Patricania
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| Flag of Patricania | |
| Motto: Live Free or Die' | |
| No Map Available | |
| Region | United Federation of Patricks |
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| Capital | Charlestown |
| Official Language(s) | English (French and German minorities present but not official) |
| Leader | Aeneas Poirier (National) |
| Population | 92,000,000 |
| Currency | Patricanian pound (£) |
| NS Sunset XML | |
The Democratic Republic of Patricania is a federal democratic republic located in the United Federation of Patricks. The Democratic Republic of Patricania is a very large, socially progressive nation, notable for its compulsory military service. Its hard-nosed, hard-working population enjoys extensive civil freedoms, particularly in social issues, while business tends to be more regulated. The Democratic Republic of Patricania may be referred to as either the DRP or Patricania, and consists of 12 states. The national anthem is I Vow to Thee, Patricania.
Contents
History
A Region of Patriconia, 1654-2006
Patriconia originally was a part of Patriconia, a former colony of the British Empire. The town of Charlestown was founded on May 7, 1654, by Irish refugees seeking safety from Oliver Cromwell. As the territory of the colony expanded, the colonists named the colony after Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Patriconia gained its independence soon after the American Revolution. The nation was effectively ruled as a constitutional monarchy by the former colonial governor.
Between the years of 1824 to 1830, there were large numbers of French immigrants coming into the country, to escape the reign of Charles X and the restoration of the Bourbon Dynasty. The period from 1919 to 1923 saw increased immigration from Germany because of the internal strife taking place at that time. For a brief time, German immigrants and Patriconian French youths clashed on the streets of major cities, with the German blaming the French for the conflict taking place in their country at that time. This animosity only increased throughout the 1920s and the Great Depression, reaching its peak during the Second World War. However, government intervention and the end of World War II saw a near dissipation of the violence, although distrust remained until at least the 1970s.
The monarchy remained in power throughout the 19th century and half of the 20th century, but as tensions during the Cold War rose, more extreme political philosophies became increasingly popular throughout the nation. Finally, during the latter half of 1968, a fascist putsch deposed the monarchy.
The fascist government was virulently isolationist and anti-communist. This was mainly in response to the French May and public sentiment against the Vietnam War. The fascists in control of the government feared of a similar Marxist insurrection led by French Communists infiltrating the country through the large French community. Any suspected Communist, particularly of French background, would subsequently be jailed and forced to denounce their past actions and the Communist Party. Starting in the early 1990s and after the fall of Communism, the country began experiencing democratic resistance which resulted in the weakening of the authoritarian government and the establishment of the National Republican Assembly. Beginning in 2003, riots and violent anti-government protests were common, until a republican coup finally overthrew the government.
The official founding date of the present government is October 5, 2005, when the National Republican Assembly deposed the previous dictatorship. A provisional government was setup up soon after the revolution and a constitution quickly drafted, modelled after the United States Constitution and Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. During the months of December 2005 and January 2006, Patriconia was in a state of anarchy, until the military intervened and set up a provisional government. However, later in January, Patriconia again fell into anarchy and the government was disbanded permanently. The Anointed Imperial Republic of Morgenlicht invaded Patriconia to stabilize the area and restore order. Twelve former Patriconian states then came together to form the new Democratic Republic of Patricania, officially supported by Morgenlicht.
A New Nation, 2006-present
The Democratic Republic of Patricania was established on January 28, 2006. A new Congress was elected and Aeneas Poirier, a Frano-Patricanian of the National Party, was elected as president. Patricania's capital and largest city is Charlestown, which is found in the state of New Tipperary.
Federal Government
The federal government of the Democratic Republic of Patricania is set up very similar to that of the United States of America and is an example of the presidential system. There are three branches, the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch, each checking and balancing the others.
Executive Branch
The President of the Republic is at the highest level of the executive branch. Every six years, a President and a Vice-President are elected by popular vote. The President has the power to veto bills passed by Congress, however he must rely on his supports in Congress to propose bills he supports. A supermajority in Congress may override a presidential veto.
The President makes numerous appointments for various positions such as Cabinet members and ambassadors, within the executive branch which must be approved by the Senate. Every year, the President is required to make a State of the Republic address to Congress and may issue executive orders and pardons.
Legislative Branch
The Congress of the Republic is the legislative branch of Patricania. The Congress is a bicameral legislature, consisting of the House of Delegates and the Senate. The House of Delegates is elected according the the population of each state. The Senate, on the other hand, gives equal representation to all states. Each state recieves three seats in the Senate, bringing the total number of Senators to thirty-six.
Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the Congress. This is where the states can meet as equals. The Senate has only thirty-six members, far less than the House of Delegates, and Senators serve four-year terms, longer than Delegates. The Senate, since it is not elected according to population, is less prone to be swayed by public opinion than the House of Delegates, and is considered the more "deliberative" house. The Senate is where bills originate, except for those dealing with taxes and appropriation. However, the Senate has the power to amend those bills. The Vice President of Patricania also functions as the President of the Senate. The party which currently holds the majority in the Senate is the National Party, which works together with a coalition with the Patriot Party
Current Composition of the Senate
- National Party - 15 seats
- Liberal Party - 9 seats
- Patriot Party - 4 seats
- Democratic Socialist Workers Party - 4 seats
- Christian Democrats - 2 seats
- Green Party - 2 seats
- Total - 36 seats
House of Delegates
The House of Delegates is the lower house of the Congress. The House of Delegates allows the states to be represented proportional to their populations, and as such better demonstrates public opinion. The current maximum number of delegates permitted in the House is five hundred, and each delegate serves a two-year term. The House of Delegates may impeach federal officials and initiate revenue bills. The majority party in the House of Delagates is the National Party. Together with the Patriot Party, it controls half of the seats of the House, and frequentley there are ties as the other parties vote against the National and Patriot parties to lessen their power. The Christian Democrats are often the tiebreakers in these situations.
Current Composition of the House of Delegates
- National Party - 174 seats
- Liberal Party - 126 seats
- Patriot Party - 76 seats
- Democratic Socialist Workers Party - 74 seats
- Christian Democrats - 27 seats
- Green Party - 23 seats
- Total - 500 seats
Judicial Branch
The judicial branch of the federal government of Patricania is the Supreme Court. There are seven judges appointed by the President and confirmed by the Congress. Each judge may serve for life or until their retirement. The Supreme Court's primary duty is to determine which laws are constitutional and which are not.
Armed Forces of Patricania
See Main Article: Patricanian Defense Forces.
Political Divisions
There are twelve states, all existing since the dictatorship before the establishment of Patricania, although some have been renamed to express the ideals of freedom upheld by the Democratic Republic of Patricania.
- Carroll
- Franklin
- Jefferson
- Montgomery
- Monocacy
- New Tipperary
- Patapsco
- St. Patrick
- Providence
- Susquehanna
- Sussex
- Worcester
Politcal Parties
There are several political parties in the Democratic Republic of Patricania, all of which are direct predecessors of parties of the same name in Patriconia. The two largest parties are the Liberal Party and the National Party, and the Patriot Party as the third largest. As the National Party and Patriot Party mostly act in conjunction with one another, the Democratic Socialist Workers Party is considered the de facto largest third party.
Liberal Party
The Liberal Party is the representative of the liberal movement in Patricania. It adheres to the values of classical liberalism and libertarianism, and does not concern itself with religious or traditional morals, unlike the National Party and the Patriot Party. It is found in all states, but is affiliated with local likeminded parties in the areas where it is less influential. It is led by Carl Arostegi.
National Party
The National Party is the largest right-of-center party in Patricania. It is comparable to the US Republican Party in that it is socially conservative and supports a return to traditional religious values. However, it is in favor of more government involvement in and control over the economy. It is found in every state, but is not as prominent as the Patriot Party in several. In cases where the National Party is less important in a state than the Patriot Party, it will support that party's candidate. In return, the Patriot Party is a close ally to the National Party in the federal government. Its chairman is Daniel Buckley and the current president of Patriconia is Aeneas Poirier.
Patriot Party
The Patriot Party is almost identical with the National Party in political philosophy and will associate itself with the National Party in both state and federal elections. Regardless, the Patriot Party is a separate party, albiet smaller than the National Party, and puts much more emphasis on states' rights than does the National Party. The leader of the Patriot Party is Rudy Mehlman.
Democratic Socialist Workers Party
The Democratic Socialist Workers Party, often abbreviated as DSWP, is a far-left party which promotes a socialist revolution, first, by reforming society as much as possible, and then by violently overthrowing the government and purging it of all the "corrupt capitalist oppressors". The Democratic Socialist Workers Party is more commonly called simply the Socialist Party, Workers Party, or abbreviated to the DSWP, and is found primarily in the poorer urban areas and in scattered rural counties of several states. However, it has attracted a large number of university students and is extending its campaign into middle class neighborhoods. The General Secretary of the DSWP is Joe Kerry.
Christian Democrats
The Christian Democrats is a group of liberal Christians, but mostly Catholics, who support the ideologies of Christian democracy. Their main goal is to counter the philosophy of socialism and labor unions in Patriconia, and they tend to adopt many Vatican positions on issues, such as abortion and same-sex marriage. However, the Christian Democrats accept the separation of church and state and divorce, and strongly support the freedom of worship, not only for Catholics and other Christians, but for people of all faiths. The president of the Christian Democrats is François Boutin.
Green Party
The Green Party of Patricania is the Patricanian branch of the Green movement. The party follows the Four Pillars of the Green Party; ecology, social justice, grassroots democracy, and non-violence. They are the main opposition against the compulsory two-year military service required for all individuals who understand the oath. Its chairman is Steve O'Connor.
L'Association Nationale du Patricanie
L'Association Nationale du Patricanie (The National Association of Patricania) is not a political party, but an organization representing the interests of all Patricanians of French ascestry. The President is Jacques Roux.
Language
Most of the populace of Patricania speaks English, but a large minority speaks French as a result of the increase of immigration from France during the early 19th century. English is still kept as the only official language for historical and administrative purposes, and also to keep the country unified under a single language. However, all students are required to have a working knowledge of French and are encouraged to experience Franco-Patricanian culture. Subsequently, students living in areas with French majorities are required to become fluent in the English language.
German also has a small hold in Patricania, with many all German neighborhoods in the major cities, but it is not nearly as prominent as English or French. However, it is still offered as a language in schools and children learn about German culture in elementary and middle school.
