Farrfin

The Commonwealth of Farrfin is a large and democratic nation, looking to extend its ties with other states.

Farrfin

Flag of Farrfin
Motto: Freedom, Justice and Honour!
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Region	Risen Aldera
Capital	Biridis
Official Language(s)	Farrfini, English
Leader	Prime Minister John Simms
Population	6.522 billion (As of September 2007)
Currency	Farrfini Credit (FCr)
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History

The history of Farrfin stretches back almost a milennia, and can roughly be divided into four areas.

Formation of the Empire

The nation of Farrfin started out as an Empire around 1070 A.D. It was formed out of convenience rather that desire - the six founding nations of the Farrfin Empire, although generally friendly with one another, had suffered several major defeats from outside powers. They had decided to band together and form a single state, believing that they would be far stronger this way. The six kings elected one of their number - King Izgard II of Plantha - to become Emperor, and the remaining five kings would serve high positions within government. Over the next one hundred years, the Farrfini Empire strengthened and united - it was not attacked, partly due to the difficulty in conquering such a large place with a more effective military than previously. But as the nation became more and more united, the descendants of five of the six kings had become restless. The position of Emperor had become hereditary and remained within the family of King Izgard II. They, too, wanted a chance to rule the Empire. It was this event that caused the split.

The Imperial Schism

The Five Sons (as they became known) decided that they would demand that the time on the throne be limited and alternated between the six of them. They also decided that they would attempt to split their former nations off from the Empire if the Emperor refused. The five of them went to see the Emperor collectively, who was angered by this proposal. He was alleged to have threatened each of them with death. The Five Sons left, and began to make preparations to withdraw their fathers' nations from the Empire. It was during this period that the Emperor had decided to create a Parliament to avoid the impeding schism. The Emperor recalled the Five Sons and informed them of his proposal, all of whom agreed. Although the Five Sons believed it was a victory for them, in truth it was still a victory for the Emperor. He had prevented a split, reinforced his position and subordinated the Five Sons. The Emperor never intended to allow the Farrfini Parliament to have much of a say in the nation's affairs. He did not foresee that his actions, although reinforcing his own power in the short term, would gradually weaken the power of successive Emperors in the future. He had planted the seeds of democracy, and the people of Farrfin began to nurture them.

Solidarity and industrialisation

The time from the end of the 14th Century to the end of the 17th Century had been a time for healing the rift. By the end of the 1600s, the Parliament was firmly entrenched and the descendants of the Five Sons had ceased to play a central role in the Empire's affairs. Farrfin used this period of its history to heal its wounds and prepare for the future. There were several arguments between the Emperor and Parliament over the control of the nation's affairs - neither had any clearly defined roles any more, but things were slowly moving in favour of Parliament. The Emperor still wielded considerable influence, however. There were numerous technological advances, and many of the islands off the coast of Farrfin were explored and colonised. The beginning of the 1700s saw a series of minor clashes along Farrfin's borders with smaller surrounding nations. In two cases, Farrfin sent troops over the border to take over these nations. Farrfin's forces were met with tough resistance, but eventually won through. From the middle decades of the 18th Century, the first industries began popping up. These were a tremendous boost to the economy and military of Farrfin, which both flourished.

The road to democracy and modernity

Throughout the 19th Century, as industry began to grow more and more, there was a demand for greater openness and participation in the government of the nation. The Emperor was forced to concede and relinquished many of his powers to Parliament, and became a constitutional monarch but retained the position of head of state. Parliament was also reformed to make it a fairer and simpler system, and the post of Prime Minister was created as head of government. A constitution was also written at the beginning of the 1800s. In the early 20th Century, Farrfin slowly transformed from a domineering imperialistic power to a nation made up of various peoples. Today, the people of Farrfin cherish their hard-won freedoms and rights.

Government

Parliament

The legislative body of the Commonwealth of Farrfin is its Parliament. Parliament is a bicameral body, consisting of the House of Commons and the Senate (formerly the House of Nobles). Both houses are elected and a bill must pass through both and be signed by the Emperor/Empress before being enshrined in law. The Parliament building itself - a grand, famous old building constructed in time for the ratification of Farrfin's constitution in the 19th Century - is situated in the heart of Biridis (the national capital), close to the Royal Palace. Every Friday morning (With the exceptions of bank holidays and periods where Parliament is not in session, or where there is a major crisis which the Prime Minister must attend to), the Prime Minister is obliged to enter Parliament and answer questions from MPs for at least forty five minutes. This event is televised so that the whole nation can view it. It is also broadcast over radio, and citizens can choose to have the transcripts of the event emailed to them each Friday evening. Recorded sessions are stored on the website of the Florini Parliament for citizens to access at their leisure. Citizens are also encouraged to send their MP questions to ask the Prime Minister.

The House of Commons

The House of Commons is the largest of the two houses of Parliament, consisting of 1,500 MPs. It operates a first past the post electoral system, and each MP is elected by and represents a single constituency (an electoral district). The party which has the majority of MPs in the House of Commons forms a government, with its leader becoming Prime Minister.

The Senate

The Senate is smaller than the House of Commons, consisting of 600 Senators. Each senator represents a region of Farrfin, and is independent - those standing for the Senate must not belong to any political party. It is the job of the Senate to independently scrutinise and, if necessary, amend or veto a bill passed by the House of Commons. If a bill is amended it is then sent back to the House of Commons so that the changes may be debated and voted upon.

The Emperor

Despite being a monarch heavily limited by a constitution, the Emperor still plays a major role in Farrfini government. For a bill to become law it must be signed by the Emperor - usually, the Emperor will simply sign a bill whether he agrees with it or not but a clause within Farrfin's constitution allows the Emperor to refuse to sign "any bill which excessively and unnecessarily curtails the freedoms of the people of the Commonwealth of Farrfin". So far this clause has never been used, and to do so would require a very good reason to override a democratically elected Parliament.

The Prime Minister

The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the political party that won the last general election and is an MP within the House of Commons. He or she acts as the head of government. The current Prime Minister is John Simms. The PM is entrusted with many different powers - it is he who as the final say in the use of nuclear weapons, for example. However, he cannot declare war on a nation without first seeking approval from Parliament. He may use Farrfin's military in a defensive manner without declaring war, but using the military for an offensive operation (even without a declaration of war) requires Parliamentary approval.

The Cabinet

The Cabinet consists of the leaders of each government department. Cabinet ministers are drawn from the House of Commons or the Senate and are appointed by the Prime Minister. Most members of the Cabinet usually come from the Commons, but occasionally a Senator is appointed to a cabinet position. Currently, the Cabinet consists of the following people:

Deputy Prime Minister

Currently occupied by Michael Simpson. The Deputy Prime Minister is generally seen as the 'second in command' of the government. The Deputy PM's duties vary from government to government, and are usually formalised by the Prime Minister at the beginning of each term in office. In the past, the Farrfini Deputy Prime Minister has played a number of roles, including representing the Prime Minister abroad and receiving foreign dignitaries when the Foreign Secretary has been unavailable.

Secretary of State for the Home Department

Currently occupied by Susan Watts. The Secretary of State for the Home Department oversees the internal affairs of the nation such as the police, prison service, immigration controls and passports.

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

Currently occupied by William Fletcher. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs oversees the interaction of Farrfin with other nations. The Secretary is the head diplomat of the nation, and embassy staff across the world report to this department.

Secretary of State for Defence

Currently occupied by James Wilson. The Secretary of State for Defence oversees the armed forces of the nation and acts as their civilian head of the organisation. He works in conjunction with the Chief of Defence Staff, the professional head of the military. Veterans of the Farrfini Armed Forces are also looked after by this department.

Secretary of State for the Treasury

Currently occupied by Patricia Lays. The Secretary of State for the Treasury oversees all financial and economic matters of the nation. The Secretary is also charged with preparing an annual budget, detailing how the government intends to spend the revenue gained from taxation over the coming year (such as allocating departmental funding).

Secretary of State for Agriculture and the Environment

Currently occupied by Paul Thomson. The Secretary of State for Agriculture and the Environment reviews and oversees all environmental and agricultural concerns within the nation. Environmental targets for greenhouse gas reductions and information on conserving energy are also handled by this department.

Secretary of State for Education and Employment

Currently occupied by Steven Lipp. The Secretary of State for Education oversees the education system of Farrfin, from nursery schools up to university level. Examinations are set and marked by this department. This department also organises the state pension scheme, and helps to provide employment for those who do not have it.

Secretary of State for Health

Currently held by Jane Goodman. The Secretary of State for Health oversees the health and medical system of the nation. From health programmes and initiatives to clinics and hospitals, all fall under this department.

Secretary of State for Culture and the Arts

Currently held by Pauline Wiles. The Secretary of State for Culture and the Arts oversees areas such as tourism, heritage and historical sights, national attractions and national museums and art galleries. Listed buildings are also registered with this department, and permission is required to modify/demolish them in an attempt to preserve the nation's heritage.

Secretary of State for Transport

Currently held by Simon Lee. The Secretary of State for Transport oversees the national transport system, including roads, railways, rivers and air routes. The public transport system of buses and trains, as well as the airports of the nation also fall under the guidance of this department.

Secretary of State for Science, Trade and Industry

Currently held by Jason Dawkins. The Secretary of State for Science, Trade and Industry oversees scientific research and the relevant regulations, issues regarding trade both within Farrfin and between Farrfin and other nations and also deals with industrial/workplace affairs (such as minimum wage laws and trade unions).

War Cabinet

During times of war and major crises, the Prime Minister may call a War Cabinet. This consists of the Home Secretary, Defence Secretary, Foreign Secretary, Treasury Secretary, the Chief of Defence Staff and the head of the Army, Navy and Air Force as well as the Prime Minister him/herself. The Prime Minister may also invite other necessary officials should he/she deem it necessary. It is these officials which guide the war, both at home and on the front line. They have access to up-to-date news and many different types of equipment which will help them to track and plan the conflict. The War Cabinet has a special facility in which it meets, which is designed to withstand nuclear attacks. If there is no threat to Farrfin itself, however, the War Cabinet usually meets in the Cabinet Meeting Room.

Elections

General Elections in Farrfin occur at maximum four years after the previous election, but the Prime Minister can call an election at any time within the four year term should he/she wish. Every Farrfini citizen over the age of 18 may vote unless they are imprisoned or deemed mentally incapable of making a reasoned judgement. Those who have been involved in electoral fraud may lose their right to vote permanently. The electorate vote for the person they wish to represent them in Parliament (A Member of Parliament) at a constituency and the party with the most MPs forms the next government. The British first-past-the-post system is used.

Military

The people of Farrfin have realised that, if they are to remain free citizens, they require a military to keep them safe. The military of Farrfin is divided up into three main branches:-

• the Army, which deals with ground warfare
• the Navy, which deals with ocean warfare
• the Air Force, which deals with air warfare

Military Command

The Farrfini Military reports ultimately to the Farrfini Parliament. However, the Secretary of State for Defence is seen as the civilian head of the military, and the Chief of Defence Staff is the professional head (but is subordinate to the elected Secretary of State for Defence). The Chief of Defence Staff is a position which is rotated between the chiefs of staff of the Army, Navy and Air Force once every two years. Whilst a military officer holds this position, their executive officer commands the branch they were in command of. Currently, Admiral of the Fleet Frank Sutcliff is the Chief of Defence Staff.

The Army

The Farrfini Army and is currently not involved in any major foreign deployments. The Army has several dozen major facilities across Farrfin, and many hundreds of minor ones. It is currently commanded by Field Marshal Eric Friar.

The Navy

As Farrfin has a fairly large coastline, a strong naval force is a must to defend supply lines and prevent foreign incursions onto Farrfini soil from the sea. The navy is also essential in carrying out expeditionary warfare, since it carries the vast majority of supplies and troops to their destinations. It is also responsible for carrying Farrfin's submarine-based nuclear missiles - the Trident II. The current commander of the Navy is Admiral Jane Chambers.

The Air Force

Farrfin's Air Force has recently been modernised to conform to contemporary standards - it was perhaps the major military weakness until approximately forty years ago. Now, the Air Force uses the most up-to-date technology to do its job of defending Farrfin's skies. It is currently commanded by Air Marshal Sally Gray.

Farrfin's Special Forces

Farrfin fields a sizeable and extremely formidable Special Forces branch of its armed forces, named Alpha Division. The men and women who serve in Alpha Division are the most highly trained and deadly forces in the nation. They are trained to work in a variety of roles, from counter-terrorism to operation behind enemy lines. The government makes no comment on Alpha Division operations. It was formed approximately fifty years ago as an answer to the guerillas fighting along the borders of Farrfin, and has gained valuable experience in the art of anti-insurgency warfare. The members, equipment and most other details about Alpha Division remain a strictly classified matter.

Allegations of a Cyber Warfare Division

A report dated from 1992, allegedly from a classified meeting of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence and the Armed Forces, was leaked to a prominent right-wing broadsheet newspaper in March 2006. The document outlines (in vague terms) the possible existence of a branch of the intelligence/defence community whose job it is to carry out information/cyber warfare attacks on enemy nations, businesses and other targets as well as harden Farrfin's critical infrastructure from hackers and other threats to computers, networks and similar challenges. The Farrfini government has declined to comment on the issue.

Farrfin and Weapons of Mass Destruction

Farrfin has a stockpile of WMDs, which the government only intends to use in the event of an emergency (generally understood to be a direct attack upon Farrfin or her interests). They are kept in secret, secure storage facilities across the nation. For a WMD to be used in battle, the military must first seek the Cabinet's approval.

Nuclear Weapons

Farrfin maintains its own nuclear forces. Its first successful nuclear test took place on July 12th 1958. It detonated a hydrogen bomb three years later. Farrfin's nuclear deterrent is primarily based upon SLBMs - Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles. The Military believes that this is the most advantageous system to use since the sumbarines are extremely difficult to detect until after they have launched their missiles. Farrfin also maintains a number of ground-based nuclear missiles (situatied in both mobile and permanent launch centres) and air-to-surface nuclear bombs.

Biological Weapons

Stockpiles of biological weapons - including small pox and the bubonic plague - are kept in Farrfin, but these are mostly used for research (particularly for finding cures/vaccinations against them). Most of the bioweapons within the nation are not ready to be used in battle - they would require notice to do so. However, Farrfin keeps a number of missiles capable of carrying biological weapons prepared and ready. The government has never admitted to this, however.

Chemical Weapons

Farrfin also has stockpiles of chemical weapons, such as VX nerve gas and mustard gas. The Farrfini military has successfully deployed these agents using bombs and missiles in the past, but has not used them within the last thirty years. The status of Farrfin's chemical weapons, much like its biological weapons, are a closely guarded state secret.

Geography

Climate

Farrfin's climate is temperate. It has around 1/3 of its days overcast. Average temperatures in the summer are around 25°C, and in winter drop to around 4°C. In some of the mountainous areas, temperatures are often below freezing during the winter and get up to around 14°C during the summer.

Terrain

Farrfin's terrain is a mixture of rugged hills and low mountains, and rolling/flat plains. Mountainous areas tend to be found more in the west of the nation (there are some particularly large mountains along the nation's western border), and the south is flatter with a long coastline. Farrfin also has large areas of deciduous woodland. Seven of these areas have been made into national parks.

Society and Culture

With a rich history, Farrfin has a lot of cultural traditions and historical sites throughout the nation. Classical music is very popular, and so are many more modern artists - both forms of music are performed often in the various theatres and stages through Farrfin. Plays and cinema are also very popular, and recently a number of plays and films with a political message about the importance of democracy have become very popular.

In Farrfin, there is a very loose class system - a relic from Farrfin's industrialisation period - but this is not particularly relevant socially. People from many races, backgrounds and locations are educated together in schools, colleges and universities, cared for together in hospitals and clinics and fight alongside one another in the Armed Forces. The constitution guarantees freedom of religion provided it does not glorify any act which may be against Farrfin's law. There is no state religion in Farrfin, and all religions have to support themselves. The Farrfini government remains totally secular, not allowing any religion to have an influence in politics of the nation to prevent discrimination and conflict.

The people of Farrfin enjoy a good lifestyle - arguably the best in the region, due to their freedoms and high GDP per capita.

There is also a wide regard for the rule of law, and crime rates are very low due to a combination of low unemployment rates, a good education system and welfare for those who cannot work. In order to combat serious domestic crime, international terrorism and many foreign criminal elements operating in some fashion within Farrfin, the National Security Service (NSS) was set up in 1987 and still operates under the same mandate today. It is an internal security organisation which deals with protecting democracy in Farrfin, counter-intelligence and anti-terrorism operations. The NSS works closely with the Farrfini Police Force to help keep Farrfin secure internally. Also, the Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS) was set up in the late 1960s as a successor to the Intelligence Division to deal with espionage and intelligence from foreign nations. This technically falls under the military, but cooperates closely with both the Farrfini Police Force and the NSS.

Economy

Economically, the nation is very strong with an "All-Consuming" economy. As stated above, the GDP is relatively high, and the total GDP is the highest in the region, at $143,494,983,019,556.69. This is $30 trillion higher than the next largest GDP.

Defence, law and order, health, education, the environment and public transport are major concerns for the government, and each one of these areas gets trillions of dollars per year.

Foreign Affairs

Recently, Farrfin has become close to the only other democratic nation in Risen Aldera, The Holy Empire of Talisia Estonia. The two nations are also geographically close to one another, with only a strip of ocean separating them.

Farrfin maintains affairs with all nations in the region, but advises against citizens travelling to many of them due to their dictatorial political systems and, in some cases, dislike of foreigners.

Outside of the Risen Aldera region, Farrfin has played only a minimal role in world affairs up to date. It does, however, welcome diplomatic relations with other democratic states.

Education and Employment

Education is very widely welcomed by the citizens of Farrfin. Each child is challenged to achieve their academic potential as much as possible, from nursery school right up to university level and beyond. Great emphasis is placed upon a good education, and some of Farrfin's education facilities are regarded as the best in the region.

Education goes through five main stages, all of which are paid for by the government. College and university places are completely free, and the government offers grants to university students to help with living costs.

Below is the list of the five stages of education in Farrfin, complete with the ages which people complete each stage.

• Stage One - Nursery School (3-5 Years)
• Stage Two - Primary School (5-11 Years)
• Stage Three - Secondary School (11-16 Years)
• Stage Four - College (16-18 Years)
• Stage Five - University (18-21 Years [Depending on course chosen)

For those who do not do quite so well at school, the government sets up an employment scheme which promises to find work (sometimes working for local councils or the government) for people of varying degrees of academic achievement. Unemployment benefits for those who do not have any disabilities are only paid to people on this scheme. Each person who enrolls on this scheme is asked to select what sorts of jobs they are looking for, and details of matching jobs are sent to the person who requested them. They are free to turn down these jobs, but must find work within two years of joining the scheme for benefits to continue.