Jakarta-Banin

The Incorporated States of Jakarta-Banin is a small, industrial nation located in the West Pacific region. The fourteen provinces which make up the nation joined together in union on February 24, 2007 (real-time). Experts generally regard Jakarta-Banin as a nation with a strong and growing economy, average civil rights and excellent political freedoms. Recent U.N. census efforts have estimated the nation's population at about 8 million.

Out of character, Jakarta-Banin is controlled by the founder of the nation of Pilot.

Provinces

The Incorporated States of Jakarta-Banin was originally formed, and still is composed by, fourteen electoral provinces.

• Christmas City (capital province)
• Havenas
• Hereford
• Banah'in
• Kinsina
• Benin
• Jakarta
• Micronesia
• Ester
• Amherst
• Avon
• Golden State
• Clinton
• Roosevelt

History

In January of 2007, the National Governing Assembly unanimously approved a measure banding the fourteen provinces of the Jakarta Confederate together under a single national banner. The matter was sent to each province for its ratification. The popular vote process required a positive result in each province. The measure passed each province with a fairly comfortable margin, with Hereford showing the most support (81% in favor) to Bahan'in showing the least (57%). Upon ratification, the Constitutional Unification Pact became the ruling document of the land.

Since its unification, Jakarta-Banin joined the United Nations. Otherwise, it has been relatively dormant on the foreign front.

Government

The government of Jakarta-Banin is composed of three main branches: the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary.

Executive
The Executive Branch is made up of a strong President and Vice-President, along with a [[[Council of Advisors]]] which also serve as the heads of different government agencies. The President is the main diplomat, statesman and serves all other highest federal functions for the government.

Legislative
The Legislative Branch is made up of a unicameral legislature, the National Governing Assembly. Directly elected. A body much like the real-life United States Senate, it is comprised of 84 Governors – four from each of the fourteen provinces of Jakarta-Banin. It has eleven established government committees. Each committee has eleven members: a chairman who decides the agenda and approves motions for voting; a ranking member and third ranking member from the second and third most populous political party who represent their party positions and eight other members. The eight at-large committee seats are often split down the middle. Also, the political divide in the has led to the establishment of a leader and a whip (an assistant to the leader) for each party that has at least five (5) elected members. The Assembly’s main purpose is to draft legislation that will be passed onto the President for a second approval. By at least an 8-3 vote, the committee members can vote to override any Chair decision. A bill can be passed with a simple majority: 43-41. Tie votes (42-42) are broken by the President. Advise and consent votes for cabinet appointments, judicial appointments, and international treaties and agreements must have a majority plus 5 votes (48) to pass. A 2/3rds majority (55) approval of a draft resolution can alter the Constitutional Unification Pact.

Judiciary

Lower Courts Justices elected. The Lower Courts of the Federal Judicial Branch service small claims, etc.

Appellate Courts Justices elected. The Appellate Courts of the Federal Judicial Branch service all appeals to the federal government of a redress of grievances.

Superior Court Justices appointed. The Superior Courts of the Federal Judicial Branch service all cases that involve high criminal offenses, etc.

Circuit Court of Challenges and Appeals Justices appointed. The last court plateau before the Supreme Court, the Circuit Court of Challenges and Appeals hears all appeals to cases that come from the Superior and Appellate courts.

The Supreme Court Justices appointed. Eleven justices. Has final say in any court appeal, and decides through a simple majority vote (6-5). Has strong power of judicial review.

Issues

Gay marriage
Full marriage rights are allowed for homosexual couples

Voting
Voting in Presidential elections is compulsory. Violation of the law results in 15 days jail time.

2007 elections (unification)

Under the provisions of the Constitutional Unification Pact, all citizens of Jakarta-Banin 16 or older are allowed one vote to popularly elect a President and members of the National Governing Assembly (six per province). Elections held in 2007 were relatively peaceful (despite fears that violence would spread in Islamic districts) but international organizations ruled the balloting to be "of somewhat concern due to anti-muslim sentiments in the national community" and expressed dismay at the low national turnout.

President
Samuel Wells, popular unification delegate, was widely favored to lead his party, the Democratic Christian Alliance, to victory in the Presidential race. His major opponents were Republican University candidate Max Baker and Islamic Political Council candidate Ha'lil Segurin. Campaign tactics were marred by accusations of anti-muslim bigotry on behalf of the other two major party candidates and voter registration fraud.

• Governor Samuel Wells (DCA-Christmas City): 1,544,525 (58%)
• Governor Max Baker (RU-Avon): 980,343 (37%)
• Unification delegate Ha'lil Segurin (IPC-Banah'in): 120,091 (5%)

National Governing Assembly
On a more local level, Max Baker was able to carry his party to a slim majority in the legislative branch.

• Republican University: 44 members
• Democratic Christian Alliance: 35 members
• Islamic Political Council: 5 members