New Genoa
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| National motto: Uh-oh... it's seeping in! | |||
| National anthem: "O Genoa!" | |||
| New Genoa | |||
| Region | The Allied Powers | ||
| Capital | New Genoa | ||
| Largest City | New Genoa | ||
| Population | 6+ billion | ||
| Suffrage | Universal | ||
| Official Language(s) | English, Italian | ||
| Government President
Vice President |
Federal Republic Richard Stevenson Alan Moretti | ||
| free republic |
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| ISO Nation Code | ISO NATION CODE | ||
| Currency | Allied Credit (ISO CURRENCY CODE)
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| Time Zone | |||
| • Summer (DST) | |||
| Internet TLD | .ng | ||
| Calling Code | +
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| National Symbols • Sport • Animal • Fruit • Flower |
Baseball Greyhound Mango Sunflower | ||
| UN Status | Non-member | ||
| Info: NationStates NSEconomy Pipian NS Tracker XML | |||
The Free Republic of New Genoa is a modern democratic republic, based on three large islands and a series of smaller ones. The nation is densely populated by several billion people of a wide range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
New Genoa is notable for its incredibly lax social laws, including legalized recreational drugs, prostitution, and gambling. While the government of New Genoa tends to be a pacifist non-interventionist, it has engaged itself in several economically and psychologically crippling wars, the most notorious being the New Genoese involvement in the Coalition War that led to an enormous loss of life. Traditionally a regulated capitalist nation, initiatives by neo-liberal president Derek Jackson have changed the nation's economic standpoint to a more free-market capitalist (benefitting many New Genoans by cutting the ridiculously high income tax instituted by former Liberals, although many regulations have yet to be abolished).
New Genoa is a member nation of several political and economic organizations. It is the founder and long-time member of the Allied Powers Treaty Organization, a regional alliance. New Genoa also founded the now defunct NAIA, which dealt with combating needless imperialism. And once again, New Genoa founded the Human Rights Council, a highly under-funded and inefficient (to date) effort to document the myriad of crimes against sentient beings. New Genoa was also a weak member of the United Alliance of Progressive States. New Genoa is sternly against weapons of mass destruction, as indicated by its refusal to develop any nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons and its signing of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. And lastly, New Genoa is a signatory of the Knootian International Stabilisation Treaty, originally under the Fair trade clause, a status that has been changed to the Free trade clause as proposed by former President Jackson.
Current Issues
The most hotly debated topic in New Genoese headlines is the split between the Liberals into two distinct groups: the Liberals and the Neo-Liberals. The debate was sparked after former President Derek Jackson announced his allegiance to a new political group that he was to be founding. Some trace former President Jackson's political change to his controversial signing of the Knootian International Stabilisation Treaty. However, due to a massive decrease in taxes, many New Genoans (particularly socially liberal Conservatives) defected to the new party.
Currently, the Conservatives narrowly seized the presidency, while the Liberals took the House. Both parties tied in the Senate, and the Blue Party made significant gains in both arenas. The Conservatives have pledged under Richard Stevenson to roll back on the cuts to military spending by former President Jackson. There promises to be heated debate between the Liberals and Conservatives, with the new variable of the centrist Blues providing the final push in many swing votes.
Geography
New Genoa consists of three large islands: New Genoa Island, Genoa Island, and Blaine Island [see map]. New Genoa Island is the central, enormous island where most cities and people live. To the north of New Genoa Island are the Northern Mountains, and to the east is the gigantic Lake Genoa. Temperatures are usually warm to temperate. The coastline of New Genoa Island is under sea level while the interior is mostly above sea level. To the northeast of New Genoa Island is Genoa Island, a significantly smaller island equally split between New Genoa and New Sardinia. New Genoa owns the western portion while New Sardinia owns the eastern portion of the island. Accompanying the center of this island is the dense Flemcon Rainforest. Most of Genoa Island's land is coastal lowlands, with most land under sea level. To the very north of New Genoa Island is Blaine Island (named after Thomas Blaine). Blaine Island is a mostly flat island under sea level with temperatures similar to New Genoa Island.
Most of New Genoa's population is based around its cities, most of which are situated along the coastline. Many suburban towns dot the interior of the islands. The most densely populated areas, however, are located in south New Genoa Island, clustering around the capital city of New Genoa. The most important cities, in order, are as follows:
- New Genoa [capital]
- Blue City [manufacturing]
- Southport [richest city]
- New Rome [tourist center]
- New Venice [tourist center]
Concerning natural resources, New Genoa doesn't have an ample supply of any particular resource. There are smatterings of gold, silver, zinc, copper, and timber. New Genoa does have a supply of exotic woods gathered from Flemcon Forest. Uranium is also mined in areas of the Northern Mountains.
The distribution of the land is as follows:
- Arable land: 27.82%
- Permanent crops: 0.58%
- Other: 71.6%
Government
Structure
The New Genoese government consists of three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch consists of a bicameral legislature similar to the United States. The executive branch is headed by the president, vice president, and the president's cabinet. The judicial branch is headed by the New Genoese Supreme Court. A system of checks and balances is also set in place to keep the power of each branch equal to one another.
The legislative branch consists of two houses. The upper house, the Senate, has a permanent number of 35 senators, with five elected through popular vote from each province. One-fifth of the seats are renewed every two years. A senator serves a six-year term. The vice president and the president pro tempore preside over the Senate. The lower house, the House of Representatives, has a cap number of 700 representatives. The amount of representatives allocated to each province is dependent on the province's population. Representatives serve two-year terms. As of now, there are 700 representatives from the seven provinces of New Genoa. The Speaker of the House presides over the House of Representatives. The legislative branch passes laws and resolutions, which can either be signed or vetoed by the president. Congress can override a veto, as well.
The executive branch consists mainly of the president and vice president, although a cabinet is appointed by the president and approved by the Senate. The president can serve two terms, each consisting of four years. Presidents can serve a total of ten years, meaning that if they were vice president and the current president either died or resigned, they could serve two additional years. Vice presidents can serve as vice presidents any amount of times. If a vice president has already served ten years, and the current president either dies or relinquishes power, then the power of the president is passed to the Secretary of State, as is the case if the president and vice president leave office. The next in line of power after the Secretary of State is the Speaker of the House, and so on.
The Supreme Court of New Genoa consists of nine justices who are appointed for thirty year terms by the president. The Senate must approve these nominations. A Supreme Court justice may serve an unlimited amount of terms. The current Supreme court justices are as follows:
- Chief Justice Miguel Abraham
- Justice Lucy Greco
- Justice Donald Black
- Justice Frederick Thomas
- Justice Randall Heranto
- Justice Paul Smith
- Justice Alfonso Giordano
- Justice Herman Gretz
- Justice Stephen Maggell
Other courts include the New Genoese Courts of Appeal, New Genoese District Courts, and Provincial and County courts.
New Genoa is divided into eight administrative divisions, seven provinces and one federal district. The provinces of New Genoa are:
- North Genoa: capital - North Rome
- South Genoa: capital - Western District New Genoa
- Central Genoa: capital - West Genoa
- East Genoa: capital - New Rome
- West Genoa: capital - Southport
- Blaine: capital - Blaine
- West Sardinia: capital - New Milan
- Eastern District of New Genoa: federal district
Politics
New Genoa has a multi-party system, traditionally with three parties (Conservative, Liberal, Blue) consistently vying for power. A new party, the Neo-Liberals, have gained popularity (surpassing the Blues) since former President Jackson recently changed political parties. Minority parties, such as the Greens, the Communists, and the Freedom Party. The party composition of the government follows as such:
- President: Richard Stevenson (Conservative)
- Vice President: Alan Moretti (Conservative)
- Senate: 35 seats
- Liberal Party: 13 seats
- Conservative Party: 13 seats
- Neo-Liberal Party: 1 seats
- Blue Party: 8 seats
- House of Representatives: 700 seats
- Liberal Party: 300 seats
- Conservative Party: 280 seats
- Neo-Liberal Party: 20 seats
- Blue Party: 100 seats
Culture
Religion
On a whole, most New Genoans are either agnostic or atheist, or entirely nonreligious. However, there is a large Christian minority, most of whom are Protestants. A small minority of Catholics also make up the Christian minority. There are also small communities of Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists. The composition follows like such, according the latest census:
- Agnostic: 44%
- Atheist: 5%
- None: 10%
- Protestant (various sects): 30%
- Catholic: 6%
- Jewish: 3%
- Muslim: 1%
- Buddhist: 0.6%
- Other: 0.4%
Holidays
New Genoans celebrate a variety of holidays, many related to Western holidays imported under the Pacifican and Italian occupations, including Christmas and Easter. Federal holidays include New Genoa Day on January 11, which commemorates the final drafting the New Genoese Constitution; Veterans' and Heros' Days on July 28 and February 21, both of which are tributes to New Genoese military veterans; and Independence Day on March 25, the day that independence was granted to the four republics of New Genoa via the Treaty of Pacifica. While most New Genoans consider themselves nonreligious, Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter are widely celebrated, mostly as commercial holidays. Other secular holidays, such as Labor Day on September 1, St. Patrick's Day on March 17, and Halloween on October 30, are celebrated by many, but not too many, people.
The People
Nationality
noun: New Genoan
adjective: New Genoese
Language
Most New Genoans speak English as their primary first language, with a large majority speaking Italian as a second language. Many educated intellectuals also learn third, fourth, or even fifth languages among, the most popular being German, French, Spanish, and Japanese. The elven minority speaks either Quenya or Sindarin as their primary language, but are also fluent in English to allow conversation with humans.
Race and ethnicity
The population makeup of New Genoa, although most inhabitants (99%) are human with a small elven minority of 1%. Furthermore, breaking down the human population: 33% Italian, 30% Anglo-Saxon, 3% Irish, 28% black, and 6% of varying Asian ethnicities (mostly Japanese and Chinese). The elven population breaks down into Quenya and Sindarin, evenly.
Age Structure
The age structure of New Genoa follows is as follows:
- 0-14 years: 20%
- 14-64 years: 65%
- 65 years and over: 15%
Life Expectancy
The life expectancy of New Genoese humans is relatively high, with females living longer than males. Elven lifespans are usually unlimited. But the lifespans follows as is:
- Human:
- total: 80
- female: 84
- male: 76
- Elves: unlimited
Military
The New Genoese Military is relatively small, compared to many powerhouse nations, but consists of a steady several million recruits. The military is divided into several departments: the New Genoese Regular Army (NGRA), the New Genoese Marine Corps (NGMC), the New Genoese Special Marine Force (NGSMF), the New Genoese Navy (NGN), and the New Genoese Air Force (NGAF). Independent contractors supply parts and build the vehicles, however, the New Genoese Defense Department (NGDD) is responsible for the licensing, inspection, and research of New Genoese military accessories.
New Genoese Regular Army
Director: David Tachi
New Genoese Marine Corps
Director: Daniel Hampton
New Genoese Special Marine Force
Director: Jorge Rodriguez
- SM-A:
- SM-B:
- SM-C:
- SM-D:
Director: William Corvette
New Genoese Air Force
Director: Jeff Han
History
Ancient New Genoa Island (called Ethericos by its inhabitants) was populated by a myriad of quarreling tribes, divided into six culture sets: the Eastern Tribes of Ethericos, the Western Tribes of Ethericos, the Lake Peoples of Ethericos, the Kallite state of Ethericos, the Tropic Tribes of Genoa Island, and the Blainon peoples of Blaine Island. Out of these many cultures, the Kallite state was the only true nation to emerge and form a civilized and highly developed nation. The Kallite state existed from about 200 BCE until its destruction in 1519 CE by Italian explorers, namely the Genoans. Around 4 CE, the Romans reached Ethericos, colonizing the area around Lake Genoa as Roma Nova, founding the city bearing the same name (a near replica of Rome itself). Roma Nova existed as officially as a Roman colony until 421 CE, but in reality, it had gained complete autonomy by the 100s CE. At first, the Kallites were eager to exchange ideas with the Romans, but soon relations soured and many wars were fought, weakening both sides. The Romans didn't officially fall until the arrival of the Pacificans, but remained as weak state after the Italian arrival.
Once Italian explorers from the various small city-states of Italy arrived in New Genoa, headed by Alfonso Lombardi, and defeated the Kallites, various colonies along the coastline were established. By the 1600s CE, several hundred colonies (many city-states owned multiple territories) were scattered along a now densely populated coastline, the most populated around the city of New Genoa, which served as the former capital of Kallium, Kallium [city]. By the 1650s CE, many of these colonies had declared independence formally or informally as their mother nations struggled to maintain contact with their colonies. By the time the Pacificans arrived to colonize New Genoa, most colonies were operating as independent states. The result, however, of Italian colonization led to the introduction of Italian culture, language, and diseases that mixed with the tribal and Kallite peoples of ancient Ethericos. The arrival of the Italians also introduced a branch of Christianity, Catholicism, to Ethericos.
The next era in New Genoese history was marked by the arrival of peoples from a former English colony based on an island chain in the Pacific (mainly, though, on the island of Pacifica). These people, known as the Pacificans, had forged an incredibly large empire, and by 1712 CE, led by a man named Bruce Wallace, the Pacificans attacked and colonized all of modern-day New Genoa. Their reign led to the introduction and adoption of the English culture and language, a language used by all New Genoans. Their arrival also marked the beginning of Protestant dominance as a main religion. By 1725 CE, the colonization had been completed after a series of brutal wars with the Italian lords.
For 142 years, many colonists from Pacifica came to New Genoa, increasing the population to well over forty million. However, since New Genoa remained a colony, not a province, of the Pacifican Empire, colonists had less rights than Pacifican citizens. This, compiled with a revolutionary fervor incited by two men named Samuel Vaughn and Charles Dahlm, led to the New Genoese War of Independence that lasted from 1867-1870. Independence was granted by the Treaty of Pacifica on March 25, 1870, marking the war's end.
Originally, the former colony divided itself into four different republics: the Free Republic of New Genoa in the south and Genoa Island, the Kingdom of New San Marino in the west, the Republic of New Rome around Lake Genoa, and the Federal State of Blaine on Blaine Island. The division didn't last long. By the early 1890s, talk of unification was widespread, and an official constitution was drafted on January 11, 1899. It was finally ratified on May 1, 1899. From this time until January 1, 1900, the new nation of New Genoa was governed by Congress, until polls closed sometime in November and conservative Neil Hanson was elected as New Genoa's first president.
Terms lasted for four years, and presidential elections were held as such (modeled after the United States except that presidents were chosen by a popular vote). However, by 1936, a nationalist (more so fascist party) had gained popularity with a little over half of New Genoans under the banner of the Freedom Party. A man named Di Dame was elected and on January 2, 1939, Conservative leader Harold Venn was assassinated by Dame, due to his dropping approval ratings. On February 15, 1939, elections were outlawed and congressional sessions suspended (and many anti-Dame senators and representatives killed), thus beginning the New Genoese Civil War. On February 22, 1939, the first revolts in the city of Southport were crushed by Army Troopers. However, this defeat fueled even more dissent, leading to the formation of the People's Army of New Genoa, the PANG, during March, 1939 by Daniel Vanne. From March, 1939 until October, 1940, civil war raged, resulting in the deaths of thousands of New Genoans. On October 11, 1940, Di Dame was assassinated and six days later, the Freedom Party surrendered. Congress resumed on October 28, 1940 (under a temporary Congress) and from that time until November 30 of the same year, the nation was governed by Congress. Presidential and congressional elections were held on November 7, 1940 and Daniel Vanne took the oath of office as president on November 30, 1940.
After Vanne took office, the rebuilding era began, and continued for about twenty years. It was by this time that New Genoa had entered its modern era, a new golden age. New contacts were established. The nation was shaped into what it is today during this period of time. Wars, many minor with the exception of Coalition War, were fought. The APTO was founded during this time period, and New Genoa remained its delegate for quite some time until it stepped down in early 2004.
For more information:
- Ancient Ethericos: overview of the tribes and culture of the ancient Ethericans
- Kallium: overview of New Genoa's first empire
- Italian Era: overview of the era of Italian colonization
- Pacifican Era: overview of the Pacifican colonization and independence war
- Four Republics Era: overview of the short era of New Genoese history, dealing with the four nations
- Fascist Era: deals with the rise of the Freedom Party and the New Genoese Civil War that followed
