Tom Joad
Introduction
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| Flag of Tom Joad | |
| Motto: If it moves shoot it, if it screams shoot to kill | |
| No Map Available Yet | |
| Region | Atlantis |
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| Capital | San Mancuso |
| Official Language(s) | English |
| Leader | Malone Kaiser |
| Population | Over 6 billion |
| Currency | JoLong |
| NS Sunset XML | |
The Incorporated States of Tom Joad walks a tight rope between totalitarian statehood and socialist isolation, balanced in large part by an educated populace and an elitist voting populace the nation has managed to witness most every conflict unscathed, a veritable ghost in the wind of politics. The most notable features of government are the fixed, life-long Executive Committee and the elected long-term National Congress in partnership they guide the lives of over six billion nationals towards working to better their own lives and the fate of the nation.
Background
Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia about 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770, when Capt. James Cook took possession in the name of Great Britain. Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries; they federated and became the Commonwealth of Joad in 1901. The new country took advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop its agricultural and manufacturing industries and ended any form of control Great Britain had at that point. Following repeated attempts to restore control over the Commonwealth by the major foreign powers during the inter-war years and more pro-actively during World War II a siege mentality was created, something that has persisted in popular culture but has also evolved in to a form of xenophobia. In the mid-sixties permanent authoritative control was established when existing government threatened to lead the entire Commonwealth in to a destructive and fruitless civil war, order was totally restored and economic recovery was begun with absolute haste. Never again would well-intentioned yet ultimately harmful democratic methods be allowed to threaten the nation.
Now a largely self-sufficient economic power the Commonwealth became a series of incorporated States after a series of areas agreed upon limited self-determination then changed this status to be largely subordinate to central government in terms of national direction yet still responsible for their own local conditions. Current concerns include environmental degradation from overseas, security concerns and a rising population. Positions of government and the right to vote nationally can only be undertaken by those enfranchised following service to the state, primarily through military service. Local elections for minor cities do not require participants to be fully enfranchised.
National Legislation
The nation is divided in to six Designated Command Zones (DCZ) each DCZ has a Zone Legislature (ZL) consisting of seven individuals elected by the enfranchised populace of that Zone. Consisting of the six key areas and a chairman, who has typically served in different directorates, the Zone Legislature overseas the administration of the DCZ.
Those who are selected to attend the National Congress are able to promote and select a deputy to continue the majority of their role whilst elected in the National Congress. Each DCZ has a legislative capital that acts as a communications hub for civilian purposes as well as a command centre for the ISDF during a time of crisis, unlike other major cities the ZL also administrates the legislative capital whereas the other major cities elect their own city councils. These city councils are responsible for the city they reside in, their responsibility does not extend beyond agreed borders where a borough council holds responsibility. Both the city and borough councils are elected in similar fashions and conduct similar roles although on different scales, neither one is senior in hierarchy except the ZL itself.
From each of the ZL three individuals are selected by the enfranchised populace to take a seat in the National Congress (NC) that acts as a forum for inter-Zone issues to be raised from all departments and agencies of the government, such as pollution, migration, environmental concerns and defence issues. The National Congress reports to the Executive Committee (EC) via the National Congress Oversight Committee (NCOC), members of the NCOC after having been elected for two terms to the National Congress each term lasting three years are selected by the Executive Committee. At present the National Congress consists of eighteen elected individuals and a further thirty-six deputies, whilst the National Congress Oversight Committee consists of twelve individuals and twelve deputies.
The Executive Committee is composed of life long members; only the Committee itself can remove members or elect new members. Each member represents the various areas of national importance they are listed in priority; Trade and Industry, Defence, Foreign Commissariat, Emergency Services, Education and Health.
