PeoplesDemocraties
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| Flag of PeoplesDemocraties | |
| Motto: "Peace, not war, shall be our boast" | |
| No Map Available Yet | |
| Region | NationStates_(region) |
|---|---|
| Capital | Keinersberg |
| Official Language(s) | Newspeak |
| Leader | Chairman Darth Secticide |
| Population | 951 million |
| Currency | Libre (£, PDL) |
| NS Sunset XML | |
The Commonwealth of Peoples' Democraties (CPD)
(To celebrate the birth of its 500 millionth citizen on May 1 2005, the Commonwealth was renamed: The Grand Commonwealth of Peoples' Democraties)
Submitted and authorised by the Foreign Press Office, Commonwealth Department of Information. Endorsed by the Director of Foreign Affairs. This Wiki is rated G-0 by the Public Information Sensitivity Directorate, Commonwealth Department of Information, and is therefore suitable for general public use.
Contents
Overview
Located in the harsh Northeast of the NationStates region, The Commonwealth of Peoples' Democraties is a young, growing nation comprised of three republics and two territories, occupying a long peninsula jutting into sub-arctic waters.
The central government of the Commonweath was elected shortly after the "February Rising" of 2005 and is lead by Darth Secticide, who bears the title "The Comrade Chairman of the Commonwealth Assembly". The government is notably Socialist in nature: dedicated to the security of the Commonwealth and welfare of the People.
Economicly, the Peoples' Democraties pride themselves of self-sufficiency. GDP is estimated to reach £22.4 billion by the end of this year. Almost all industry is controlled centrally by three departments of the government. There does, however, exist a residual private sector, chiefly involved in the dairy industry.
The population of CPD was 951 million as of the last census.
NationStates Overview
The Commonwealth of PeoplesDemocraties is a huge, environmentally stunning nation, remarkable for its strong anti-business politics. Its compassionate, intelligent population of 427 million enjoy extensive civil freedoms, particularly in social issues, while business tends to be more regulated.
It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Education, Social Welfare, and the Environment. The average income tax rate is 92%, and even higher for the wealthy. The private sector is almost wholly made up of enterprising fourteen-year-old boys selling lemonade on the sidewalk, although the government is looking at stamping this out.
Streakers swamp all public events in order to bare it all, X-Files ratings have hit an all-time low, heavy industry must go to expensive lengths to dispose of waste and avoid even more costly cleanup costs, and the nation's youth is held blameless for all crimes. Crime is relatively low, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. PeoplesDemocraties's national animal is the Morepork, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its currency is the Libre.
Geography
The main land-mass and three core republics of the CPD are found on the Penguinshaped Peninsula in the Northeast of the NationStates region. Near the southern tip of the peninsula, in the Commonwealth Capital Territory, stands the port-city of Keinersberg. Five kilometres to the east of the peninsula, lies the Red Island Territory.
Climate and Vegitation
The peninsula is sub-arctic, so while it has sunshine all year round, it also has very cold winters. In summer, however, the CPD is very lush and green, its forests and fields enjoying moderate sunshine and generous irrigation from the annual thaw.
96% of the land between 800-1600 metres elevation is covered by dense, ancient forest, of which the CPD is especially proud. Below 800 metres, the CPD consists mostly of agricultural land, dotted with small settlements. The northern-most reaches of the CPD (0.9% of total area) are uninhabited tundra.
Land Features
The Penguishaped Peninsula was carved by glaciers during the last ice-age. Since then, the forces of tectonics, wind and water have gradually reshaped the peninsula into its current bulbous shape. The peninsula was named by Micheal Orley, an marine cartographer who first charted the coastline in 1670.
The Penguishaped Peninsula has many tall peaks for its size. The highest of these are the twin peaks Lennin and Marx (renamed 2005), located almost exactly in the centre of the peninsula. The tops of the taller mountains, heavily weathered by ice, are steep and craggy: a perfect playground for experienced mountaineers.
Government
The government of the Commonwealth is vested in two chambers and the National Assembly. The legislative and executive branches are constitutionally separate but do not form an upper and lower house. The Commonwealth Court, as a service of the Commonwealth Government, is considered a part of the government structure, but takes no part in government.
Chambers of Government
The Commonwealth Government is divided into two Chambers.
The House of Representatives is the legislative chamber for the Commonwealth. The House creates and passes new laws and policy, although it has no executive power.
- It is an assembly of 30 Representatives, drawn from the National Assembly.
- Elected by their respective local electorates.
- Serve for a ten-year term. No Representative may serve more than two terms.
- Elected Representatives may not resign.
- Chaired by the Chief Representative.
- Nominated and elected by the House of Representatives.
- Seconded by the Deputy Chief Representative.
- Subdivided into three Legislative Commitees.
- Constitutional Commitee
- Deals with issues regarding the Commonwealth Constitution. It can suggest ammendments to the Constitution, but these can only be passed by the entire House. It also assesses whether a new piece of legislation is constitutional.
- Internal Administrative Commitee
- Deals with issues that effect the government process. Essentially a "meta-government", that handles internal operations.
- Policy Commitee
- Deals with issues of overall Government policy. Essentially a "problem-solving" commitee.
The Commonwealth Executive is the executive chamber for the Commonwealth. The Executive effectively "runs" the Commonwealth, although it recieves all its direction and policy from the House.
- It is an assembly of 18 Directors.
- Nominated and Elected by the National Assembly. Reviewed every five years.
- Serve until they fail Review, retire, or resign.
- Lead by the Chief Director.
- Elected by the Executive.
- Seconded by the Deputy Chief Director.
- Neither of the Chiefs head a Directorate.
- Subdivided into 16 Departments or Directorates, each headed by a Director. Directors appoint their own deputies and staff. So Directors take responsibility for poor decisions and performance.
- Agriculture
- Commerce
- Conservation
- Defence & Security
- Education
- Energy & Natural Resources
- Finance
- Foreign Affairs & Trade
- Health
- Housing & Urban Development
- Infrastructure
- Labour
- Records & Information
- Science & Research
- Social Development
- Transport
National Assembly
The National Assembly (officially titled the Commonwealth Assembly of Peoples' Deputies) is nominally the highest and most powerful organ of government, although it plays no direct part in the executive, legislative or judiciary process. Nonetheless, all power flows from the Assembly. To become a Representative in the House, one must first have served as a Representative in the Assembly. To become a Director of the Executive, one must be appointed by the Assembly.
The structure of the National Assembly is fluid, as the Constitution requires a minimum of 75% representation for decisions to be valid. The basic breakdown of the Assembly however is:
- 30% - Acknowlegded leaders or elected deputees of industrial or agricultural unions.
- 30% - Acknowledged leaders or elected deputees of community organizations.
- 40% - Provincial delegates, representing each Republic or Territory by proportion of population.
In general, to be admitted to the National Assembly, one must:
- Be the acknowledged Leader or elected Deputy of a registered and incorporated industrial union or community organization, with a membership of at least 0.5% of population.
OR
- Be an elected delegate of a Republic or Territory.
AND
- Be a citizen residing within the Commonwealth.
- Be a registered voter.
- Have no criminal convictions.
- Have been released by the Commonwealth Armed Services, with no outstanding National Service.
The Assembly does however frequently invite other representatives to make submissions or give advice. Such guests representatives are not accorded voting priveledges.
Local Government
The Constitution of the CPD makes no explicit provision for the government of boroughs, districts or other local bodies below provincial electorate level. Such bodies are therefore considered free to organize and elect councils for the purpose of local government. Such councils, however, posess very little legal authority, and no governmental power at all unless they elect a deputy to the National Assembly.
Local councils in towns and cities tend to follow the model of the Keinersberg Citizens' Council, which itself resembles the Commonwealth Government (on a much smaller scale), and which manages and maintains resources and infrastructure with in the city limits of Keinersberg. The Citizens' Council is composed of a legislative and executive chamber headed by the Mayor and Chief Executive Officer respectively. There exists a small judicial department, but as it is not formally associated with the Commonwealth Judicial system, it is cheifly concerned with the imposition of fines for misdemeanours under the local bylaws.
In the rural districts, especially among the agricultural combines, local government is very closely associated with the Provincial Agricultural Unions, which manage human resources in each province. Typically, they serve as an agency for the management of resources, and as a public interface with the local union.
Politics
The governmental and electoral systems of the Commonwealth are designed to be independent of political organisation or parties. All candidates stand effectively as independents, regardless whether or not they choose to subscribe to any particular political ticket. Additionally, upon their election they are required to take an oath to represent only the interests of their constituents.
That said, citizens often exercise their right to free assembly to form political clubs and discussion groups. The All-Commonwealth Students' Union organise regular, public, open-air fora in municipal parks.
Economy
The economy of the CPD is centralised under the control of the Government (more precisely: the Economic Department of the Commonwealth Executive).
This article is under construction. You may edit this article to include suggestions for its expansion, or you may post suggestions in the discussion section.
