Difference between revisions of "Edvardus"

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{{Infobox_Nation |
 
{{Infobox_Nation |
 
flag=http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/edvardus.jpg|
 
flag=http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/edvardus.jpg|
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region=[[Middle Earthen Tards]] |
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region=[[Earth 2050]] |
 
motto=Ad maiorem dei gloriam|
 
motto=Ad maiorem dei gloriam|
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map=[http://www.geocities.com/the_alliance47/mappa.jpg] |
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map= Cities & Natural Features [http://www.geocities.com/the_alliance47/mappa.jpg]<br>Provinces [http://www.geocities.com/the_alliance47/edvarduspolitical.jpg]|
 
language=[[Italian]], although [[Spanish]], [[English]], [[Portuguese]], [[French]], and [[German]] are also prevalent|
 
language=[[Italian]], although [[Spanish]], [[English]], [[Portuguese]], [[French]], and [[German]] are also prevalent|
 
capital=Città Imperiale|
 
capital=Città Imperiale|
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population=20 million|
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population=1.17 billion|
 
currency=Dollaro|
 
currency=Dollaro|
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leader=Paulo VII
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leader=Valeria
 
}}
 
}}
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'''Sacro Impero del Edoardo''' (or The Holy Empire of Edvardus, Edvardus for short) is a large, safe nation, notable for its complete lack of prisons.  
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'''Sacro Impero del Edoardo''' (or The Holy Empire of Edvardus, Edvardus for short) is a very large, devout, environmentally stunning, and safe nation, notable for its complete lack of prisons, punitive income tax rates, devotion to social welfare, and an economically powerful nation. Edvardus is located in the Middle East. It shares a border with Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Kuwait to the southeast, Jordan and Saudi Arabia to the south-central, Sudan to the southwest, and Libya to the west. It has a coastline on the Mediterranean and a small coastline on the Persian Gulf. Edvardus also controls the Suez Canal.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
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The area presently known as the Middle Earthen Tards has developed several nations in the past twenty years. One of which is the Holy Empire of Edvardus, which arose eighteen years ago. It used to be a [[democratic socialist]] state. However, sixteen years ago in response to the threat of war from a neighboring nation, Emperor Paulo VII invoked reserve powers and caused the UN to classify Edvardus as a corrupt dictatorship. The UN has pushed Edvardus further into the extreme when it categorized the Emperor as a psychotic dictator. They claim that the people "are ruled without fear or favor by a psychotic dictator, who outlaws just about everything and refers to the populace as 'my little playthings'."
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''see: [[History of Edvardus]]''
  
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When the government outlawed gambliing, the retail industry collapsed. With the rapid deterioration of the backbone of the economy, Edvardus lost its status as a developing nation. Soon after, the beef-based agricultural workers threatened to strike because they were not being paid fair wages. Partially because the President and Parliament feared that a strike would completely destroy the Edvardian economy, Parliament passed a law meeting the demands of the union. With the retail industry gone, beef-based agriculture was the main source of revenue for Edvardus. However, the passage of the Fair Wage Act only incited daily union strikes.
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The Holy Empire of Edvardus has over 226 years of history. The UN has classified the government as: democratic socialist (first two years), corrupt dictatorship, psychotic dictatorship (really long time), corrupt dictatorship again (after becoming a member of the UN), then Father Knows Best State, back to corrupt dictatorship, back to psychotic dictatorship, back to corrupt dictatorship, back to psychotic dictatorship (Innocenzo) again, an iron-fist consumerist state, mother knows best, inoffensive centrist democracy, corrupt dictatorship again, democratic socialist (for most of Valeria's reign), and now again an inoffensive centrist democracy.
  
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==Politics==
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When the government outlawed gambliing, the retail industry collapsed. With the rapid deterioration of the backbone of the economy, Edvardus lost its status as a developing nation. Soon after, the beef-based agricultural workers threatened to strike because they were not being paid fair wages. Partially because the President and Parliament feared that a strike would completely destroy the Edvardian economy, Parliament passed a law meeting the demands of the union. With the retail industry gone, beef-based agriculture was the main source of revenue for Edvardus. However, the passage of the Fair Wage Act only incited daily union strikes. Attempting to jump-start the economy, Parliament had also kowtowed to big businesses by deregulating the industry. If it had not, big businesses threatened to pull out of Edvardus, most likely resulting in the economic demise of the empire. For a few decades, the economy was powered by the Automobile Manufacturing industry, with the traditional Beef Based Agriculture and Retail industries significantly dwarfed due to government aid to the Automobile Manufacturing industry. An attempt to regulate the arms industry led to the most recent economic downturn of Edvardus. Near the end of HIM Paolo VII's life, this industry died and the Beef-Based Agriculture industry became the dominant industry once again. Soon after HIM Pio XIII accedded the throne, the Automobile Manufacturing industry arose again, but this time as a very small private sector. His reign also saw the legalisation of gambling on the lands of the indigenous people, which boosted the economy and got Edvardus out of its decades-long recession.
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Edvardus is a semi-presidential republic headed by the Emperor. The head of government is the Prime Minister, who is the head of foreign affairs. The President is the head of Parliament and domestic affairs. The legislative body is unicameral. It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt, socially-minded government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Religion & Spirituality, Social Welfare, and Education.
+
  
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While having no official branch in the imperial government, the opinion of the [[Holy See]] is highly respected and carried out to the best abilities of the government.
+
HIM Rinaldo I, despite severing ties with the Vatican, has springboarded the Edvardian economy to its strongest ever. After taxing the rich as much as the poor, the economy began to decline. The economy hit its all-time high in Year 208, after the government continued to subsidize the auto industry. In Year 212, the population of Edvardus surpassed 1 billion.
  
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===Executive Branch===
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==Politics==
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This branch of government is headed by a '''Prime Minister'''. The Prime Minister is currently selected by the National Assembly for a term of six years.
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''see: [[Politics of Edvardus]]''
  
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The Constitution names the Prime Minister as head of government. The Prime Minister is responsible for conducting foreign relations, such as concluding treaties, declaring war, and making peace. The Prime Minister must promulgate all laws and has no right to veto. Other powers of the Prime Minister include granting amnesty, pardon, or clemency, declaring martial law, conferring honors and decorations, and appointing the President of Edvardus.
+
Edvardus is a semi-presidential constitutional monarchy headed by the '''Empress'''. Its compassionate population have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often. The head of government is the '''Prime Minister''', who also oversees foreign affairs. The '''President''' is the head of Parliament and domestic affairs. The legislative body is unicameral. It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it devotes most of its attentions to Education, although Social Welfare and Law & Order are on the agenda, with areas such as Defence and Healthcare receiving almost no funds by comparison.
  
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The '''President''' presides over the Cabinet. The Vice President, ministers, and chairpersons of the Cabinet are appointed by the Prime Minister on the recommendation of the President. The President's official duties also include presenting administrative policies and reports to Parliament, responding to the interpellations of legislators (much like Question Time in some parliamentary systems), and, with the approval of the Prime Minister, asking Parliament to reconsider its resolutions. Laws and decrees promulgated by the Prime Minister must also be countersigned by the President.
+
While having no official branch in the imperial government, the opinion of the Holy See used to be highly respected and carried out to the best abilities of the government. With the beginning of the Rinaldo reign, his militaristic approaches have severed this relationship. With the passing of time on her side, Valeria's reign saw the tensions with the Vatican disappear.
  
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In the event of vacancies in both the Prime Ministry and the Deputy Prime Ministry, the President serves as Acting Prime Minister of the Holy Empire for up to three months.
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The Legislative Branch is made of two bodies: the National Assembly and Parliament. The '''National Assembly''' was established to serve as a constitutional convention and electoral college. It is responsible for any amendments to the constitution and electing the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Edvardus. The '''Parliament''' is the main legislative body of Edvardus and has the power to pass all ordinary [[Legislation (Edvardus)|legislation]].
  
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One-third of Parliament may initiate a no-confidence vote against the President. If approved with simple majority, the President must resign from office within ten days and at the same time may request that the Prime Minister dissolve Parliament. If the motion fails, another no-confidence motion against the same President cannot be initiated for one year. This power has never been used. In practice, the president has enough legitimacy and executive authority to govern in the face of a legislature controlled by the opposition, and would likely respond to a vote of no-confidence by nominating another person with similar views.
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The Judicial Branch is led by the the '''Supreme Court''' consists of 15 Grand Justices, two of which also serve as the President and Vice President of the Court. Appointed by the President of Edvardus, the President and Vice President, along with six other justices serve four-year terms. The other seven Justices serve eight-year terms.
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+
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===Legislative Branch===
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The '''National Assembly''' was established to serve as a constitutional convention and electoral college. It is responsible for any amendments to the constitution and electing the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Edvardus.
+
−
 
+
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The '''Parliament''' is the main legislative body of Edvardus and has the power to pass all ordinary legislation. Whenever there is disagreement between Parliament and the Cabinet, Parliament may pass a resolution asking the Cabinet to alter the policy proposal in question. The Cabinet may, in turn, ask Parliament to reconsider. Afterwards, if Parliament upholds the original resolution, the president must abide by the resolution or resign. The Cabinet may also present an alternative budgetary bill if the one passed by Parliament is deemed difficult to execute.
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+
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===Judicial Branch===
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The Supreme Court consists of 15 Grand Justices, two of which also serve as the President and Vice President of the Court. Appointed by the President of Edvardus, the President and Vice President, along with six other justices serve four-year terms. The other seven Justices serve eight-year terms.
+
  
 
==Political Divisions==
 
==Political Divisions==
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At 10,360 sq.km (slightly larger than the area of [[Lebanon]]), Edvardus is made up of 11 provinces, 22 counties, and 550 towns.
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At 550,000 sq.km (larger than the area of France), Edvardus is made up of 25 provinces, 250 counties, 8,750 towns, and 21 municipalities.
 +
 
 +
Until Year 53, the number of provinces, counties, towns, and municipalities was a direct correlation with the population. However, HIM Giulio IV declared that this method is running into problems with the population growth continuing but territorial expansion impossible. Therefore, he instituted a new system that fixes the number of provinces at 25 and each province shall have 5 counties (in Year 110, HIM Pio XIII doubled the number of counties to 10 per province). The number of municipalities has been fixed at 21, but may change over time. For a town to be considered a municipality, it must have a population of at least 6,730,340 (minimum used to be 5,047,755 (< Year 226), 3,365,170(< Year 200), and 1,682,585 (< Year 160)). New towns arise once their population hits 111,000 (< Year 226), 74,000 (< Year 200), and 37,000 (< Year 160).
  
 
===Settlement Patterns===
 
===Settlement Patterns===
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'''UNDER CONSTRUCTION: The following information only describes a part of Edvardus'''
 +
 
In the rural areas of the alluvial plain, settlement almost invariably clusters near the rivers, streams, and irrigation canals. The levees laid down by streams and canals provide advantages for both settlement and agriculture. Surface water drains more easily on the levees' backslope, and the coarse soils of the levees are easier to cultivate and permit better subsurface drainage. The height of the levees gives some protection against floods and the frost that often affect low-lying areas and may kill winter crops. Above all, those living or cultivating on the crest of a levee have easy access to water for irrigation and household use in a dry, hot country.
 
In the rural areas of the alluvial plain, settlement almost invariably clusters near the rivers, streams, and irrigation canals. The levees laid down by streams and canals provide advantages for both settlement and agriculture. Surface water drains more easily on the levees' backslope, and the coarse soils of the levees are easier to cultivate and permit better subsurface drainage. The height of the levees gives some protection against floods and the frost that often affect low-lying areas and may kill winter crops. Above all, those living or cultivating on the crest of a levee have easy access to water for irrigation and household use in a dry, hot country.
  
 
Although there are some isolated homesteads, most rural communities are nucleated settlements rather than dispersed farmsteads; that is, the farmer leaves his village to cultivate the fields outside it. The size of the settlement varies, generally with the volume of water available for household use and with the amount of land accessible to village dwellers. Sometimes, particularly in the lower Presto and Buono Attraversare valleys near the Gulf, soil salinity restricts the area of arable land and limits the size of the community dependent on it, and it also usually results in large unsettled and uncultivated stretches between the villages.
 
Although there are some isolated homesteads, most rural communities are nucleated settlements rather than dispersed farmsteads; that is, the farmer leaves his village to cultivate the fields outside it. The size of the settlement varies, generally with the volume of water available for household use and with the amount of land accessible to village dwellers. Sometimes, particularly in the lower Presto and Buono Attraversare valleys near the Gulf, soil salinity restricts the area of arable land and limits the size of the community dependent on it, and it also usually results in large unsettled and uncultivated stretches between the villages.
  
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Cities and large towns are almost invariably situated on watercourses, usually on the major rivers or their larger tributaries. This dependence has had its disadvantages. Until the recent development of flood control, cities were subject to the threat of inundation. Moreover, the dikes needed for protection have effectively prevented the expansion of the urban areas in some directions.
+
Cities and large towns are almost invariably situated on watercourses, usually on the major rivers or their larger tributaries. This dependence has had its disadvantages. Until the recent development of flood control, cities were subject to the threat of inundation. Moreover, the dikes needed for protection have effectively prevented the expansion of the urban areas in some directions. Now the government has built dams for hydroelectric purposes, but consequently also caused permanent flooding of certain areas.
  
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==Geography==
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==Foreign Relations==
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Edvardus lies in the alluvial plain between the desert to the west, marshlands to the east, mountains to the north, and ocean to the south. Here the Presto and Buono Attraversare rivers lie above the level of the plain in many places, and the whole area is a delta interlaced by the channels of the two rivers and by irrigation canals. Intermittent lakes, fed by the rivers in flood, also characterize Edvardus.
+
Edvardus was an official member of the [[United Nations]], but resigned from the UN In Year 48.
  
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Because the waters of the Presto and Buono Attraversare are heavily silt laden, irrigation and fairly frequent flooding deposit large quantities of silty loam in much of the delta area. Windborne silt contributes to the total deposit of sediments. It has been estimated that the delta plains are built up at the rate of nearly twenty centimeters in a century. In some areas, major floods lead to the deposit in temporary lakes of as much as thirty centimeters of mud.
+
Edvardus has also established diplomatic relations with Idumaea, St Dominic, the Appalacians, the Scandinvans, Nova Aquitania, the New North Korea, Chiang's Republic of China, the United American Republic, Trinovia, and Leefleslovakia (embassies located in Capitale Occidentale). Edvardus is also a member of the Commonwealth of Independent Nations and Earth 2050.
  
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The Presto and Buono Attraversare also carry large quantities of salts. These, too, are spread on the land by sometimes excessive irrigation and flooding. A high water table and poor surface and subsurface drainage tend to concentrate the salts near the surface of the soil. In general, the salinity of the soil increases from north to south.
+
==Geography==
 +
''see: [[Geography of Edvardus]]''
  
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The waters of the Presto and Buono Attraversare are essential to the life of the country, but they may also threaten it. The rivers are at their lowest level in September and October and at flood in March, April, and May when they may carry forty times as much water as at low mark. Moreover, one season's flood may be ten or more times as great as that in another year. To combat this problem, Parliament approved the building of a complex irrigation system, which will control the waters of the two rivers with flood gates. In the spring, the flood gates will open, allowing the excess water to flow into farmland. In the fall, the gates close and the farms must depend on the water they collected in the spring until spring comes again.
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'''UNDER CONSTRUCTION: The following information only describes a part of Edvardus'''
  
 
===Climate===
 
===Climate===
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===Flora & Fauna===
 
===Flora & Fauna===
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Edvardus's national animal is the chicken, which is also the nation's favorite main course. The chicken population had grown out of control and its protection from hunters has been lifted.
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Edvardus's national animal is the chicken, which is a delicacy and also the nation's favorite main course. The chicken population had grown out of control and its protection from hunters has been lifted.
  
 
Edvardus is well-known for its date palms along the coast of the ocean. Other than the coastline, there is no natural vegetation.
 
Edvardus is well-known for its date palms along the coast of the ocean. Other than the coastline, there is no natural vegetation.
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 +
==Military==
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''see: [[Military of Edvardus]]''
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 +
The oldest branch of the military is the Military Police. The Military Police are responsible for enforcing martial law (when legal), maintaining military discipline, providing backup for the civilian police force or serving as combat troops during times of emergency, providing security for certain government buildings, including the Imperial Palace in the capital, as well as performing counter-terrorism and VIP protection operations. The Military Police are also charged with the defense of the capital city.
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The head of the Military Police is the Military Police Command, who is subordinate to the Minister of National Guard and the Prime Minister. Internal units include: Political Warfare, Inspector General, Personnel & General Affairs, Intelligence, Operations, Logistics, Planning, Communication & Information, and Comptroller.
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The second branch is the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard is charged with maintaining law and order, protecting the resources of the territorial waters surrounding Edvardus as well as providing a first line of defense along coastal areas against smugglers and illegal immigrants. The Coast Guard is considered a civilian law enforcement agency under the administration of the Minister of Defense.
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The third branch is the Army. The Army is the final line of defense against a possible invasion with the primary focus is on defense and counterattack against amphibious assault and urban warfare.
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The fourth branch is the Navy. The Navy's primary mission is the defense of Edvardus territories and the sea lanes that surround it against a blockade or attack. Operations include maritime patrols in surrounding waters and counter-strike and counter-invasion operations during wartime.
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The Marine Corps is the amphibious arm of the Navy. It is responsible for amphibious combat, counter-landing and reinforcement of remote islands, defense of Navy facilities, and also functions as a rapid reaction force and a strategic reserve.
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The fifth branch is the Air Force. It is the aviation branch of the armed forces of Edvardus, and is often viewed as one of the most professional and capable branches of Edvardus's armed forces. The Air Force's primary mission is the defense of the airspace over and around Edvardus against an attack. Current priorities of the Air Force include the development of long range reconnaissance and surveillance networks, integrating C4ISR systems to increase battle effectiveness, procuring counterstrike weapons, next generation fighters, and hardening airfields and other facilities to survive a surprise attack.
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===Space Programme===
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In Year 111, the president (with the approval of Parliament and HIM Pio XIII) announced the establishment of the Imperial Space Sciences Agency (ISSA). Over the course of 28 years, Edvardus originally hoped to send humans into orbit (Caelus Programme), build a permanent space station (Olympus Programme), and build a reuseable winged-launch vehicle (Project 3). However, the reuseable winged-launch vehicle research has been cut, placing all of its funds into a lunar programme known as Diana.
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The empire's first space centre, the Robert Bellarmine Space Centre, is built about 100 km southwest of Capitale Occidentale. This is right on the coast of Il Oceano and halfway between Capitale and Dimessa. Another spaceport opened in Year 126, the Paul Foscarini Spaceport, about 250 km east of Città Imperiale.
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Caelus 1 was the first unmanned spacecraft launched from the space centre in Year 118 to test the Hyperion rocket and Caelus spacecraft. Caelus 5 launched the first Edvardian, Václav Pantaleon Kirwitzer, into orbit in Year 122. The Caelus programme was completed in Year 129 with the completion of the Olympus Space Laboratory. In Year 142, the Olympus Space Laboratory was officially renamed the Olympus Space Station due to the completion of construction. It will serve as a space station until Year 151, when its orbital degeneration will cause it to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. In Year 143, Roger Bacon became the first Edvardian to land on the lunar surface. Emperor Innocenzo XIV took this opportunity to announce plans to colonise the Moon by Year 214. By the end of the Year 214, almost 12.0 million Edvardians have been transported to live on the Moon.
  
 
==Economy==
 
==Economy==
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After a brief recession in its incredible economic growth, the nation's economy is now the best it has ever been. After the government began subsidizing the automobile manufacturing industry, the economy took off at an alarming rate. The dollaro is the strongest it has ever been. The GDP is at a record $117 billion (per capita $5864) and it has the highest trade surplus in the region ($1.66 billion). Unemployment also dropped 3% in the last year.
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The nation's economy is at it's strongest. The dollaro's value has reached a record of 1 dollaro to $1.49 Dollars, the GDP has increased to a record $40.2 trillion (per capita at record $29,908)(record surplus $334 billion, deficit $175 billion). Unemployment has decreased to a record 2.41%.
  
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Edvardus enforces a degree of private economic freedom (including privately owned industry) intermingled with centralized economic planning (which includes intervention for environmentalism and social justice, or state ownership of some of means of production). A large private sector is led by the Automobile Manufacturing industry, followed Beef-Based Agriculture and Retail. The government has also imposed punitive tariffs to protect local industry. Attempting to jump-start the economy, Parliament has kowtowed to big businesses and is seriously considering deregulating the industry. If not, big businesses threatened to pull out of Edvardus, most likely resulting in the economic demise of the empire. Recently, the government has started to financially assist the auto industry, which is the sole reason for the economic boom.
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Edvardus enforces a degree of private economic freedom (including privately owned industry) intermingled with centralized economic planning (which includes intervention for environmentalism and social justice, or state ownership of some of means of production). A nonexistent private sector is dominated by the Automobile Manufacturing industry. The government has also imposed punitive tariffs to protect local industry.
  
 
Citizens are free to: possess means of production, travel, buy, sell, hire, fire, organize, communicate, and protest peacefully. With tax-funded, subsidized, or state-owned services and infrastructures, citizens may access: legal assistance, information services, transportation, education services, health services, personal and property protection at home and abroad, subsidies to agriculture and other businesses, government monopolies and government-granted monopolies, and state-owned industries, such as telephone service and electricity. The state provides some autonomy over personal finances but includes involuntary spending and investments such as transfer payments and other cash benefits such as: welfare for the poor, social security for the aged and infirm, government subsidies to business, and mandatory insurance. The state also imposes: environmental regulations, labor regulations, consumer regulations, antitrust laws, intellectual property laws, incorporation laws, protectionism, and import and export controls. The state may also impose taxes and fees written or enforced with manipulation of the economy in mind.
 
Citizens are free to: possess means of production, travel, buy, sell, hire, fire, organize, communicate, and protest peacefully. With tax-funded, subsidized, or state-owned services and infrastructures, citizens may access: legal assistance, information services, transportation, education services, health services, personal and property protection at home and abroad, subsidies to agriculture and other businesses, government monopolies and government-granted monopolies, and state-owned industries, such as telephone service and electricity. The state provides some autonomy over personal finances but includes involuntary spending and investments such as transfer payments and other cash benefits such as: welfare for the poor, social security for the aged and infirm, government subsidies to business, and mandatory insurance. The state also imposes: environmental regulations, labor regulations, consumer regulations, antitrust laws, intellectual property laws, incorporation laws, protectionism, and import and export controls. The state may also impose taxes and fees written or enforced with manipulation of the economy in mind.
  
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The average income tax rate is 45%, but much higher for the wealthy. The government spends: 21% on Administration costs, 21% on Social Welfare programs, 21% on Religious/Spiritual programs, 18% on Education, 15% on Commerce, and 3% on Law & Order. Parliament has stripped back military funding. The government wants to budgeting some funds towards healthcare (organ donations are at an all-time low), public transport, cleaning up the environment, and social equity programs, but the law allows the people to choose where their taxes are being spent.
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The average income tax rate is 100%. The government spends: 28% on Education, 15% on Social Welfare programs, 12% on Commerce, 10% on the Environment, 9% on Law & Order, 9% on Religious/Spiritual programmes, 8% on Administration costs, 4% on Public Transport, 2% on Social Equality, 2% on Healthcare, and 1% on Defense.
  
 
==Demographics==
 
==Demographics==
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As of today, there is an estimated 20 million people in Edvardus. The largest ethnic group is indigenous, accounting for 50.3% of the entire population. Other ethnic groups include white (23.7%), black (13.2%), Asian (12.0%), and Pacific Islander (0.8%).
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The empire consists of the following ethnic groups and their respective percentages:
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Hispanic 41.67%,  
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White 32.55% (includes people of European, Middle Eastern, and North African descent), 
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Black 13.18% (includes people of African descent, except from North Africa),  
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Asian 11.85% (includes people of East Asian, Southeast Asia, and South Asian descent), and
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Pacific Islander 0.75%
  
 
==Culture==
 
==Culture==
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Emperor Paulo VII has instituted a program that promotes a traditional lifestyle and social ethics while rejecting individualism and capitalistic values. It also aims to build up morale in a nation that was besieged with corruption. Some goals include courtesy to neighbors, following rules set by the government, keeping streets clean, conserving energy, and so forth. The Emperor uses the notion of self-cultivation and correct living for this movement. While some have praised the movement for its role in raising the quality of life somewhat, other have criticized it for its lofty goals that were out of touch with the suffering of the general populace. Due to this program, which involves rehabilitation of criminials rather than incarceration, crime is totally unknown.
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Emperor Paolo VII has instituted a program that promotes a traditional lifestyle and social ethics while rejecting individualism and capitalistic values. It also aims to build up morale in a nation that was besieged with corruption. Some goals include courtesy to neighbors, following rules set by the government, keeping streets clean, conserving energy, and so forth. He used the notion of self-cultivation and correct living for this movement. While some have praised the movement for its role in raising the quality of life somewhat, other have criticized it for its lofty goals that were out of touch with the suffering of the general populace.  
  
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Parliament also allocates a significant portion of its annual budget towards fostering a religious lifestyle amongst its citizens. The government declares that all citizens must attend religious services on the sabbath and believe in a monotheistic entity. While not required, citizens are highly encouraged to set aside some time weekly to do charity events or volunteer work. The government has also outlawed: genetically modified goods, public nudity, racist remarks in public, adultery, fornication, pornography, divorce, human embryonic stem cell research, same-sex marriage, euthanasia, abortion in cases where the mother's life is not in danger, capital punishment, and birth control.
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Thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare, crime is totally unknown.  
  
 
The most popular sports in the empire are: [[Baseball]], [[Soccer|Football]], and [[Taekwondo]].
 
The most popular sports in the empire are: [[Baseball]], [[Soccer|Football]], and [[Taekwondo]].
  
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==Religion==
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===Religion===
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Roman Catholicism is the official state religion and the teachings of the Church are actively enforced. Edvardus is home to 4 cardinals and 26 bishops. Each county is also a diocese headed by two bishops or a cardinal and an auxilary bishop. Each diocese is required to have at least 300 parishes, each able to house 500 parishoners. Each parish must staff at least three priests to celebrate six to seven Masses every weekend.
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Roman Catholicism is the official state religion and although the teachings of the Church are not actively enforced. Edvardus is home to 34 cardinals, 390 bishops, 34 archdioceses, and 390 dioceses. Since the beginning of Rinaldo I's reign, citizens were no longer forced to attend Sunday services and thus, the attendance level has significantly decreased. As a result, there has not been such a high demand for clergy. Dioceses have stopped being consolidated.
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<!--The new method of establishing counties also changed the method of establishing dioceses. Each diocese (with a population of about 875,000) is headed by two bishops or a cardinal and an auxilary bishop (archdiocese). Each diocese is required to have at least 300 parishes, each able to house 500 parishoners. Each parish must staff at least three priests to celebrate six to seven Masses every weekend.-->
  
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The Emperor seeks the advise of [[Pope Benedict XVI]] on decisions as small as choosing a regnal name to running the empire in general. Parliament is also required to pass legislation in accordance with official Church teachings.
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Before Rinaldo I, the Emperor sought the advise of the pope on decisions as small as choosing a regnal name to running the empire in general. Parliament also allocates a significant portion of its annual budget towards fostering a religious lifestyle amongst its citizens. The government declares that all citizens must attend religious services on the sabbath and believe in a monotheistic entity. While not required, citizens are highly encouraged to set aside some time weekly to do charity events or volunteer work. The government has also outlawed: genetically modified goods (all genetic research is temporarily tied up in government red tape), public nudity, racist remarks in public, adultery, fornication, pornography, divorce, human embryonic stem cell research, same-sex marriage, euthanasia, abortion in cases where the mother's life is not in danger, capital punishment, and birth control.
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Due to religious beliefs, Edvardus has also opened its arms to an influx of refugees, who are in the process of becoming citizens of Edvardus.
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===Education===
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The nation is currently revamping its entire education system. All citizens must attend school between the ages of 4 and 14, although most choose to stay in school past the minimum age. The educational system is broken into 3 main stages, which are subsequently broken into 2 sub-stages.
 +
 
 +
'''Primary Education'''<br>
 +
The first stage of Primary Education consists of student from 4-7 years old. This stage promotes children's cognitive and social development. State-funded programs have set standards and are able to provide the necessary resources to ensure that every student learns "how to learn" to communicate, play, and interact with others appropriately. A teacher provides various manipulative materials and activities to motivate these children to learn the language and vocabulary of reading, mathematics, science, and computers, as well as that of music, art, and social behaviors. For children who previously have spent most of their time at home, this stage may serve the purpose of training them to be apart from their parents without anxiety. A major part of the curriculum at this stage is to teach children to accept "Love and peace!" as a way of life
 +
 
 +
The second phase of Primary Educatin consists of students from 7-10 years old. This stage's goals include achieving basic literacy and numeracy amongst all their students, as well as establishing foundations in science, geography, history and other social sciences.
 +
 
 +
'''Secondary Education'''<br>
 +
During the first stage of Secondary Education (aimed at students from 10-13 years old), students begin to enroll in class schedules where they take classes from several teachers in a given day, unlike in primary education, where most classes are with the same teacher (except for usually art, music, and physical education). The classes are usually a set of four core academic classes: language arts, science, mathematics (pre-algebra and algebra), and social studies with an elective course and physical education.
 +
 
 +
At the second stage of Secondary Education (aimed at students from 13-16 years old), students mostly take a broad variety of classes, without special emphasis. The curriculum varies widely in quality and rigidity, requiring a 75% to pass the course.
 +
 
 +
All three years require students to take a year-long Italian course, a year-long foreign language course (Spanish, English, Portuguese, French, or German), a year-long history/social science course, a year-long math course, a year-long science course, and a semester-long Catechism course. In the first year, students must take geometry, biology, and a semester of PE. In the second year, students must take algebra with trignometry, chemistry, and a semester of PE. In the final year, students must take pre-calculus and (very briefly) introductory calculus, physics, and driver's education.
 +
 
 +
'''Tertiary Education'''<br>
 +
Most people choose to pursue a bachelor's degree after the completion of their secondary education. It usually takes 4 years of higher education to receive the degree, although some require 5 years. This is also the time in which many young men decide to join the seminary.
 +
 
 +
The completion of tertiary education coincides with the age of majority (20 years old).
  
 
==Rankings==
 
==Rankings==
−
Edvardus is ranked 1st in the region and 68,807th in the world for Safest Nations, 7th in the region and 79,976th in the world for Nudist, 7th in the region and 68,081st in the world for Largest Gambling Industry, 4th (-1) in the region and 50,551st (-360) in the world for Largest Mining Sector, 7th in the region and 76,430th in the world for Most Eco-Friendly Governments, 5th in the region and 70,313th in the world for Most Cultured, 9th in the region and 100,909th in the world for Most Pro-Market Nations, 9th in the region and 77,782nd in the world for Largest Arms Manufacturing Sector, and 5th in the region and 49,716th in the world for Smartest Citizens.
+
 
 +
*'''2,610th''' (+2,736) in the world for Most Compassionate Citizens
 +
*'''2,860th''' (+6,851) in the world for Nicest Citizens
 +
*'''4,741st''' (+2,529) in the world for Best Weather
 +
*'''5,339th''' (+9,066) in the world for Largest Automobile Manufacturing Sector
 +
*'''5,604th''' (+1,836) in the world for Most Devout Nations
 +
*'''6,228th''' (+4,803) in the world for Largest Public Sector
 +
*'''6,316th''' (+63,997) in the world for Most Cultured
 +
*'''6,622nd''' (+21,474) in the world for Lowest Crime Rates
 +
*'''6,702nd''' (+43,014) in the world for Smartest Citizens
 +
*'''7,218th''' (+61,589) in the world for Safest Nations
 +
*'''7,453rd''' (+43,123) in the world for Most Beautiful Environments
 +
*9,362nd (+67,068) in the world for Most Eco-Friendly Governments
 +
*9,751st (+1,095) in the world for Largest Agricultural Sector
 +
*11,370th (-33) in the world for Healthiest Nations
 +
*11,711th (+24,580) in the world for Largest Basket Weaving Sector
 +
*11,825th (+65,619) in the world for Happiest Citizens
 +
*12,117th in the world for Most Corrupt Governments
 +
*13,149th (+72,889)in the world for Most Politically Apathetic Citizens
 +
*13,252nd (+23,789)in the world for Largest Pizza Delivery Sector
 +
*15,093rd (+5,059)in the world for Highest Police Ratios
 +
*15,103rd (+30,136)in the world for Largest Public Transport Department
 +
*15,254th (+12,219) in the world for Largest Insurance Industry
 +
*15,932st (+56,161)in the world for Largest Furniture Restoration Industry
 +
*17,015th (+33,151) in the world for Most Comprehensive Public Healthcare
 +
*18,982nd (+57,541) in the world for Fastest-Growing Economies
 +
*19,009th in the world for Most Subsidized Industry
 +
*19,542nd (+59,475) in the world for Largest Manufacturing Sector
 +
*20,671st (+64,550) in the world for Largest Cheese Export Sector
 +
*20,926th (+59,050) in the world for Nudist
 +
*21,376th (+61,659) in the world for Largest Soda Pop Sector
 +
*26,572nd (+41,509) in the world for Largest Gambling Industry
 +
*30,022nd (-11,809) in the world for Largest Retail Sector
 +
*35,575th (+14,458) in the world for Largest Timber Woodchipping Industry
 +
*42,002nd (+26,646) in the world for Largest Trout Fishing Sector
 +
*46,608th (-28,125) in the world for Most Rebellious Youth
 +
*50,573rd (+35,921)in the world for Largest Publishing Industry
 +
*50,962nd in the world for Largest Nations
 +
*52,630th (+39,433) in the world for Largest Defense Forces (per capita)
 +
*61,216th (+27,221) in the world for Most Politically Free Nations
 +
*65,263rd in the world for Most Liberal Nations
 +
*66,952nd (-16,761) in the world for Largest Mining Sector
 +
*67,797th in the world for Greatest Rich-Poor Divides
 +
*78,510th (-38,027)in the world for Most Extreme Nations
 +
*80,616th (-31,944)in the world for Largest Information Technology Sector
 +
*80,817th (+20,092)in the world for Most Pro-Market Nations
 +
*86,255th (+4,313) in the world for Stupidest Citizens
 +
*86,425th (+9,701) in the world for Rudest Citizens
 +
*89,015th (-11,233) in the world for Largest Arms Manufacturing Sector
 +
*96,571st (+1,982) in the world for Highest Unemployment Rates
 +
 
 +
 
 +
[[Category:Edvardus]]

Latest revision as of 13:01, 1 February 2007

Edvardus
edvardus.jpg
Flag of Edvardus
Motto: Ad maiorem dei gloriam
Cities & Natural Features [1]
Provinces [2]
Region Earth 2050
Capital Città Imperiale
Official Language(s) Italian, although Spanish, English, Portuguese, French, and German are also prevalent
Leader Valeria
Population 1.17 billion
Currency Dollaro 
NS Sunset XML

Sacro Impero del Edoardo (or The Holy Empire of Edvardus, Edvardus for short) is a very large, devout, environmentally stunning, and safe nation, notable for its complete lack of prisons, punitive income tax rates, devotion to social welfare, and an economically powerful nation. Edvardus is located in the Middle East. It shares a border with Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Kuwait to the southeast, Jordan and Saudi Arabia to the south-central, Sudan to the southwest, and Libya to the west. It has a coastline on the Mediterranean and a small coastline on the Persian Gulf. Edvardus also controls the Suez Canal.

History

see: History of Edvardus

The Holy Empire of Edvardus has over 226 years of history. The UN has classified the government as: democratic socialist (first two years), corrupt dictatorship, psychotic dictatorship (really long time), corrupt dictatorship again (after becoming a member of the UN), then Father Knows Best State, back to corrupt dictatorship, back to psychotic dictatorship, back to corrupt dictatorship, back to psychotic dictatorship (Innocenzo) again, an iron-fist consumerist state, mother knows best, inoffensive centrist democracy, corrupt dictatorship again, democratic socialist (for most of Valeria's reign), and now again an inoffensive centrist democracy.

When the government outlawed gambliing, the retail industry collapsed. With the rapid deterioration of the backbone of the economy, Edvardus lost its status as a developing nation. Soon after, the beef-based agricultural workers threatened to strike because they were not being paid fair wages. Partially because the President and Parliament feared that a strike would completely destroy the Edvardian economy, Parliament passed a law meeting the demands of the union. With the retail industry gone, beef-based agriculture was the main source of revenue for Edvardus. However, the passage of the Fair Wage Act only incited daily union strikes. Attempting to jump-start the economy, Parliament had also kowtowed to big businesses by deregulating the industry. If it had not, big businesses threatened to pull out of Edvardus, most likely resulting in the economic demise of the empire. For a few decades, the economy was powered by the Automobile Manufacturing industry, with the traditional Beef Based Agriculture and Retail industries significantly dwarfed due to government aid to the Automobile Manufacturing industry. An attempt to regulate the arms industry led to the most recent economic downturn of Edvardus. Near the end of HIM Paolo VII's life, this industry died and the Beef-Based Agriculture industry became the dominant industry once again. Soon after HIM Pio XIII accedded the throne, the Automobile Manufacturing industry arose again, but this time as a very small private sector. His reign also saw the legalisation of gambling on the lands of the indigenous people, which boosted the economy and got Edvardus out of its decades-long recession.

HIM Rinaldo I, despite severing ties with the Vatican, has springboarded the Edvardian economy to its strongest ever. After taxing the rich as much as the poor, the economy began to decline. The economy hit its all-time high in Year 208, after the government continued to subsidize the auto industry. In Year 212, the population of Edvardus surpassed 1 billion.

Politics

see: Politics of Edvardus

Edvardus is a semi-presidential constitutional monarchy headed by the Empress. Its compassionate population have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often. The head of government is the Prime Minister, who also oversees foreign affairs. The President is the head of Parliament and domestic affairs. The legislative body is unicameral. It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it devotes most of its attentions to Education, although Social Welfare and Law & Order are on the agenda, with areas such as Defence and Healthcare receiving almost no funds by comparison.

While having no official branch in the imperial government, the opinion of the Holy See used to be highly respected and carried out to the best abilities of the government. With the beginning of the Rinaldo reign, his militaristic approaches have severed this relationship. With the passing of time on her side, Valeria's reign saw the tensions with the Vatican disappear.

The Legislative Branch is made of two bodies: the National Assembly and Parliament. The National Assembly was established to serve as a constitutional convention and electoral college. It is responsible for any amendments to the constitution and electing the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Edvardus. The Parliament is the main legislative body of Edvardus and has the power to pass all ordinary legislation.

The Judicial Branch is led by the the Supreme Court consists of 15 Grand Justices, two of which also serve as the President and Vice President of the Court. Appointed by the President of Edvardus, the President and Vice President, along with six other justices serve four-year terms. The other seven Justices serve eight-year terms.

Political Divisions

At 550,000 sq.km (larger than the area of France), Edvardus is made up of 25 provinces, 250 counties, 8,750 towns, and 21 municipalities.

Until Year 53, the number of provinces, counties, towns, and municipalities was a direct correlation with the population. However, HIM Giulio IV declared that this method is running into problems with the population growth continuing but territorial expansion impossible. Therefore, he instituted a new system that fixes the number of provinces at 25 and each province shall have 5 counties (in Year 110, HIM Pio XIII doubled the number of counties to 10 per province). The number of municipalities has been fixed at 21, but may change over time. For a town to be considered a municipality, it must have a population of at least 6,730,340 (minimum used to be 5,047,755 (< Year 226), 3,365,170(< Year 200), and 1,682,585 (< Year 160)). New towns arise once their population hits 111,000 (< Year 226), 74,000 (< Year 200), and 37,000 (< Year 160).

Settlement Patterns

UNDER CONSTRUCTION: The following information only describes a part of Edvardus

In the rural areas of the alluvial plain, settlement almost invariably clusters near the rivers, streams, and irrigation canals. The levees laid down by streams and canals provide advantages for both settlement and agriculture. Surface water drains more easily on the levees' backslope, and the coarse soils of the levees are easier to cultivate and permit better subsurface drainage. The height of the levees gives some protection against floods and the frost that often affect low-lying areas and may kill winter crops. Above all, those living or cultivating on the crest of a levee have easy access to water for irrigation and household use in a dry, hot country.

Although there are some isolated homesteads, most rural communities are nucleated settlements rather than dispersed farmsteads; that is, the farmer leaves his village to cultivate the fields outside it. The size of the settlement varies, generally with the volume of water available for household use and with the amount of land accessible to village dwellers. Sometimes, particularly in the lower Presto and Buono Attraversare valleys near the Gulf, soil salinity restricts the area of arable land and limits the size of the community dependent on it, and it also usually results in large unsettled and uncultivated stretches between the villages.

Cities and large towns are almost invariably situated on watercourses, usually on the major rivers or their larger tributaries. This dependence has had its disadvantages. Until the recent development of flood control, cities were subject to the threat of inundation. Moreover, the dikes needed for protection have effectively prevented the expansion of the urban areas in some directions. Now the government has built dams for hydroelectric purposes, but consequently also caused permanent flooding of certain areas.

Foreign Relations

Edvardus was an official member of the United Nations, but resigned from the UN In Year 48.

Edvardus has also established diplomatic relations with Idumaea, St Dominic, the Appalacians, the Scandinvans, Nova Aquitania, the New North Korea, Chiang's Republic of China, the United American Republic, Trinovia, and Leefleslovakia (embassies located in Capitale Occidentale). Edvardus is also a member of the Commonwealth of Independent Nations and Earth 2050.

Geography

see: Geography of Edvardus

UNDER CONSTRUCTION: The following information only describes a part of Edvardus

Climate

Desite the oasis-like look of Città Imperiale, the temperatures in Edvardus range from higher than 46 °C (115 °F) in the summer to 4 °C (40 °F) in the winter. The summer months are marked by two kinds of wind phenomena: a dry, dusty wind with occasional gusts to eighty kilometers an hour from the south and southeast, occurs from April to early June and again from late September through November; a steady wind from the north and northwest, prevails from mid-June to mid-September. Very dry air which accompanies the latter permits intensive sun heating of the land surface but also provides some cooling effect. Dust storms accompany these winds and may rise to height of several thousand meters, causing hazardous flying conditions and closing airports for brief periods of time.

Extremes of temperatures and humidity, coupled with the scarcity of water, will effect both humans and equipment. During the dry season, clouds of dust caused by vehicle movement will increase detection capabilities in desert regions. Flash flooding in dry riverbeds that contains water only during times of heavy rain and across roads will hinder trafficability and resupply efforts during the rainy season. Clear, cloudless skies make air superiority a prerequisite to successful offensive operations throughout Edvardus. Air operations may be reduced during windy season.

Edvardus receives most of its precipitation accompanied by thunderstorms in the winter and early spring. The average annual rainfall for this area is only about 10 to 17 cm. Half of the days in winter are cloudy, and in the summer the weather is clear most of the time. Because of very high rates of evaporation, soil and plants rapidly lose the little moisture obtained from the rain, and vegetation could not survive without extensive irrigation.

Flora & Fauna

Edvardus's national animal is the chicken, which is a delicacy and also the nation's favorite main course. The chicken population had grown out of control and its protection from hunters has been lifted.

Edvardus is well-known for its date palms along the coast of the ocean. Other than the coastline, there is no natural vegetation.

Military

see: Military of Edvardus

The oldest branch of the military is the Military Police. The Military Police are responsible for enforcing martial law (when legal), maintaining military discipline, providing backup for the civilian police force or serving as combat troops during times of emergency, providing security for certain government buildings, including the Imperial Palace in the capital, as well as performing counter-terrorism and VIP protection operations. The Military Police are also charged with the defense of the capital city.

The head of the Military Police is the Military Police Command, who is subordinate to the Minister of National Guard and the Prime Minister. Internal units include: Political Warfare, Inspector General, Personnel & General Affairs, Intelligence, Operations, Logistics, Planning, Communication & Information, and Comptroller.

The second branch is the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard is charged with maintaining law and order, protecting the resources of the territorial waters surrounding Edvardus as well as providing a first line of defense along coastal areas against smugglers and illegal immigrants. The Coast Guard is considered a civilian law enforcement agency under the administration of the Minister of Defense.

The third branch is the Army. The Army is the final line of defense against a possible invasion with the primary focus is on defense and counterattack against amphibious assault and urban warfare.

The fourth branch is the Navy. The Navy's primary mission is the defense of Edvardus territories and the sea lanes that surround it against a blockade or attack. Operations include maritime patrols in surrounding waters and counter-strike and counter-invasion operations during wartime.

The Marine Corps is the amphibious arm of the Navy. It is responsible for amphibious combat, counter-landing and reinforcement of remote islands, defense of Navy facilities, and also functions as a rapid reaction force and a strategic reserve.

The fifth branch is the Air Force. It is the aviation branch of the armed forces of Edvardus, and is often viewed as one of the most professional and capable branches of Edvardus's armed forces. The Air Force's primary mission is the defense of the airspace over and around Edvardus against an attack. Current priorities of the Air Force include the development of long range reconnaissance and surveillance networks, integrating C4ISR systems to increase battle effectiveness, procuring counterstrike weapons, next generation fighters, and hardening airfields and other facilities to survive a surprise attack.

Space Programme

In Year 111, the president (with the approval of Parliament and HIM Pio XIII) announced the establishment of the Imperial Space Sciences Agency (ISSA). Over the course of 28 years, Edvardus originally hoped to send humans into orbit (Caelus Programme), build a permanent space station (Olympus Programme), and build a reuseable winged-launch vehicle (Project 3). However, the reuseable winged-launch vehicle research has been cut, placing all of its funds into a lunar programme known as Diana.

The empire's first space centre, the Robert Bellarmine Space Centre, is built about 100 km southwest of Capitale Occidentale. This is right on the coast of Il Oceano and halfway between Capitale and Dimessa. Another spaceport opened in Year 126, the Paul Foscarini Spaceport, about 250 km east of Città Imperiale.

Caelus 1 was the first unmanned spacecraft launched from the space centre in Year 118 to test the Hyperion rocket and Caelus spacecraft. Caelus 5 launched the first Edvardian, Václav Pantaleon Kirwitzer, into orbit in Year 122. The Caelus programme was completed in Year 129 with the completion of the Olympus Space Laboratory. In Year 142, the Olympus Space Laboratory was officially renamed the Olympus Space Station due to the completion of construction. It will serve as a space station until Year 151, when its orbital degeneration will cause it to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. In Year 143, Roger Bacon became the first Edvardian to land on the lunar surface. Emperor Innocenzo XIV took this opportunity to announce plans to colonise the Moon by Year 214. By the end of the Year 214, almost 12.0 million Edvardians have been transported to live on the Moon.

Economy

The nation's economy is at it's strongest. The dollaro's value has reached a record of 1 dollaro to $1.49 Dollars, the GDP has increased to a record $40.2 trillion (per capita at record $29,908)(record surplus $334 billion, deficit $175 billion). Unemployment has decreased to a record 2.41%.

Edvardus enforces a degree of private economic freedom (including privately owned industry) intermingled with centralized economic planning (which includes intervention for environmentalism and social justice, or state ownership of some of means of production). A nonexistent private sector is dominated by the Automobile Manufacturing industry. The government has also imposed punitive tariffs to protect local industry.

Citizens are free to: possess means of production, travel, buy, sell, hire, fire, organize, communicate, and protest peacefully. With tax-funded, subsidized, or state-owned services and infrastructures, citizens may access: legal assistance, information services, transportation, education services, health services, personal and property protection at home and abroad, subsidies to agriculture and other businesses, government monopolies and government-granted monopolies, and state-owned industries, such as telephone service and electricity. The state provides some autonomy over personal finances but includes involuntary spending and investments such as transfer payments and other cash benefits such as: welfare for the poor, social security for the aged and infirm, government subsidies to business, and mandatory insurance. The state also imposes: environmental regulations, labor regulations, consumer regulations, antitrust laws, intellectual property laws, incorporation laws, protectionism, and import and export controls. The state may also impose taxes and fees written or enforced with manipulation of the economy in mind.

The average income tax rate is 100%. The government spends: 28% on Education, 15% on Social Welfare programs, 12% on Commerce, 10% on the Environment, 9% on Law & Order, 9% on Religious/Spiritual programmes, 8% on Administration costs, 4% on Public Transport, 2% on Social Equality, 2% on Healthcare, and 1% on Defense.

Demographics

The empire consists of the following ethnic groups and their respective percentages:

Hispanic 41.67%, White 32.55% (includes people of European, Middle Eastern, and North African descent), Black 13.18% (includes people of African descent, except from North Africa), Asian 11.85% (includes people of East Asian, Southeast Asia, and South Asian descent), and Pacific Islander 0.75%

Culture

Emperor Paolo VII has instituted a program that promotes a traditional lifestyle and social ethics while rejecting individualism and capitalistic values. It also aims to build up morale in a nation that was besieged with corruption. Some goals include courtesy to neighbors, following rules set by the government, keeping streets clean, conserving energy, and so forth. He used the notion of self-cultivation and correct living for this movement. While some have praised the movement for its role in raising the quality of life somewhat, other have criticized it for its lofty goals that were out of touch with the suffering of the general populace.

Thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare, crime is totally unknown.

The most popular sports in the empire are: Baseball, Football, and Taekwondo.

Religion

Roman Catholicism is the official state religion and although the teachings of the Church are not actively enforced. Edvardus is home to 34 cardinals, 390 bishops, 34 archdioceses, and 390 dioceses. Since the beginning of Rinaldo I's reign, citizens were no longer forced to attend Sunday services and thus, the attendance level has significantly decreased. As a result, there has not been such a high demand for clergy. Dioceses have stopped being consolidated.

Before Rinaldo I, the Emperor sought the advise of the pope on decisions as small as choosing a regnal name to running the empire in general. Parliament also allocates a significant portion of its annual budget towards fostering a religious lifestyle amongst its citizens. The government declares that all citizens must attend religious services on the sabbath and believe in a monotheistic entity. While not required, citizens are highly encouraged to set aside some time weekly to do charity events or volunteer work. The government has also outlawed: genetically modified goods (all genetic research is temporarily tied up in government red tape), public nudity, racist remarks in public, adultery, fornication, pornography, divorce, human embryonic stem cell research, same-sex marriage, euthanasia, abortion in cases where the mother's life is not in danger, capital punishment, and birth control.

Due to religious beliefs, Edvardus has also opened its arms to an influx of refugees, who are in the process of becoming citizens of Edvardus.

Education

The nation is currently revamping its entire education system. All citizens must attend school between the ages of 4 and 14, although most choose to stay in school past the minimum age. The educational system is broken into 3 main stages, which are subsequently broken into 2 sub-stages.

Primary Education
The first stage of Primary Education consists of student from 4-7 years old. This stage promotes children's cognitive and social development. State-funded programs have set standards and are able to provide the necessary resources to ensure that every student learns "how to learn" to communicate, play, and interact with others appropriately. A teacher provides various manipulative materials and activities to motivate these children to learn the language and vocabulary of reading, mathematics, science, and computers, as well as that of music, art, and social behaviors. For children who previously have spent most of their time at home, this stage may serve the purpose of training them to be apart from their parents without anxiety. A major part of the curriculum at this stage is to teach children to accept "Love and peace!" as a way of life

The second phase of Primary Educatin consists of students from 7-10 years old. This stage's goals include achieving basic literacy and numeracy amongst all their students, as well as establishing foundations in science, geography, history and other social sciences.

Secondary Education
During the first stage of Secondary Education (aimed at students from 10-13 years old), students begin to enroll in class schedules where they take classes from several teachers in a given day, unlike in primary education, where most classes are with the same teacher (except for usually art, music, and physical education). The classes are usually a set of four core academic classes: language arts, science, mathematics (pre-algebra and algebra), and social studies with an elective course and physical education.

At the second stage of Secondary Education (aimed at students from 13-16 years old), students mostly take a broad variety of classes, without special emphasis. The curriculum varies widely in quality and rigidity, requiring a 75% to pass the course.

All three years require students to take a year-long Italian course, a year-long foreign language course (Spanish, English, Portuguese, French, or German), a year-long history/social science course, a year-long math course, a year-long science course, and a semester-long Catechism course. In the first year, students must take geometry, biology, and a semester of PE. In the second year, students must take algebra with trignometry, chemistry, and a semester of PE. In the final year, students must take pre-calculus and (very briefly) introductory calculus, physics, and driver's education.

Tertiary Education
Most people choose to pursue a bachelor's degree after the completion of their secondary education. It usually takes 4 years of higher education to receive the degree, although some require 5 years. This is also the time in which many young men decide to join the seminary.

The completion of tertiary education coincides with the age of majority (20 years old).

Rankings

  • 2,610th (+2,736) in the world for Most Compassionate Citizens
  • 2,860th (+6,851) in the world for Nicest Citizens
  • 4,741st (+2,529) in the world for Best Weather
  • 5,339th (+9,066) in the world for Largest Automobile Manufacturing Sector
  • 5,604th (+1,836) in the world for Most Devout Nations
  • 6,228th (+4,803) in the world for Largest Public Sector
  • 6,316th (+63,997) in the world for Most Cultured
  • 6,622nd (+21,474) in the world for Lowest Crime Rates
  • 6,702nd (+43,014) in the world for Smartest Citizens
  • 7,218th (+61,589) in the world for Safest Nations
  • 7,453rd (+43,123) in the world for Most Beautiful Environments
  • 9,362nd (+67,068) in the world for Most Eco-Friendly Governments
  • 9,751st (+1,095) in the world for Largest Agricultural Sector
  • 11,370th (-33) in the world for Healthiest Nations
  • 11,711th (+24,580) in the world for Largest Basket Weaving Sector
  • 11,825th (+65,619) in the world for Happiest Citizens
  • 12,117th in the world for Most Corrupt Governments
  • 13,149th (+72,889)in the world for Most Politically Apathetic Citizens
  • 13,252nd (+23,789)in the world for Largest Pizza Delivery Sector
  • 15,093rd (+5,059)in the world for Highest Police Ratios
  • 15,103rd (+30,136)in the world for Largest Public Transport Department
  • 15,254th (+12,219) in the world for Largest Insurance Industry
  • 15,932st (+56,161)in the world for Largest Furniture Restoration Industry
  • 17,015th (+33,151) in the world for Most Comprehensive Public Healthcare
  • 18,982nd (+57,541) in the world for Fastest-Growing Economies
  • 19,009th in the world for Most Subsidized Industry
  • 19,542nd (+59,475) in the world for Largest Manufacturing Sector
  • 20,671st (+64,550) in the world for Largest Cheese Export Sector
  • 20,926th (+59,050) in the world for Nudist
  • 21,376th (+61,659) in the world for Largest Soda Pop Sector
  • 26,572nd (+41,509) in the world for Largest Gambling Industry
  • 30,022nd (-11,809) in the world for Largest Retail Sector
  • 35,575th (+14,458) in the world for Largest Timber Woodchipping Industry
  • 42,002nd (+26,646) in the world for Largest Trout Fishing Sector
  • 46,608th (-28,125) in the world for Most Rebellious Youth
  • 50,573rd (+35,921)in the world for Largest Publishing Industry
  • 50,962nd in the world for Largest Nations
  • 52,630th (+39,433) in the world for Largest Defense Forces (per capita)
  • 61,216th (+27,221) in the world for Most Politically Free Nations
  • 65,263rd in the world for Most Liberal Nations
  • 66,952nd (-16,761) in the world for Largest Mining Sector
  • 67,797th in the world for Greatest Rich-Poor Divides
  • 78,510th (-38,027)in the world for Most Extreme Nations
  • 80,616th (-31,944)in the world for Largest Information Technology Sector
  • 80,817th (+20,092)in the world for Most Pro-Market Nations
  • 86,255th (+4,313) in the world for Stupidest Citizens
  • 86,425th (+9,701) in the world for Rudest Citizens
  • 89,015th (-11,233) in the world for Largest Arms Manufacturing Sector
  • 96,571st (+1,982) in the world for Highest Unemployment Rates
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