Prosperas
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| Flag of Prosperas | |
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- Official
English, Prosperan Aboriginal
- State President
- Prime Minister
Mary Anderson
Christian Benedict
- Declaration of Independence
1 January, 1920
- Total
- % water
10,128,629 km²
5.85%
- Total (2005)
222,781,000
- Total
- GDP/capita
(US)$15.5 trillion
(US)$40,000
Prosperas is a highly developed island nation situated in the Pacific Ocean. It comprises several hundred islands called the "Prosperan Archipelago" and has a total land area of 10,128,629 square kilometres. The last national census (2005) established a population of 222,781,000.
Some parts of Prosperas have been inhabited for more than 40,000 years by the indigenous aboriginal people. However, much of the Prosperan Archipelago was uninhabited when the first Europeans arrived. After sporadic visits by merchants in the seventeenth century, the main islands were claimed by the British in the 1700s. It was not long before large waves of settlers followed and the islands, with their rich supplies of natural resources became renowned as a place of prosperity. People from around the world chose to immigrate there, in the hopes of finding a new and better life.
By the 19th century Prosperas was a collection of self-governing British colonies. In the 1880s, however, these colonies began to demand greater independence. Eventually they agreed to come together as one Dominion and the modern state was born. In 1920 Prosperas became a republic.
Today the country has a reputation for being one of the most socially liberal in the world. Citizens enjoy extensive personal freedoms.
Contents
Geography
Prosperas comprises six main islands and a number of smaller islands and islets, located in the Southern Hemisphere near the equator.
New Britain is by far the largest island, with an area of 7,741,220 square kilometres and the majority of the population is concentrated here. Because of its large size many schools of thought consider New Britain a continent, rather than an island.
The climate throughout Prosperas varies greatly because of the vast geographic area it covers. In the south it is temperate, while the more northern and equatorial parts experience tropical weather.
Demographics
Most of the estimated 222,781,000 Prosperas are descended from 18th and 19th century settlers, the majority of which came from Great Britain and other European countries. The indigenous population – Prosperan Aborigines – accounted for 20.8% of the population in 2005. Prosperan Asians are estimated to account for 12.3% of the population. In the country’s 87 year history there have been numerous government initiatives to promote multiculturalism, and racial harmony has been fairly successful.
English is the most widely spoken language in Prosperas and is one of the country’s two official languages. The other is Prosperan Aboriginal, spoken by only a small percentage of the indigenous population.
Prosperas has no state religion and the 2005 census identified that only 49% of the population considered themselves Christian. The majority of that 49% said they were Anglican or Roman Catholic. Prosperas who identify themselves as non-religious numbered 31% (including humanists, atheists, agnostics and rationalists).
The adult literacy rate in Prosperas is 99%. This is thought to be in large part due to a compulsory school attendance policy.
Politics
Prosperas is a unitary state with a parliamentary system of government. Full democracy in Prosperas has existed since the 19th century, although there have been a number of important constitutional changes during this time. Until it became a republic in 1920, Prosperas was a Self-governing Dominion in the British Empire.
The State President of Prosperas is elected every seven years by popular vote. The role is mostly ceremonial, but the president does carry out some constitutional powers and functions. In doing this, he or she is aided by an advisory body known as the Executive Council.
Mary Anderson has been State President since she was elected to office in February 2000.
The most senior policy-making body is Cabinet. It is led by the Prime Minister and exercises executive authority. The State President is responsible for formally appointing the Prime Minister and his or her Cabinet. He or she is always the leader of the political party which wins the most seats in a general election. Cabinet ministers must be members of parliament and are generally members of the Prime Minister’s own party.
The parliament of Prosperas consists of the State President and two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The House of Representatives is the most dominate of the two. It has the power to pass legislation and nominate (as well as remove) the prime minister. Members are elected every three years by the First Past the Post electoral system.
The Senate has a significantly weaker role. It does not have the power to veto bills and may only delay them. Members are appointed in a variety of ways. A number are nominated by the House of Representatives, some are elected by academic institutions, and others are selected from special vocational panels of candidates.
Politics in Prosperas is dominated by two main parties: the Prosperas First Party and the Liberal Party of Prosperas. Currently the Prosperas First Party holds a majority in the House of Representatives and so forms the Government. Its leader, Christian Benedict, is Prime Minister.
In addition to the two main parties there are also a number of smaller parties that also have representation in Parliament.
Prosperas is a common law jurisdiction. The judiciary consists of the Supreme Court, the High Court and the District Courts. Judges are nominated by the Government and appointed by the State President. The Supreme Court has the power of judicial review, meaning it can overturn laws deemed to be unconstitutional.
Economy
Prosperas has a thriving mixed economy with a relatively high GDP per capita. It has not suffered a recession in over three decades, and in 2006 unemployment was at an all time low of 2.8%.
