Bathynia
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| National motto: " Esse Quam Videri - To Be, Rather than to Seem " | |||||
| No map available Yet | |||||
| Region | Region | ||||
| Capital | Darchcadia | ||||
| Largest City | Darchcadia | ||||
| Population | 5.2 million (1.1.2007), 206 million on NS | ||||
| Suffrage | 16 years of age; universal | ||||
| Official Language(s) | Bathynian, Latin | ||||
| Government - Monarch - Head Minister - Foreign Minister |
Democratic Constitutional Monarchy King Geradon II Saliador Laura Romberg Arecelis Vaan | ||||
| Establishment - First city-states - Vecetillian Empire - Kingdom |
20th-8th century B.C 100's B.C 6th December 527 A.D | ||||
| ISO Nation Code | BHA | ||||
| Currency | Phaeton (BPH)1 BPH = 100 Daethon (den.) | ||||
| Internet TLD | .ba | ||||
| Calling Code | +352
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| UN Status | Non Member | ||||
| Info: NationStates NSEconomy NS Tracker XML | |||||
The Kingdom of Bathynia is a liberal democratic constitutional monarchy, with a cultural image of Naboo (Star Wars) and modern Finland and a long history.
It's small, compassionate and intelligent population enjoy extremely high living standards, superb civil and political rights and great social equality. The Bathynians enjoy a well funded welfare system and the very highest standards of education and health care - all provided for free, thus the nation's Health, Education and Welfare Systems are among the best in the world. A robust private sector is led by the Information Thecnology Industry, followed by Timber and Engineering Industry. Bathynia is an environmentally stunning, economically powerful nation, remarkable for its devotion to tolerance and social welfare.
The country invests heavily in education, training and research, investment which pays dividends by delivering one of the best educated and trained workforces in the world. This has been a key factor in the development of a modern, competitive economy in which a cutting-edge telecommunications sector has been added to the traditional timber and engineering industries.
Bathynia is led by a Monarch, who acts as the hereditary head of state.
The country's population is ethnically mainly homogeneous but with a inceasing immigrant population.
Contents
Government and Politics of Bathynia
The Kingdom of Bathynia is a representative democratic constitutional monarchy, with a semi-presidential system of government, a multi-party system and elements of direct democracy. All Citizens aged 16 or over have the right to vote. Voting is anonymous.
The Head of State of Bathynia
The Monarch (King/Queen) is the hereditary Head of State of Bathynia. Under the Constitution of Bathynia, executive power is vested in the Monarch and the Royal Advisory Council of State, which must enjoy the confidence of the Royal Senate. This principle is reflected in other provisions of the Constitution concerning the Monarch’s functions and powers dealing with legislation, decrees, and appointment of public officials. The current monarch is King Geradon II Saliador.
The Head of Government and the Royal Advisory Council of State
Most executive power, lies in the Royal Advisory Council of State(the cabinet), headed by the Head Minister, who is the Head of Government. Bathyia has equality between ministers in cabinet, the head minister is only the Primus Inter Pares (eng. First Among Equals). Responsibility for forming the cabinet out of several political parties and negotiating its platform is granted to the head minister, who is elected by the citizens of Bathynia via direct vote. Any minister and the council as a whole however must have continuing trust of the royal senate, the monarch and the people and may be voted out, resign or be replaced. The cabinet members selected by the head minister must be approved by the Royal Senate of Bathynia by a majority of 60%. The Advisory Council is made up of the head minister and the ministers for the various departments of the central government as well as an ex-officio member, the Chancellor of Justice.
Departments of the central government include:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of the Interior
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Health & Social Affairs and Services
Ministry of the Environment
Ministry of Sience & Technology
Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry
Ministry of Social Security & Welfare
Ministry of Transport & Communications
Ministry of Culture & Progress
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Foreign Trade & Development
Ministry of Provincial & Municipal Affairs
Ministry of Trade & Industry
Ministry of Energy
Ministry of Labour
Ministry of Justice
The Royal Senate of Bathynia
The 400-member unicameral Royal Senate is the supreme legislative authority in Bathynia. The Senate may alter the Constitution of Bathynia, bring about the resignation of the Royal Advisory Council of State, and override the Monarch’s vetoes. Its acts are not subject to judicial review. Legislation may be initiated by the Monarch, the Advisory Council, the people (via direct democracy), or one of the Senate members, called Seantors, who are elected for a two-year term on the basis of proportional representation through open list multi-member districts. All persons 16 or older, except military personnel on active duty and a few high judicial officials, are eligible for election. The regular senatoral term is two years; however, the Head Minister may dissolve the Senate and order new elections after consulting with the Monarch.
The Senate has, since equal and common suffrage was introduced in 1906, been dominated by secular Conservatives, the Centre Party, and Social Democrats. Nevertheless, none of these have held a single-party majority. The relative strengths of the parties vary only slightly in the elections due to the proportional election from multi-member districts, but there are some visible long-term trends.
Direct Demoracy in Bathynia
Any citizen may challenge a law or action that has been passed by the senate. If he or she is able to gather 50,000 signatures against the law within 100 days, a national vote has to be scheduled where voters decide by a simple majority whether to accept or reject the law.
Also, any citizen may seek a decision on an amendment they want to make to the constitution. For such an amendment initiative to be organised, the signatures of 100,000 voters must be collected within 18 months. Such a popular initiative may be formulated as a general proposal or - much more often - be put forward as a precise new text whose wording can no longer be changed by senate and the government. After a successful vote gathering, the senate may create a counterproposal to the proposed amendment and put it to vote on the same day. Such counterproposals are usually a compromise between the status quo and the wording of the initiative. Voters will again decide in a national vote whether to accept the initiative amendment, the counterproposal put forward by the senate or both. If both are accepted, one has to additionally signal a preference. Initiatives have to be accepted by a double majority of both the popular votes and a majority of the provinces.
The Judicial System of Bathynia
The judicial system of Bathynia is divided between courts with regular civil and criminal jurisdiction and administrative courts with responsibility for litigation between the individuals and the administrative organs of the state and the communities. Bathynian law is codified and its court system consists of local courts, regional appellate courts, and the Supreme Court. The administrative branch of justice consists of administrative courts and the Supreme Administrative Court. The administrative process has more popularity as it is cheaper and has lower financial risk to the person making claims. In addition to the regular courts, there are a few special courts in certain branches of administration. There is also a High Court of Impeachment for criminal charges (for an offence in office) against the Head of State, the Head of Government, the justices of the supreme courts, members of the Royal Advisory Council of State, the Chancellor of Justice and the Ombudsman of Senate.
The Constitution of Bathynia
The constitution of Bathynia and its place in the judicial system are unusual in that there is no constitutional court and the supreme court does not have an explicit right to declare a law unconstitutional. In principle, the constitutionality of laws in Bathynia is verified by a simple vote in the parliament. However, the Constitutional Law Committee of the senate reviews any doubtful bills and recommends changes, if needed. In practice, the Constitutional Law Committee fulfils the duties of a constitutional court. A Bathynian peculiarity is the possibility of making exceptions to the constitution in ordinary laws that are enacted in the same procedure as constitutional amendments. An example of such a law is the State of Preparedness Act which gives the Royal Advisory Council of State certain exceptional powers in cases of national emergency. As these powers, which correspond to U.S executive orders, affect constitutional basic rights, the law was enacted in the same manner as a constitutional amendment. However, it can be repealed in the same manner as an ordinary law. In addition to preview by the Constitutional Law Committee, all Bathynian courts of law have the obligation to give precedence to the constitution when there is an obvious conflict between the constitution and a regular law. That is, however, very rare.
Political parties and elections
Bathynia's proportional representation system encourages a multitude of political parties and has resulted in many coalition-governments.
In the senate elections of 16 March 2003, there were two dominating parties: the Green Party (BGP) and the Center Party (BCP). A new qovernment was formed by the Green Party and the Center Party together with the National Coalition Party (BNCP).
Bathynia elects on national level the head minister and a legislature. The head minister is elected for a two year term by the people. The Senate has 400 members, elected for a two year term by proportional representation in multi-seat constituencies. Bathynia has a multi-party system, with (atleast) three strong parties, in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form coalition governments.
In addition to the royal and senatorial elections, there are local municipal elections (held simultaneously in every municipality) every year.
Administrative divisions
Bathynia is divided to 16 provinces. The provinces are administered by provincial boards composed of civil servants, each headed by a governor appointed by the monarch. The boards are responsible to the Ministry of the Interior and play a supervisory and coordinating role within the provinces.
The 16 Provinces are futher divided in to 30 Regions, and the Regions are divided into 84 sub-regions. The Sub-regions are divided in to 432 democratically independent municipalities. The municipality is the same as a "city" level of government, except that rural municipalities are not called "cities". A Municipality is governed by the Municipal Council (a.k.a City Council). The council generally functions as a parliamentary style legislative body, proposing bills, holding votes, and passing laws to help govern the municipality. The Municipal Councils are elected by proportional representation every year. The head of a municipal council, the Mayor, is elected separately once a year. Most of the tax burden, namely two thirds, is levied by the municipalities.
Municipalities co-operate in subregions and regions. Moreover, the capital zone has a Darchadia Metropolital Area Council (DaMAC)
Geography and Nature
The mountainous Nordic country is covered by icy peaks and lush pine and spruce forests in the north, and oak forests in the south. The Silverspine Mountains begin from the south-west, go north along the western coast, and in the northern most part of the country, it turns east. The small area between the mountains and the sea is a warm if rainy land. The lands east and south of the Silverspines are covered by lush oak forests and thousands of lakes.
Climate
The climate in Southern Bathynia is a northern temperate climate. In Bathynia a subarctic climate dominates, characterised by cold, occasionally severe, winters and relatively warm summers. The midnight sun can be experienced — for more and more days, the further up north one comes. At Bathynia's northernmost point, the sun does not set for 73 days during summer, and does not rise at all for 51 days in winter.
Education
Literacy is at 100 %, and the government is spending massive amounts of Phaetons to ensure that the education system remains one of the best in the world. Universities are free for all students and are praised as some of the world‘s best, and are well funded, given the government's devotion to education. International Students are eagerly welcomed, and finansical support for those living with expenses, both Bathynian citizens and students from abroad, is provided extensively, by the government and private scholarship funds.
The educational system in Bathynia is based on a nine year comprehensive school, with mandatory attendance. It begins at the age of 6-7 and ends at the age of 15-16. After graduation from comprehensive school there is a choice between upper secondary school and vocational school. The second level education is not compulsory, but an overwhelming majority attends. Both primary and secondary education is funded by the municipality, and a free lunch is served.
There are two sectors in the tertiary education: universities and polytechnics. The focus for universities is research, and they give a more theoretical education. The polytechics are not academia; they focus on more practice-oriented teaching, and development instead of research. Attendance is compulsory in the primary and in vocational schools and polytechnics, but voluntary in universities. No tuition fees are collected from citizens in Bathynian universities or polytecnics. Bathynian students are entitled to a student benefit, but it may be revoked if there is a persistent lack of progress in the studies. The benefit is generous, and thus sufficient for living, so students don’t have to work to fund their life during studies. State-guaranteed student loans are also available.
Health
Bathynia has a completely free public healthcare system. There is 71 population for one doctor. The Government encourages people to eat heathy food, and live heathy lives. Value added tax is lower for heathy food and vegetables, and the government eagerly funds sports. Improvements in the diet and exercise during the past two decades have paid off. Bathynia is now one of the fittest and healthiest countries in the world.
The life expectancy is 87 years for both men and women.
Language
The Native Bathynian language has always been spoken in the lands of modern day Bathynia. Bathynian language derives from the Svandinavic dialects and Finnic descent intergrated with elements of Latin vocabulary. Latin is also a official language.
Brief History and Culture
The People of Bathynia are a peaceful, enlightened, and artistic lot. Like the people, Bathynian culture is indigenous and most prominently represented by the Bathynian language.
The Bathynian people remained largely pastoral and nomadic, although several urban centers did emerge (the first known city-state beign founded in the 1st millennium B.C); and the large Vecetillian Empire existed betveen 1282 – 1782 A.D. Darchadia, in the Silverspine Mountains, developed as one of the first Bathynian settlements on the area, keeping a degree of political power there. Moldeaux and Phaeton both developed as farming communities whose over-production of foodstuffs provided for a large leisure class. Moldeux eventually became the commercial hub while Phaeton became more aristocratic. Haeston developed as a coastal town for the few Bathynian fisherman, and later became the foremost trade port the country. Angelis is the place of the first christian monastery, and today serves as the seat of the Synod of the Bathynian Evangelic Lutheran Church.
Bathynia developed into a classic feudal society with a hereditary noble class and common folk, though unlike most feudal societies, there is no record of a subservient serf class. Bathynian city-states traded with each other and with other cultures . Generally the city-states acknowledged a ceremonial "High King"—a position that at times rotated between the city-state princes, though at other times was vested in a royal house. This ceremonial position was largely powerless and a form of peerage democracy evolved. In the 100’s B.C the city-states and petty kingdoms where united by Adalricus Vecetillus, who formed the Vecetillian Empire that would last up to the early 6th century, when in 527 A.D it was replaced by the Kingdom of Bathynia.
Equal and Common suffrage and the current system of governance has been in place since 1906, when it was proposed by King Jauffre III of House Vladarion, and aproved by the Elder Council, as part of the Rophonic Reformation. Many people are being involved in public service from the age of 16 onwards, as politics is a compulsory subject in school from the 3rd grade upwards.
Often when a Bathynian enters into political life he or she adopts a 'Name of State." This name of state is used for public occasions and represents the honor and dignity of the office one chooses.
Sport is considered a national pastime in Bathynia and many people regularly visit different sporting events. Ice Hockey is the national sport of Bathynia, and also the most popular sport in terms of television viewers and media coverage. The Bathynian ice hockey team, The Haccapelites, is considered one of the best in the world. Football is also very popular in Bathynia.
Modern Bathynian popular music includes a renowned death metal scene, in common with other Nordic countries, as well as a number of prominent rock bands, jazz musicians and hip hop performers. Bathynian popular music also includes a huge amount of opera and various kinds of dance music; tango, a style of Argentinean music, is also popular.
Energy policy
The Ministry of Energy is responsible for the Government's energy policy. The energy generated in Bathynia comprises around 10% nuclear power, 50% from hydroelectricity, and 40% from solar and wind power.
Royal Bathynian Security Forces
The Royal Bathynian Security Force, or RBSF, has been an all-volunteer defence force since conscription was abolished in 1962. RBSF recruits must be either Bathynian citizens or a permanent resident eligible for Bathynian citizenship. The minimum age for RBSF recruits is 17 years of age and the retirement age is 55 years for permanent personnel and 60 years for reservists.
The Royal Bathynian Security Force currently numbers about 16 500 professional soldiers, with a standard readiness strength of 34,700 people in uniform (27 300 army, 3000 navy, and 4400 air force). The RBSF, although small numerically, is technologically sophisticated. The defence is based on a large trained reserve. Bathynia's defence budget equals about 1.4% of the GDP.
The Security Forces are under the command of the Chief of Defence, who is directly subordinate to the monarch in matters related to the military command during war time, and the Minister of Defence during peace time. The current Chief of Defence is Grand Admiral Elatan Andros.
The military branches of the RBSF are:
• Bathynian Army
• Bathynian Navy
• Bathynian Air Force
• Royal Frontier Guard
The Royal Frontier Guard is under the Ministry of the Interior but can be incorporated into the Security Forces when required by defence readiness.
The ARCC (Advanced Recon Commando Corps), or Arc-Corps are the elite of the RBSF. They are shock troops specially trained for gurellia warfaren, sabotage and recon missions behind enemy lines; and work as the Special Forces of the army. Other elite units include the Jäger Paratroop Corps and the RBRDF, or Royal Bathynian Rapid Deploment Force, which is involved in peacekeeping missions.
Peacekeeping under the auspices of the United Nations is the only extra-national military responsibility which Bathynia undertakes.
Economy
Bathynia has a very complex, prosperous and diverse economy, with a economic system in which power is given to cartels that represent economic, industrial, agrarian, and professional groups. These cartels, known as Guilds are unelected bodies with an internal hierarchy; their purpose is to exert control over their respective areas of industry and economy. Thus, for example, the Banker’s Guild is a cartel composed of all the business leaders in the banking industry, coming together to discuss a common policy on prices and wages. This is done in the interests of the employees and consumers. The Guilds have no political power, and are monitored by the Ministry of Trade & Industry.
The economy is based on abundant forest resources, capital investments, and technology. Traditionally, Bathynia has been a net importer of capital to finance industrial growth. However, this trend was recently reversed, and Bathynia has become a net capital exporter. In the 1980s, Bathynia's economic growth rate was one of the highest of industrialized countries.
Bathynia's key economic sector is manufacturing - principally the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications and electronics industries. The telecommunications and electronics industries are now the biggest export sector. Trade is important, with exports equaling more than one-third of GDP. The forest industry and high-tech engineering are Bathynia's main industries, but other industries produce manufactured goods ranging from metalworks to motor vehicles. Bathynian-designed consumer products such as textiles, porcelain, and glassware are world-famous. The wood processing technology is one of the most developed in the world.
Except for timber and several minerals, Bathynia depends on imported raw materials and some components for its manufactured products. Farms tend to be small, but sizeable timber stands are harvested for supplementary income in winter. The country's main agricultural products are dairy, meat, and grains. The process of restructuring and downsizing of this sector has accelerated, with the farming population decreasing.
Law enforcement
Bathynia has a single national police force, working under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice and the justice minister of the government. It is organized into local police and national units. The 90 police departments of the local police are responsible for the usual uniformed police functions and minor criminal investigations. Local state districts are also police districts, and are under the jurisdiction of their provinces. The national police units include the
• National Bureau of Investigation, or NBI, which is responsible for major criminal investigations.
• National Traffic Police, a highway patrol organization responsible for traffic safety, doubling as a national police reserve.
• Security Police, responsible for the national security and the investigation of related crimes.
In addition, the Police operate a technical support center, an IT center, a Police School, and a Police College.
The characteristic colors are silver on deep blue; only these colors are used in the uniform. Police cars are blue and white, and have only blue flashing lights. The insignia features a sword with a lion's head as its handle.
There are three organizations having limited law enforcement powers, in additions to the Police. The Royal Frontier Guard and the Customs have wide enforcement powers in matters pertaining to their jurisdictions. The conductors on trains and ticket inspectors also have limited police powers. In addition, the Security Forces investigate most military-related crimes of military personnel. The unit commanders have some police powers in their respective units, and the military police guards the bases and military installations. In addition, the General Staff of the Security Forces includes an investigative section responsible for crime investigation and counter-intelligence.
Intelligence
The Bathynian Intelligence Office, or BIO, is a intelligence agency, responsible for obtaining and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, organizations and individuals, and reporting such information to the Bathynian government. The Tactical Response Team (TaReT) is the elite tactical unit of BIO. BIO is responsible to the Senate Intelligence & Security Oversight Committee (SISOC). BIO is also responsible for Bathynia's espionage activities abroad.
