Difference between revisions of "Isselmere"

Revision as of 12:24, 30 September 2005

Isselmere

Flag of Isselmere
Motto: Never so far as you wish it was
No Map Available Yet
Region	Lethe
Capital	Daurmont
Official Language(s)	English
Leader	King Henry V
Population	4.083 billion
Currency	lethse
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Introduction

The United Kingdom of Isselmere-Nieland (UKIN) is relatively ancient but until recently comparatively powerless. The UKIN is presently a member of several alliances and is noted for its publishing and automotive industries, although its information technology and shipbuilding sectors are advancing steadily.

Politics

The UKIN is a constitutional monarchy governed by the Sovereign through the Council of State. The present constitution dates from 1986. The Constitution Act, 1986 reveals the UKIN's peculiar response to the dilemma of the separation of powers between the legislative, executive, and judicial powers.

Legislative authority resides primarily with Parliament. The Sovereign titularly presides over a bicameral Parliament consisting of the House of Assembly (Lower House) and the Senate (Upper House). The Constitution, however, formalised the existing convention that in practice Parliament, meaning the two Houses, governs its own affairs and initiates legislation on all matters with the exception of very few subjects falling under the royal prerogative (ennobling subjects, etc.).

The Council of Ministers is the seat of all executive authority. The Sovereign or his or her Royal Commissioner(s) may preside over plenary meetings of the Council of Ministers, but only in an advisory capacity. In truth, the Prime Minister is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Government. The Prime Minister is chosen by the Sovereign from members of the House of Assembly, which may reject the royal selection in favour of a candidate of its own choosing. The Prime Minister, on consultation with the Sovereign, then appoints the other Ministers.

The General Council of Judicature (GCJ) administers the operation of the national and nationally-appointed judiciary. The GCJ serves as the supreme disciplinary body for judges and justices throughout the UKIN.

Despite these three bodies, it is the Council of State that serves as the voice of the nation. The Council of State consists of the Sovereign or his or her Royal Commissioner(s), the Council of Ministers, the Council of Peers, and the General Council of the Judicature. Formerly, the Temple Council, which governed the Church of Isselmere, was part of the Council of State, until the Church was disestablished in 2004. The Council of Ministers is the de facto government, headed by the Prime Minister. The Council of Peers advises the Sovereign on matters concerning the nobility, while the General Council of the Judicature (GCJ) advises the Sovereign on judicial issues. In practice, the Sovereign has little or no influence on the GCJ and custom, as well as the Constitution, has made the Sovereign subject to the advice of the Council of Ministers. The Sovereign may also obtain the advice of his or her Privy Council, although generally it is composed of active senior government ministers.

Regions, Provinces, etc.

The UKIN itself is divided into four autonomous regions (Anguist, Detmere, Isselmere, and Nieland) and further into twenty-nine provinces.

Education

Nursery school - Ages 2-5

Primary school - Ages 5-10 (generally), Introductory Phase (Years 1-2), Elementary Instruction Phase (Years 3-6)

Secondary school - Ages 11-16 (generally), Initial Assessment Phase (Form 1-3), Ordinary Academic Capacity Examinations (OACE), Academic Evaluation Phase (Form 4-6), Certificate of Advanced Secondary Education examinations (CASE)

--16-years of age marks the end of compulsory education

College - Ages 17-18; General, Technical, Vocational, Certificate of [type] College Studies

Institute - vocational post-collegiate institution

University-College - general or technical post-collegiate institution; may permit access to university

University - Three official phases: baccalaureate, magisterial, doctorate.

Industries

Owing to massive investment in education and defence by Union and regional governments, the book publishing, automotive, and information technology sectors have blossomed.

The Royal Shipyards of Isselmere-Nieland (RSIN) is the largest nationalised industry in the UKIN and a noted manufacturer of warships. Though now outclassed in terms of foreign sales by Sarzonia's Portland Iron Works (PIW) and Praetonia's Imperial Praetonian Shipyards (IPS), the RSIN is still strongly supported by the Royal Isselmere-Nieland Navy (RINN) and the Jimnam Grand Navy (JGN). Its headquarters are in the northern city of Grimsby Downs, Anguist.

Umberton and Throckmorton (U&T) are the largest publishers in the UKIN, produces textbooks and educational multimedia for all instructional levels. U&T was once the primary publisher of religious texts for the Reformed Church of Isselmere (RCI) as well as other Christian sects and other faiths. With the RCI's disestablishment, U&T has removed itself from the religious market. Since 1915, U&T have supported young writers with the Great Authors in the Making (GAMUT) award. For each category, a jury of twelve authors and six publishers judge the works. The GAMUT is most frequently awarded to challenging and innovative works of fiction and non-fiction. U&T's central offices may be found in Cailliecross, Daurmont, Isselmere.

Turing-Babbage Integrated Technological Services Incorporated (T-BITS) is the UKIN's largest information technology (IT) company. Many of its hardware components may be found in everything from the latest generation fighter jets to little Tommy or Sara's toys. T-BITS head offices are in Stettering, Nieland.

Isselmere Motor Works (IMW) of Thistlemoor, Isselmere, is a major producer of military land vehicles as well as marine and aircraft engines. IMW has established foreign centres of production in Russkya and Rusokaria.

Lyme and Martens Industries (LMI) was formerly a major manufacturer of uncrewed vehicles, but its markets have fallen by the wayside with the growth products from Clan Smoke Jaguar's industries and other foreign firms. LMI's headquarters is in Ponsonby, Detmere.

Detmerian Aerospace Dynamics (DAS) is a mostly domestic industry, though it has achieved some foreign success with its Sea Fury and Spectre designs. Its central office is located in Fennerby, Detmere.

Defence Forces

The United Kingdom of Isselmere-Nieland's Defence Forces (UKIN-DF) consist of the Royal Isselmere-Nieland Navy (RINN), the Isselmere-Nielander Army (INA), the Royal Isselmere-Nieland Air Force (RINAF), and the Royal Isselmere-Nieland Orbital Defence Force (RINOD).

RINN

The RINN consists of a broad assortment of vessels, from coastal patrol vessels to a pair of super-dreadnoughts. At its highest level, it is administered by the Admiralty, comprising of the First Lord of the Admiralty (i.e. the Secretary of State for the Navy) and the three Sea Lords. The First Sea Lord is the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) whilst the Second Sea Lord is the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) and the Third Sea Lord is the Chief of Naval Resources (CNR).

Organisationally, the RINN possesses two navies, the Navy of the White that guards the UKIN's coastline and immediate interests and the Navy of the Blue that defends the State's broader strategic interests. Beneath each navy are fleet groups of several fleets, such as the Home Fleet Group with the 1st (Isselmere) and 16th (Detmere) fleets. The fleets are further sub-divided into squadrons, such as the 1st Expeditionary Squadron comprising of two expeditionary (task) groups. Administratively, similar unit types are collected into divisions -- for instance, the 14th Destroyer Division of the 4th (Northern Gap) Fleet.

The RINN is in fact a small version of the UKIN-DF with its own army, air force, and strategic defence force. The "army" is the Royal Isselmere-Nieland Marines (RINM), who have their own air service (RINMAS) as well. The RINM operates mostly from Expeditionary Groups, although most naval ships possess Marine detachments, alternatively providing or to fend off boarding parties. The RINMAS provides the air contingent on amphibious vessels.

Furthermore, the RINN operates the Coastal Defence Force (CDF), a network of coastal artillery stations and units, in conjunction with the INA.

The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) is the Navy's air force. It performs maritime patrol (MARPAT) as well as carrier- and some land-based air defence and strike functions. The FAA works closely with the RINAF to secure the State's coastlines and economic zones.

The (Naval) Strategic Defence Force (SDF) is the umbrella organisation for the State's ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) contingent.