The Philosophes
| The Federal Republic of the Philosophes | |
| |
| National flag | |
| MAP PENDING | |
| Motto | Libertas Evalescit |
| Anthem | ANTHEM PENDING |
| Capital | Webster |
| Languages | none official; English de facto |
| Government - Prime Minister |
Constitutional Republic John Braddock |
| Establishment - as British colony - as independent nation - as constitutional republic |
CE 1765 CE 2 March 1847 CE 18 October 1853 |
| Area | 1,223,446km² |
| Population - Total (2007 est.) |
43,306,772 (RP) |
| GDP (FY2006/07) - Total (NSD) - GDP/capita (NSD) |
GDP PENDING GDP PER CAPITA PENDING |
| National animal - English name |
Rhea pennata Darwin's rhea |
| National fruit - English name |
Punica granatum Pomegranate |
| National tree - English name |
Fitzroya cupressoides Patagonian cypress |
| National flower - English name |
Viola tricolor Pansy |
| Currency | 1 Credit (PHCR) = 100 centicredits |
| Time Zone | UTC -0400 / -0300 |
| National charter of rights | Constitution of The Philosophes |
| Pronunciation (IPA) | /PRONOUNCIATION PENDING/ |
| International abbreviations - Government - Sport |
FRP FRP |
| Naval craft classification - Military - Civilian |
FRS PCS |
| Internet TLD | .frp, .pat |
| Calling code | +59 |
| PDAS rating | n/a |
| CHDI rating | n/a (n/a) |
The Federal Republic of the Philosophes, also know simply as the Philosophes or the FRP, or poetically as Philosopha, is a large, socially progressive nation dedicated to the promotion of exceptional public education and the advancement of human health and welfare, located in the region of Equilism.
For most of its history The Philosophes was dedicated to the principle that a high tax economy, coupled with extensive social funding, would lead to the best possible environment for its citizens. However, it has since undertaken a new program of economic growth and encouragement centered around a moderate tax rate and careful apportionment of funds for social services. The Philosophes' foreign policy has traditionally been concerned with mediating disputes between the other nations of its region, for the mutual benefit of all concerned parties; however, it is well protected and has no qualms about defending itself whenever necessary.
Contents
Governmental Structure
The government of the FRPis structured in a standard three-branch system.
- The Executive Branch, responsible for leading the nation and enacting policy not delegated to another branch of the government;
- The Legislative Branch, responsible for passing all federal laws and regulations, in accordance with the various ministries of the Executive Branch;
- The Judicial Branch, responsible for checking the power of the Executive and Legislative Branches and for ruling on any major cases not resolved in the lower courts.
Executive Branch: The Prime Ministry
The head of state of the FRP is the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is elected every five years, and before inauguration is obligated to nominate candidates to head the various Ministries under his control.
Prime Minister
In order to be elected Prime Minister, one is required to be recognized as a) and adult, and b) a citizen. Anyone meeting these requirements can technically become the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister is elected from a pool of no more than 10 candidates, who in turn are determined in a primary held 6 months prior to the actual election. This is to avoid having an overwhelming number of eligible candidates who could inadvertently bring the election process to a grinding halt. Traditionally, every candidate is a member of a political party; however, unlike in other ministerial government systems, the populace votes for the candidate themselves rather than for a party platform.
Among his various powers, the Prime Minister has the explicit right to:
- Veto any resolution passed by the General Legislature;
- Nominate Ministers to head the various Ministries of the government;
- Nominate Justices to the High Courts;
- Suspend the rights of the citizenry;
- Initiate or participate in diplomatic dialogue;
- Command the Combined Military Forces of the FRP in times of war.
Ministries and Ministers
The Governmental Ministries are headed by Ministers nominated for their positions by the Prime Minister, following his election. They can only take their positions following approval by the General Legislature.
| Ministry | Current Head | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Commerce | Karl Ernhardt | manages trade relations between the FRP and the other nations in Equilism; can initiate, negotiate, or cease said relations; regulates tariffs on trade entering the FRP |
| Defense | Samuel Cartwright | manages, directs, and coordinates the Combined Military Forces of the FRP; maintains a limited yet viable force during peacetime; organizes and launches military campaigns during wartime |
| Education | Juliette Scursby | educates and encourages education among the student populace of the FRP; ensures all students have proper learning materials; promotes a love of learning among the student populace |
| The Environment | Laura Kendall | protects all aspects of the environment of the FRP; controls all National Parks and Wildlife Preserves; ensures the sanctity, isolation, and preservation of these parks and preserves from development by commercial venture |
| Finance | Alexander James Donovan | creates, circulates, and exchanges all currency in the FRP; collects all taxes in the FRP; regulates stock market trading |
| Foreign Affairs | Benjamin Reed | establishes and coordinates all FRP embassies in other nations; maintains normalized diplomatic relations with those nations; represents the FRP in all matters outside its borders |
| Health and Social Welfare | René Normand | provides for the health and wellbeing of all citizens of the FRP; works to sustain all citizens unable to support themselves on their own; ensures completely uninhibited access to healthcare and health services for all citizens |
| Intelligence | Jack Callaghan | investigates and analyzes any intelligence information as it pertains to the safety and security of the FRP and its citizens; conducts surveillance of suspected terrorists and terrorist organizations |
| Internal Affairs | Miguel Castille-Coubet | maintains and coordinates all internal infrastructure and direction, including traffic and congestion management, commercial air and sea transportation, domestic policing, citizen naturalization, energy storage and distribution, and sanitation organization |
| Labor | Yuri Norensky | secures the rights of the working populace of the FRP; assures all applicable benefits and rights are available to workers, including healthcare, hazard pay, minimum wage, etc; organizes and regulates workers unions, and mediates discussion between unions and employers |
| Science and Research | William Finchale | studies, categorizes, and standardizes all available scientific information in all available scientific areas of study; researches physics, chemistry, medicine, archaeology, sociology, etc, for the sake of the advancement of humanity and human understanding of the universe |
Legislative Branch: The General Legislature
As with the Prime Minister, Legislators are elected every 5 years, and need only be recognized as adults and citizens of the FRP in order to take office. There are 200 Legislators in the General Legislature, seated together by party affiliation.
Among its various powers, the General Legislature has the explicit right to:
- make into law any resolution brought before it that recieves a simple majority on the day of voting;
- review nominations of Ministers to head the various Ministries of government;
- review nominations of Justices to the High Courts;
- act as the executive body of the government if the Prime Minister is unable to do so;
- review the suspension of the rights of the citizenry by the Prime Minister;
- amend or alter the Constitution, by a three-fourths majority on the day of voting.
Judicial Branch: The High Courts
The Judicial Branch of the federal government in The Philosophes is divided into two courts: the High Court of the Judiciary, and the High Court of Appeal. Unlike the Executive and Legislative Branches, Justices in the High Courts are nominated by the Prime Minister for lifelong appointments.
High Court of the Judiciary
The High Court of the Judiciary is the highest court in the FRP, and has the explicit right to rule on any case brought before it that has not already been decided by a lower court. It is made up of 9 Justices. There are no restrictions on its power to rule any law, policy, or action that is brought to it for review unconstitutional - including actions of the executive and legislative branches of the government.
High Court of Appeal
The major difference between the High Court of Appeal and the High Court of the Judiciary is that the HCA hears cases already decided by the HCJ; other than that, the HCA carries all the same powers that the HCJ does, and will often be just as influential in state affairs. Also notable is that it has 3 Justices.
Political Process
Politics in The Philosophes follows a system similar to that in many modern democratic nations. In this tradition, the three most important aspects of FRP politics are the election, the concept of checks and balances, and the political party.
Election Procedure
The two highest elected positions in the FRP are Prime Minister and Legislator. Elections for both positions take place at the same time, in the same year, at regular 5-year intervals. Generally speaking all candidates for political office belong to a political party; however, the FRP does not utilize an electoral college. Instead, elections are decided by a straight tally of the popular vote. A nominating election is held six months prior to narrow the field of candidates running for the office of Prime Minister. Once someone has been elected to a position, they are allowed one and a half months to get things in order before their inauguration, and for the incumbent to tie up loose ends.
Checks and Balances
The Philosophes utilizes a complex system of checks and balances in order to ensure a stable and secure system of government that can wield its power both efficiently and effectively. Over time, this system of checks has evolved what some have claimed is an unnecessarily strong Legislative Branch, though this remains to be seen.
For example, the Prime Minister has the right to veto any resolution passed by the General Legislature. Additionally, however, he is required to call for a Committee of Review to oversee a revision of the resolution for resubmission. In addition, while the Prime Minister has the power to nominate Ministers to head the Ministries of government and Justices to the High Courts, these nominations are subject to review by the General Legislature.
Political Parties
A basic description of the major Philosophe political parties - that is, those parties that currently hold seats in the General Legislature.
| Party | Party Leader | Description | % Popular Vote for PM | Seats in General Legislature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive Republican Party | John Braddock | The Progressive Republican Party (PRP) has been the ruling party of the FRP for the past 18 years. It is considered a socially and economically liberal party that focuses on strong social programs coupled with economic responsibility. Historically, the PRP advocated strong leftist fiscal policies; however, rising pressure from the CLA and the growing problem of a stagnant economy encouraged it to take a dramatic turn once it came to power, opening markets and significantly lowering the income tax burden on the Philosophe public. More recently, the PRP has come under fire for its cautious support of universal conscription for all young adults. Nevertheless, its continued emphasis on universal freedoms and government-sponsored education and healthcare has earned it a large and devoted bloc of constituents. | 35.72% | 71 |
| Philosophe Democratic Party | Renée Argand | The Philosophe Democratic Party (PDP) was considered the official opposition party when the PRP came to power, but under the leadership of current head Renée Argand the PDP has moved to support the PRP in many of its policies as part of a strong governing coalition. In addition, the PDP has helped to soften the impact of some of the more controversial actions supported by the PRP (including that party's condemnation of the right of the private citizenry to own firearms). Current PDP voting levels are at a historical low due to the similarity between the PRP and PDP in policy and a rise in popularity for the CLA, which may lead to yet another revisioning of the PDP agenda and a move away from the PRP. | 26.32% | 55 |
| Capitalist Libertarian Alliance | Stephen Pendergast | The Capitalist Libertarian Alliance (CLA) is the "rising star" in Philosophe politics, currently enjoying the highest voting rates for the party in its history. Founded in direct opposition to the economic policies of an SRP-led FRP, it has steadily gained both voter patronage and seats in the General Legislature. In fact, many have observed that the rise in CLA power almost directly correlates to the decline in approval for the former SRP-led government Interestingly, while new PRP fiscal policies have been successful in bringing back members to that party, the CLA continues to have a growing influence on social and economic reform in the FRP, siphoning away constituents from the PDP with its adamant support of strong libertarian rights for all citizens. | 18.03% | 38 |
| Socialist Reform Party | Elise Duchat-Brennan | The Socialist Reform Party (SRP) was the ruling party in the FRP for most of the first half of the twentieth century. It prided itself on its implementation of a moderate form of socialism years before the Russian Revolution ever took place, and on its steadfast protection of human rights (in contrast to the communist USSR). However, while an SRP-dominated government may have been socially and morally virtuous, national economics suffered greatly during their reign. By the early 1960s they had fallen out of favor, leading to a period in which several parties came in and out of power before the rise of the far less radical (though still notably socialist) PRP. Consensus today is that the SRP was simply too hard-line in its interpretation of socialism; the PRP's compromise-minded, reform-driven economic policies simply mirrored better the prevailing Philosophe sentiment. | 8.74% | 19 |
| Radical Nationalist Party | Pedro Marquez | The Radical Nationalist Party (RNP) has never been a ruling power in FRP politics; however, their voting constituency are known for being vehemently loyal during elections. The RNP's most powerful days came during the 1930s, when it adopted a strong fascist platform to augment their nationalist agenda, calling for territorial expansion "from Tierra del Fuego to the Rio Paraná!" Support for the Radical Nationalists declined dramatically during the early 1940s, mostly due to the FRP's entry into WWII on the side of the Allies. The RNP quickly denied any ties to the Third Reich's own fascist government and dropped the fascist elements of its background, but its glory days were behind them. | 4.13% | 9 |
| Philosophe Moralist Reform Coalition | Clement Toravassi | Sometimes called "the true opposition party" by pundits, the Philosophe Moralist Reform Coalition (PMRC) is the FRP's major conservative religious party. While it is not technically defined as a religious party, the PMRC nevertheless draws its greatest numbers from evangelists, social fundamentalists, and other so-called "moral traditionalists." The PMRC is most distinguished for its stance against almost all current Philosophe government policies (hence, "the true opposition party"), and the questionable legality of its continued acceptance of outside funding from various religious organizations. Clement Toravassi, the party's current leader, is an ordained Roman Catholic priest. | 3.86% | 8 |
Party Positions on Issues
A basic overview of the major party platforms on certain key issues of today. Note that two parties may have the same position for radically different reasons.
| PRP | PDP | CLA | SRP | RNP | PMRC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abortion | for | for | for | no position | against | against |
| Capital Punishment | against | against | no position | against | for | for |
| Conscription | for | against | against | against | for | for |
| Defense Spending | no position | against | no position | against | for | for |
| Environment | for | for | against | against | against | against |
| Euthanasia | against | no position | for | against | against | against |
| Gay Rights | for | for | for | for | no position | against |
| Graduated Tax Rate | for | for | no position | no position | against | against |
| Gun Control | for | against | against | against | for | against |
| Healthcare | for | for | against | for | no position | against |
| High Taxes | no position | no position | against | for | for | no position |
| Immigration | for | for | for | no position | against | against |
| Public Education | for | for | against | for | for | no position |
| Separation of Church and State | for | for | for | for | for | against |
| United Nations | for | for | against | for | against | against |
| Welfare | for | no position | against | for | against | against |
Citizenry and Culture
CITIZENRY AND CULTURE CURRENTLY BEING REWORKED
Population
Ethnicities
The Philosophes was settled and later founded by citizens of the British Commonwealth, and consequently the majority of its citizens come from a Western European background. However, liberal immigration policies later provided for the immigration of individuals from various other ethnic groups.
The greater portion of the Philosophe populace claims English, Scottish, Irish, French, or German ancestry. There are also sizable populations of Japanese, Dutch, Spanish, Russian, Indian, and West African background Philosophes. The relative prevalence of ethnic minorities in The Philosophes has helped it establish a reputation as a tolerant and accepting nation, a melting pot on a continent surrounding by single ethnic majorities.
- 59.27%: Caucasian (Western European)
- 19.94%: Caucasian (Eastern European)
- 7.11%: East Asian
- 4.93%: African
- 4.27%: South Asian
- 3.41%: Semitic
- 1.07%: Other
Religion
- 46.57%: Christian (Protestant)
- 19.06%: Agnostic/Atheist/No Religion
- 15.22%: Christian (Catholic)
- 5.97%: Jewish
- 1.60%: Muslim
- 0.71%: Buddhist
- 0.60%: Hindu
- 10.24%: Other/Nonaffiliated
Languages
Literacy and Education
News Media
Sports
Sporting and competition are regarded as a critical part of human social development and continued healthy living by Philosophes. Thus many in the FRP participate in one or more of these sports on a regular basis, both for personal achievement and fun.
It is notable that a number of popular Philosophe sports, such as chess and debate, are not regarded as sports by most of the rest of the world; however, their often competitive atmosphere and widespread popularity have led to this qualification, and most do not think twice about it.
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National Holidays
- 1/1: New Year's Day (commemorating the beginning of the new year)
- 3/2: Establishment Day (honoring the creation of the FRP)
- 4/28: Webster's Birthday (commemorating the birthday of the founder of the FRP)
- 6/10: Election Day (national elections held)
- 7/25: Inauguration Day (swearing in of the Prime Minister of the FRP)
- 8/14: Settlement Day (commemorating the establishment of the first permanent settlement at Webster)
- 9/1: Veteran's Day (honoring FRP veterans of war and peacekeeping action)
- 10/18: Constitution Day (honoring the ratification of the FRP Constitution)
- 12/10: Nominating Day (national nominating elections held)
National Symbols
NATIONAL SYMBOLS CURRENTLY BEING REWORKED
Military
MILITARY CURRENTLY BEING REWORKED
International Agreements
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS CURRENTLY BEING REWORKED
Geography
GEOGRAPHY CURRENTLY BEING REWORKED
Major Physical Features
Major Urban Centers
ISO Codes
ISO CODES CURRENTLY BEING REWORKED
History
