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| − | '''The Federal Republic of Xiang Gang''' （香港联邦共和国; Bundesrepublik Xianggang）is a state in [[the Meritocracy]]. Although ancient, with a population of over 6 billion, it was insular for much of its existence. After a 30-year-long economic boom, the developed economy is now cooling. Government expenditure has increased greatly over the past 5 years as the government turns to the improvement of the quality of life of its citizens instead of improvement of the conditions for big business. | + | '''The Allied Free States''' of the former Xiang Gang is an alliance of the states of the former federation. Although ancient, with a population of over 7 billion, it was insular for much of its existence. |
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| − | The Federal Republic is a member of the Meritocratic Accords Senate. It is a fouding member of the Meritocratic Community. Its representative is Praetor of the Meritocracy. | + | The Federal Republic of Xiang Gang, before its dissolution into its states, was a member of the Meritocratic Accords Senate until it lost its seat when it was dissolved. It is a fouding member of the Meritocratic Community. |
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| | {{Infobox_Nation | | | {{Infobox_Nation | |
| | flag=http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/xiang_gang.jpg | | flag=http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/xiang_gang.jpg |
| − | Flag and Seal of the Federal Republic |
| + | Symbol of the Alliance| |
| | region=[[The Meritocracy]] | | | region=[[The Meritocracy]] | |
| − | motto=HUMANITY （仁） | | + | motto=none | |
| | map=not available | | | map=not available | |
| − | language=Chinese, German | | + | language=Chinese, various others| |
| | capital=Yongjing | | | capital=Yongjing | |
| − | population=over 6 billion | | + | population=over 7 billion | |
| − | currency=Denarius | | + | currency=Alliance Dollar| |
| − | leader=Dr Wu Tong, Federal Premier | + | leader=None; from time to time represented by the chairman of the conference of state governments |
| | }} | | }} |
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| | =Languages= | | =Languages= |
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| − | The official languages of Xiang Gang are Mandarin Chinese and German. German is not widely spoken, but has historically been used as a language of administration and in the courts.
| + | Throughout the alliance, several hundred languages are spoken. |
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| | + | Over 90% of alliance citizens speak Mandarin Chinese fluently, although 40% speak another language at home. This is the result of widespread recent immigration to the region. |
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| − | Over 90% of citizens speak Mandarin Chinese fluently, although 40% speak another language at home. This is the result of widespread recent immigration to the country.
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| | =Politics= | | =Politics= |
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| − | Xiang Gang is a free, democratic republic with the rule of law, before which all citizens are equal. It exhibits the characteristics of a federation in some areas of policy and a unitary state in others.
| + | The alliance's state governments are, for the most part, libertarian in ethos. The governments are small and limited in remit. All states are republics. |
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| − | ==Federal President==
| + | The leaders of the state executives are collectively called governors, although some take other titles: president, chief executive, first secretary, chairman of the executive council. The legislatures take various names: legislature, general assembly, state court, general court, senate. Some are bicameral; most have only one house. The judiciaries are, in every state, independent and free. |
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| − | The federal president （联邦总统; Bundespräsident）exercises the office of head of state and discharges its functions in consort with the State Council. He dissolves Parliament and is the country's ceremonial head. He is appointed to serve one six-year term by the Federal Council.
| + | ==Conference of the State Governors== |
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| − | ==Federal Premier==
| + | Every year, or more often, a conference of the state governors meets. It chooses a chairman from outside its number, and may issue statements and approve joint policies as is necessary. |
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| − | http://www.aroots.org/notebook/IMG/jpg/oma2_Custom_.jpg
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| − | ''Office of the Federal Premier''
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| − | The highest officer of state is that of the federal premier（联邦总理; Bundespremier）. He or she, upon election by the Federal House, has the primary obligation to defend the constitution and protect the Union. He is head of governmentas well as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, in times of war.
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| − | ==State Council==
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| − | http://roel.meurders.nl/pictures/asia-ovally/04-jp-fukuoka-holls-nexus-housing-project.jpg
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| − | ''The State Council's Offices''
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| − | The highest functions of the state are carried out by the State Council （国务院; Staatsrat）, whose 9 members are chosen by the president and approved en-masse by Parliament. The state council accepts and sends letters of credence, controls the military, may appoint a general in times of war, appoints the members of the Federal Court and summons and dissolves the legislature. It has the following members:-''
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| − | ::Premier;
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| − | ::First Secretary of State;
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| − | ::Director of the Central Department for External Affairs;
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| − | ::Director of the Central Department of Finances;
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| − | ::Director of the Central Department for Defence;
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| − | ::Director of the Federal Department for Internal Governance;
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| − | ::Director of the Federal Department of the Economy;
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| − | ::Director of the Federal Department for National Infrastructure, the Environment and Communications;
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| − | ::Director of the Federal Department for Justice and Security;
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| − | ::Director of the Federal Department for Health and Welfare.''
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| − | http://www.neue-bundeshauptstadt.de/bundesrat/geb/saele/img_saele/saal3.jpg http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/3984/statecouncil7bt.png
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| − | ''The State Council chamber (l) and the seal of the State Council (r)''
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| − | The members of the State Council are also members of the General Federal Commission （联邦总委员会）, which is a larger council upon which the chairmen of federal committees also serve. Federal committees coordinate areas of federal cooperation but under cantonal jurisdiction. The most prominent amongst these are the chairmen of the ''Federal committee for Culture'', the ''Federal committee for Energy'', the ''Federal committee for the Environment'' and the ''Federal committee for Education''. Each department has several ministers with varying competencies serving in it.
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| − | ==Parliament==
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| − | http://www.classic.archined.nl/news/9809/Ing01.jpg
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| − | ''The Parliament Building''
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| − | Parliament （议会; Parlament）is the supreme organ of state power. Its 1150 members are elected by the additional member system, and are lead by the president（主席）, whom they elect. He serves as President of the Federal House, choosing the President of the Federal Council. The parliament sits in plenary session twice a year to review the legislation passed in the session beforehand, announce the legislation tabled for the session ahead and look at calls for an amendment to the constitution. The Premier gives a full report to the lower house of parliament, the Federal House, every week and to the upper house, the Federal Council, every month. He gives an annual address to the two houses assembled. The President gives an address to both houses assembled every six months.
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| − | ===Federal House===
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| − | http://www.bonn-region.de/images/bilder/389_PlenarsaalINNEN.jpg
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| − | ''The Chamber of the Federal House''
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| − | The Federal House (联邦院; Bundeshaus）has 950 members elected from open municipal party lists, with the number of seats allocated based on population. It is the more powerful chamber and is elected every 5 years.
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| − | ===Federal Council===
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| − | http://www.britainusa.com/images/Scotland/DebatingChamberL.jpg
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| − | ''The Chamber of the Federal Council''
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| − | The Federal Council (联邦会; Bundesrat）consists of 200 members. All are elected from two closed party lists for each state. The second list may not contain a party appointee who is a member of the party. The members sit for 10 years, with half of the elected members being replaced every 5. It is a house of review, which can only delay and suggest amendments to the legislation proposed by the Federal House, which may, by a vote of 60%, overrule it after it has refused to pass legislation. Experts are often called to speak before the Federal Council: it is known to make slower, more considered judgements than the House.
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| − | =Judiciary=
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| − | Xiang Gang has a free, independent judiciary. The highest court of the land is the Federal Court. Subordinate to it are the High Courts (at cantonal level) and the Courts (at district level).
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| − | ==Federal Court==
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| − | http://www.alexandervandergraaf.nl/Welkom/Landen/Singapore/Singapore%20-%20City%20Hall%20web.jpg
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| − | ''Federal Court Building''
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| − | The supreme court of appeal is the the Federal Court（联邦法院）, which has several chambers and meets with 9 justices in each trial. The Independent Appointments Committee chooses the justices.
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| − | ==Federal Tribunal for Constitutional and Human Rights==
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| − | This court may be appealed to to make decisions on the constitutionality or justice of a government action or law. Its 15 members are appointed by the Federal President.
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| − | ==Jury System==
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| − | In solemn trials in the courts of the communities and, when used as a court of first instance, the high courts use juries as the finders of fact. A jury of 15 adults is assized from the populace of the area and called upon, by majority, to find the guilt or otherwise of a defendent beyond reasonable doubt. The presiding judge guides them and sentences based on their verdict.
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| − | =Xiang Gang Health Service=
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| − | Healthcare in Xiang Gang is provided by various charities established by the government and run independently. Funding for all procedures is granted by one of ten licenced medical insurance companies; every worker in the country must pay premiums to one of them.
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| − | Primary care is provided by General Practitioners of Medicine in local surgeries. These are the first port of call for all but emergency patients. Almost all secondary care takes place in large hospitals, which are of good quality.
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| − | Each state has a Hospitals Board, which controls funding of the hospitals and ensures access to healthcare for all members of the community.
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| | =Security= | | =Security= |
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| − | ==Army== | + | ==Armies== |
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| − | http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/9708/mindef5pm.png
| + | The states maintain their own armies. A mutual defence treaty is in effect. |
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| − | The Federal Republic of Xiang Gang maintains an all-volunteer army, the Federal Defence Forces（联邦军方）, which, although small in proportion to its population, is well-trained. It is set up only for defence of the country and is structured as follows:-
| + | ==Allies' Intelligence Centre== |
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| − | * Command and Logistics Network
| + | The alliance maintains a single centre to share intelligence. |
| − | * Land Defence Network
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| − | * Air Defence Network
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| − | * Strategic Air Branch
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| − | * Military Police Branch
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| − | * Maritime Defence Network
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| − | * Amphibious Defence Network
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| − | * River and Lake Defence Network
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| − | * Special Foreign Branch
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| − | http://humdi.net/~saransaa/matkaraportti/pics/soldier.jpg
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| − | ''Soldier of Federal Defence Forces''
| + | =The States= |
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| − | ===Medical Corps===
| + | The alliance is made up of 231 states. Each is independent in all functions. |
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| − | http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/5913/medicalcorps6yu.png
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| − | The Xiang Gang Medical Corps is an unarmed and independent arm of the defence forces, which is concerned with administering emergency medical care abroad and in the country, in certain circumstances.
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| − | ===Federal Border Force===
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| − | http://le.cos.free.fr/photo/unit%E9s/allemand/gsg9945.jpg
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| − | The Federal Border Force is a small paramilitary organisation which takes control of the country's borders and the highways near them, all of which have collapsible concrete roofs to slow an invasion. It also has an elite anti-terror group, the Federal Border Group 7. FBG units can be sent abroad to take part in peacekeeping operations.
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| − | An autonomous division of the Federal Border Force is the Ports Security Authority, which maintains security at airports and seaports.
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| − | Xiang Gang is almost landlocked, with only a small inlet separating to the ocean and a large lake forming its natural western limit. The high mountains of Xiang Gang's interior are populated with military defence posts and large bunkers full of equipment primed for use. Its beaches are protected by military posts, as are its cities. Xiang Gang, however, manages to spend a similar amount on defence to similar-sized countries, as it has no offensive capability.
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| − | ==Federal Police Force==
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| − | http://callhiro.seesaa.net/image/hongkong.jpg
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| − | The Federal Police Force (联邦察务处) is the civilian police force of the country. The force has a small central bureaucracy with most policing in the hands of the local state's detachment.
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| − | ==General Intelligence Service==
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| − | http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/507/minintel1yu.png
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| − | The General Intelligence Service (总情报署) is the unified intelligence service for the state. It is a civilian organisation and is mostly involved in domestic security. It focuses on domestic non-military threats, particularly from terrorism. Its operatives, based on the Monitoring Institute's intelligence, combat foreign espionage in the country. It also monitors certain groups deemed to be dangerous, protects foreign and government officials in the country and performs background checks on those to be employed in positions of high authority in the government.
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| − | Its Monitoring Institute (监控所) is involved in foreign operations and international signals intelligence. It liases with foreign intelligence services.
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| − | The ''Provost Marshal for the Intelligence Service'' ensures that the service does not break the law.
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| − | =Administrative Divisions=
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| − | http://img439.imageshack.us/img439/9561/untitled21vc.png
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| − | Xiang Gang is divided into 78 states (约州). These are the key elements of government for their citizens.
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| − | Each state has its own constitution and Court for the Constitution. They control policing in their area, control education in the area, control healthcare in the area within the scope of central government policy and control utilities and basic public services.
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| − | Each municipality has an independent Hospitals Board, Schools Board and Transportation Authority to ensure proper public access to the autonomous hospitals and schools and to the privately-run but publicly-licenced transport services, respectively.
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| − | Nuclear energy, some healthcare policy, university education policy, military policy, and foreign affairs are the exclusive domain of the Central Government. Municipalities receive most of the income tax proceeds of their citizens, as well as a grant if necessary, whilst all other tax is taken by the Republic.
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| − | The states of Yongjing, Linhe, Hancheng, Baojin, Shancheng and Zhongping are the Republic's most populous cities, and are in fact governed by federal unions of the states comprising their territory.
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| − | ==Government structure==
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| − | {| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" align="center"
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| − | |+'''Levels of jurisdiction'''
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| − | |-
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| − | ! Level of governance
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| − | ! Executive
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| − | ! Legislature
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| − | ! Judiciary
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| − | |-
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| − | | Federal Level
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| − | （联邦级)
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| − | |Federal Premier(联邦总里) &
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| − | State Council（国务院）
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| − | | Parliament（议院）:
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| − | Federal House（联邦院）
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| − | & Federal Council（联邦会）
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| − | | Federal Court（联邦法院）
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| − | |-
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| − | | State Level (州级)
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| − | | Executive (行政长官)
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| − | Executive Council（行政会议）
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| − | | State Diet (州院)
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| − | | State Court（州级法院）
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| − | |-
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| − | | District Level
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| − | （区级）
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| − | | District Officers (2)
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| − | (区长）
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| − | | District Council（区会）
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| − | | Court（法院）
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| − | |}
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| − | ==Yongjing==
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| − | Yongjing is the capital city of Xiang Gang; 22% of its population lives in the vast metropolitan area. The city has, however, few tall skyscrapers outside of the Central Finanical District and Dayi City: most buildings are under 20 storeys. Driving in the city is difficult but public transport is good.
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| − | Yongjing is governed as a federal union of the states comprising the city's territory, and in practice the states of the city have little power. The states' Diets amalgamate to form the House of Representatives. No states elect an executive, instead delegating executive power to the Mayor of Yongjing and his cabinet.
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| − | =Media=
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| − | Xiang Gang has a varied and dynamic media sector. Most newspapers and television stations are national and based in Yongjing, particularly its Dayi City.
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| − | There is full editorial freedom in all sectors except digital terrestrial television, which must remain politically neutral.
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| − | Xiang Gang Television (XDT) is the publically-funded television network; it broadcasts three terrestrial channels: XDT-News, XDT-Inform and XDT-Entertainment.
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| | =Citizenship= | | =Citizenship= |
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| − | http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/1779/pass28lh.png
| + | Citizens of one state have right of movement in and residence in all other states, by treaty. The allied states issue, from six central offices, a passport. |
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| − | Citizenship of the Federal Republic is obtained upon residence in the country for 8 years and the exhibition of a high degree of integration. For nationals of the Meritocratic Community states, this is lowered to 3 years. Dual citizenship is permitted.
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The Federal Republic of Xiang Gang, before its dissolution into its states, was a member of the Meritocratic Accords Senate until it lost its seat when it was dissolved. It is a fouding member of the Meritocratic Community.
Throughout the alliance, several hundred languages are spoken.
Over 90% of alliance citizens speak Mandarin Chinese fluently, although 40% speak another language at home. This is the result of widespread recent immigration to the region.
The alliance's state governments are, for the most part, libertarian in ethos. The governments are small and limited in remit. All states are republics.
The leaders of the state executives are collectively called governors, although some take other titles: president, chief executive, first secretary, chairman of the executive council. The legislatures take various names: legislature, general assembly, state court, general court, senate. Some are bicameral; most have only one house. The judiciaries are, in every state, independent and free.
Every year, or more often, a conference of the state governors meets. It chooses a chairman from outside its number, and may issue statements and approve joint policies as is necessary.
The states maintain their own armies. A mutual defence treaty is in effect.
The alliance is made up of 231 states. Each is independent in all functions.
Citizens of one state have right of movement in and residence in all other states, by treaty. The allied states issue, from six central offices, a passport.
