced foreign automotive imports. | Pulp and paper mills, wooden building and carpentry industries were the only secondary industry that really developed in Braunekuste. Ill-advised attempts at specialty automobile manufacturing collapsed due to technical problems and the withdrawal of tariffs against higher quality and lower priced foreign automotive imports. | ||
| − | After a long period of absolute and relative decline in the region, the province seized upon its bilingual human capital to increase its hold on call centres and other tele-services. | + | After a long period of absolute and relative decline in the region, the province seized upon its bilingual human capital to increase its hold on call centres and other tele-services. It also expanded its reach to include Potato Island. |
===Population geography=== | ===Population geography=== | ||
| − | Braunekuste contains 2. | + | Braunekuste contains 2.5% of the population of Sober Thought and ranks as the second least populous province. Its population is about 28% French-speaking, concentrated in the east and north, and two thirds English-speaking. Prior to the adhesion of Potato Island, the French had about a third of the population. |
| − | Unlike nearly all other provinces, Braunekuste does not have a single metropolis. Instead, there are | + | Unlike nearly all other provinces, Braunekuste does not have a single metropolis. Instead, there are six municipalities each with about 0.5% of the national population: Grandville, the de jure political capital located in the English section is inland up river but is officially bilingual; Moineville, the de facto French cultural capital and officially bilingual, is inland near the border with Hochelaga; Johnstown, the de facto English commercial capital which is unilingual; Mirage County, the rural French area; Loyalist County, the rural English area on the mainland; and [[Potato Island]], the rural English area off the coast which used to be independent. |
==Government== | ==Government== | ||
===Federal representatives=== | ===Federal representatives=== | ||
| − | + | Braunekustians or Braunekustien(ne)s have six single-member electoral districts for which they elect members to federal House of the Federation, one for each chartered municipality which cover the entirety of the province. Two additional MHFs are elected at large to represent preferences poorly reflected in the district elections. Normally, three MHFs are French and five are English, but there is no federal or provincial requirement that this be so. | |
The province is represented by two members in the federal House of the Provinces, usually by the provincial premier and the federal relations minister. It is customary, but not legally obligatory, for the two MHPs to be from different linguistic communities. | The province is represented by two members in the federal House of the Provinces, usually by the provincial premier and the federal relations minister. It is customary, but not legally obligatory, for the two MHPs to be from different linguistic communities. | ||
===Provincial government=== | ===Provincial government=== | ||
| − | The province is officially bilingual in English and French, and each municipality may designate itself English-speaking or French-speaking. Grandville | + | The province is officially bilingual in English and French, and each municipality may designate itself English-speaking or French-speaking. Grandville and Moineville are officially bilingual, the remainder are unilingual. |
| − | Its Provincial Assembly or Assemblée provinciale divides into two linguistic sections only when matters of education, language or culture are being decided. Otherwise, the sixty deputies or deputés are seated together and vote together. | + | Its Provincial Assembly or Assemblée provinciale divides into two linguistic sections only when matters of education, language or culture are being decided. Otherwise, the seventy-five (formerly sixty before Potato Island joined) deputies or deputés are seated together and vote together. |
| − | The | + | The chartered cities/villes and counties/comtés each elect four members at large to the assembly. Explicitly language-based parties are banned by the provincial constitution. |
Property taxes are within national norms, and since much of the business of the province is actually conducted over the telephone, business taxes are low as well. | Property taxes are within national norms, and since much of the business of the province is actually conducted over the telephone, business taxes are low as well. | ||
===Municipal government=== | ===Municipal government=== | ||
| − | The three chartered cities each elect a mayor or maire and 12 councillors or conseilleurs for four-year terms. | + | The three chartered cities each elect a mayor or maire and 12 councillors or conseilleurs for four-year terms. The two mainland chartered counties have the same rights and obligations as an urban counterparts. They elect one county prefect and 12 county councillors each. See [[Potato Island]] for the somewhat more complex municipal government there. |
Some settlements within chartered counties are big enough to warrant town charters, but provincial political culture and county practice have precluded formal secessions. Instead, some uncontroversial municipal powers are delegated to committees of local county councillors who chose one of their members to act as sub-prefect for the unchartered settlements. | Some settlements within chartered counties are big enough to warrant town charters, but provincial political culture and county practice have precluded formal secessions. Instead, some uncontroversial municipal powers are delegated to committees of local county councillors who chose one of their members to act as sub-prefect for the unchartered settlements. | ||
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===Defence=== | ===Defence=== | ||
| − | The province maintains a force of part-time citizen soldiers in the Civil Guard to help restore civil authority in Braunekuste and to reinforce the [[Community Defence Forces]] in Sober Thought. For every one hundred million residents of the country, Braunekuste raises two Civil Guard battalions. | + | The province maintains a force of part-time citizen soldiers in the [[Civil Guard]]/Garde civile to help restore civil authority in Braunekuste and to reinforce the [[Community Defence Forces]] in Sober Thought. For every one hundred million residents of the country, Braunekuste raises two and a half Civil Guard battalions. |
| − | Bilingual Braunekuste maintains one sequence of ordinal numbers for English and French battalions. The first battalion in each class retroactively bears a dual designation, e.g., 1st Battalion, Braunekuste Fusiliers / 1ière bataillon, Fusiliers | + | Bilingual Braunekuste maintains one sequence of ordinal numbers for English and French battalions. The first battalion in each class retroactively bears a dual designation, e.g., 1st Battalion, Braunekuste Mounted Fusiliers / 1ière bataillon, Fusiliers montés braunekustiens; 1st Battalion, Braunekuste Technical Regiment / 1ière bataillon, Régiment braunekustien de technique; 1st Battalion, Braunekuste Provisions Regiment / 1ière bataillon, Régiment braunekustien d’aide de provision. |
| − | Every third battalion starting with the third bears a French designation only, e.g, 3e bataillon, Régiment d’aide médical | + | Every third battalion starting with the third bears a French designation only, e.g, 3e bataillon, Régiment braunekustien d’aide médical; 6e bataillon, Régiment braunekustien des transports. The other battalions bears English designations only, e.g., 4th Braunekuste Cuirassiers; 2nd Battalion, Braunekuste Mounted Rifles. |
===Education=== | ===Education=== | ||
As a cultural-linguistic matter, primary, intermediate and secondary education is administered by separate English and French sections of the education ministry. There are two or three public secondary schools in each chartered city and county, and an appropriate number of intermediate and primary schools as well. | As a cultural-linguistic matter, primary, intermediate and secondary education is administered by separate English and French sections of the education ministry. There are two or three public secondary schools in each chartered city and county, and an appropriate number of intermediate and primary schools as well. | ||
| − | Tertiary education is administered bilingually by a third section of the education ministry. The only government supported university and its associated professional schools is the bilingual University of Braunekuste or Université du Braunekuste. There are campuses in each of the cities with faculties as follows: Grandville, social sciences, health sciences; Moineville, humanities, law; and Johnstown, business, sciences. | + | Tertiary education is administered bilingually by a third section of the education ministry. The only government supported university and its associated professional schools is the bilingual University of Braunekuste or Université du Braunekuste. There are campuses in each of the cities with faculties as follows: Grandville, social sciences, health sciences; Moineville, humanities, law; and Johnstown, business, sciences. Island College offers practical diplomas and the first two years of university education which must be completed on the mainland. |
There are an unknown number of religious schools operating without government approval. In addition, there are two private universities: Université catholique braunekuste (religious, in Moineville) and University of Johnstown (secular). | There are an unknown number of religious schools operating without government approval. In addition, there are two private universities: Université catholique braunekuste (religious, in Moineville) and University of Johnstown (secular). | ||
===Transportation=== | ===Transportation=== | ||
| − | Federally-funded ferry service links Braunekuste with | + | Federally-funded ferry service links Braunekuste with [[Bristle Island]] and a federally-funded multipurpose bridge links it with Potato Island. The province also has excellent federally funded rail and road connections with mainland Hochelaga. |
Each of the three chartered cities has an airport, but Grandville’s is the busiest. Johnstown is a minor seaport and naval base. | Each of the three chartered cities has an airport, but Grandville’s is the busiest. Johnstown is a minor seaport and naval base. | ||
Revision as of 01:56, 19 January 2006
| Sober Thought Province | ||||||||||||||||||
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The Province of Braunekuste is a charter province of the Community of Sober Thought. Although it bears a Germanic name, its population is mainly English and French speaking. On January 1, 2006, the formerly independent province of Potato Island adhered to the Braunekuste as a chartered municipality.
Contents
Geography
Physical geography
Mainland Braunekuste shares many geological features with its offshore neighbours on Bristle and Potato Islands. It is surrounded on two sides by the ocean. In fact, the exposed low-grade iron ore deposits -- combined with the salt water of the sea -- combined to form the brown coast after which the province was named.
River valleys and treed plains supplement its well-worn mountains. The soil outside the valleys is conducive only to marginal farming and livestock grazing. The moderately rugged terrain dominated by many small rivers is attractive to tourists but makes highways expensive to build. In contrast, Potato Island is rather flat and devoted to agriculture.
Economic geography
Water and water-related products dominated the early economy of Braunekuste. Ships were required to connect the mainland with the offshore Bristle and Potato Islands, and the hardwood timber provided the materials.
Riparian navigation provided the first transportation routes to the interior, and small boats provided the vessels for those routes. Even as fur trapping, specialty crop farming and other primary industries grew in importance, they were made feasible by the access provided by the rivers.
Pulp and paper mills, wooden building and carpentry industries were the only secondary industry that really developed in Braunekuste. Ill-advised attempts at specialty automobile manufacturing collapsed due to technical problems and the withdrawal of tariffs against higher quality and lower priced foreign automotive imports.
After a long period of absolute and relative decline in the region, the province seized upon its bilingual human capital to increase its hold on call centres and other tele-services. It also expanded its reach to include Potato Island.
Population geography
Braunekuste contains 2.5% of the population of Sober Thought and ranks as the second least populous province. Its population is about 28% French-speaking, concentrated in the east and north, and two thirds English-speaking. Prior to the adhesion of Potato Island, the French had about a third of the population.
Unlike nearly all other provinces, Braunekuste does not have a single metropolis. Instead, there are six municipalities each with about 0.5% of the national population: Grandville, the de jure political capital located in the English section is inland up river but is officially bilingual; Moineville, the de facto French cultural capital and officially bilingual, is inland near the border with Hochelaga; Johnstown, the de facto English commercial capital which is unilingual; Mirage County, the rural French area; Loyalist County, the rural English area on the mainland; and Potato Island, the rural English area off the coast which used to be independent.
Government
Federal representatives
Braunekustians or Braunekustien(ne)s have six single-member electoral districts for which they elect members to federal House of the Federation, one for each chartered municipality which cover the entirety of the province. Two additional MHFs are elected at large to represent preferences poorly reflected in the district elections. Normally, three MHFs are French and five are English, but there is no federal or provincial requirement that this be so.
The province is represented by two members in the federal House of the Provinces, usually by the provincial premier and the federal relations minister. It is customary, but not legally obligatory, for the two MHPs to be from different linguistic communities.
Provincial government
The province is officially bilingual in English and French, and each municipality may designate itself English-speaking or French-speaking. Grandville and Moineville are officially bilingual, the remainder are unilingual.
Its Provincial Assembly or Assemblée provinciale divides into two linguistic sections only when matters of education, language or culture are being decided. Otherwise, the seventy-five (formerly sixty before Potato Island joined) deputies or deputés are seated together and vote together.
The chartered cities/villes and counties/comtés each elect four members at large to the assembly. Explicitly language-based parties are banned by the provincial constitution.
Property taxes are within national norms, and since much of the business of the province is actually conducted over the telephone, business taxes are low as well.
Municipal government
The three chartered cities each elect a mayor or maire and 12 councillors or conseilleurs for four-year terms. The two mainland chartered counties have the same rights and obligations as an urban counterparts. They elect one county prefect and 12 county councillors each. See Potato Island for the somewhat more complex municipal government there.
Some settlements within chartered counties are big enough to warrant town charters, but provincial political culture and county practice have precluded formal secessions. Instead, some uncontroversial municipal powers are delegated to committees of local county councillors who chose one of their members to act as sub-prefect for the unchartered settlements.
Defence
The province maintains a force of part-time citizen soldiers in the Civil Guard/Garde civile to help restore civil authority in Braunekuste and to reinforce the Community Defence Forces in Sober Thought. For every one hundred million residents of the country, Braunekuste raises two and a half Civil Guard battalions.
Bilingual Braunekuste maintains one sequence of ordinal numbers for English and French battalions. The first battalion in each class retroactively bears a dual designation, e.g., 1st Battalion, Braunekuste Mounted Fusiliers / 1ière bataillon, Fusiliers montés braunekustiens; 1st Battalion, Braunekuste Technical Regiment / 1ière bataillon, Régiment braunekustien de technique; 1st Battalion, Braunekuste Provisions Regiment / 1ière bataillon, Régiment braunekustien d’aide de provision.
Every third battalion starting with the third bears a French designation only, e.g, 3e bataillon, Régiment braunekustien d’aide médical; 6e bataillon, Régiment braunekustien des transports. The other battalions bears English designations only, e.g., 4th Braunekuste Cuirassiers; 2nd Battalion, Braunekuste Mounted Rifles.
Education
As a cultural-linguistic matter, primary, intermediate and secondary education is administered by separate English and French sections of the education ministry. There are two or three public secondary schools in each chartered city and county, and an appropriate number of intermediate and primary schools as well.
Tertiary education is administered bilingually by a third section of the education ministry. The only government supported university and its associated professional schools is the bilingual University of Braunekuste or Université du Braunekuste. There are campuses in each of the cities with faculties as follows: Grandville, social sciences, health sciences; Moineville, humanities, law; and Johnstown, business, sciences. Island College offers practical diplomas and the first two years of university education which must be completed on the mainland.
There are an unknown number of religious schools operating without government approval. In addition, there are two private universities: Université catholique braunekuste (religious, in Moineville) and University of Johnstown (secular).
Transportation
Federally-funded ferry service links Braunekuste with Bristle Island and a federally-funded multipurpose bridge links it with Potato Island. The province also has excellent federally funded rail and road connections with mainland Hochelaga.
Each of the three chartered cities has an airport, but Grandville’s is the busiest. Johnstown is a minor seaport and naval base.
Exclusive jurisdictions
Police and civil law
The Braunekuste Gendarmerie or Gendarmerie braunekustienne is the bilingual provincial police force. The Bee Gees or Jé Bés, as they are affectionately known, are rather unremarkably organized with large detachments in the cities, moderate detachments in sub-prefectures, small detachments elsewhere, and mobile detachments active patrolling the highways and railways.
Civil law presents in form like Gallic legal codes but in function more closely resembles Anglo-American codes.
