Libraria and Ausitoria
| This page is a work in progress by its author(s) and should not be considered final. |
| The Imperial Commonwealth of Libraria and Ausitoria | |||
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| Motto: Institutiones et Civilitatem non cum Barismus | |||
| Anthem: When questors of old found our green pleasant lands | |||
United Panessos Realms
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| Capital | Alexandria (de-facto, de-principo) | ||
| Largest | Alexandria | ||
| Official languages | The Common Tongue | ||
| Recognised regional languages | Vorscan, Rajyen, Valenx, Kegish | ||
| Demonym | Librarian, Ausitorian, Sebvorscan, Rajan, Saphoitorran | ||
| Government | Constitutional Monarchy | ||
| - | Monarch | Emperor Alexander Whittingnet III & IV | |
| - | Prime Minister | Charles Perques | |
| Legislature | Witan | ||
| - | Upper house | House of Lords & Advisers and Senate | |
| - | Lower house | House of Commons and Assembly | |
| Existence | |||
| - | Proclaimed | c. 3rd September 1 BC (AST) | |
| - | Union with Libraria | 29th March 97 AD (AST) | |
| - | Libraria Independent | 3rd April 368 AD (AST) | |
| - | Imperial Commonwealth | 24th May 376 AD (AST) | |
| - | United Realms Consolidated | 2nd March 401 AD (AST) | |
| Population | |||
| - | 2013 (401 AST) estimate | 5,340,091,200 | |
| GDP (PPP) | 2013 (Q4) (401 AST) estimate | ||
| - | Total | $206.3 trillion | |
| - | Per capita | $38,641 | |
| GDP (nominal) | 2013 (Q4) (401 AST) estimate | ||
| - | Total | $208.9 trillion | |
| - | Per capita | $39,130 | |
| Gini (2013 (401 AST)) | 40.4 medium |
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| HDI (2013 (401 AST)) | 0.935 very high |
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| Currency | Ausitorian Bar = Librarian Bookmark (ABR = LBM) |
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| Time zone | Panessos Time and Ausitorian Standard Time | ||
| Drives on the | "left" | ||
| Calling code | +277 | ||
| Internet TLD | .icla | ||
The Imperial Commonwealth of Libraria and Ausitoria, officially The Imperial Commonwealth of Libraria, Ausitoria, Apraecia, and the Union Realms, is a large parliamentary democratic sovereign multi-state entity divided geographically, temporally, and legally between two distinct regions: the Home Realms (in Decis) and the United Realms (in the regions of Panessos, Hemithea, and Crasoa). The Home Realms, with a population of 1.6 billion and a capital at Alexandria, are a partially sovereign collection of nations formed from the Kingdoms and Empires of the United Kingdoms of Libraria, Ausitoria, and Apraecia, and the Principalities of Csyberfloridha and of Guardaria. Inhabited since ancient times and a nation of traders since antiquity, the Home Realms are liberal, extremely prosperous, highly developed, and relatively isolationist.
The United Realms, all on the edge of their regions, are a collection of mostly less developed, disparate and diverse territories liberated by The Home Realms and administered by their own central government, current based at Alexandria (Sebvorsca) prior to a planned move to the under-construction Capital at New Alexandria. As such the United Realms includes the Commonwealth of Sebvorsca and the Commonwealth of Saphoitoera, the Capricornian or Rajan Amraja (or Empire), the Kingdom of Craterum, the Principality of the Chattakang Islands, and the Spiralan Realms, and encompasses most of the remaining 3.7 billion people within the Imperial Commonwealth.
The Imperial Commonwealth is the home of a powerful partially regulated market economy, and is usually classified as a liberal interventionist nation, a statement underlined by the nations' role as Speaker of Panessos and their participation in the World Assembly and CAPINTERN.
Contents
Etymology and name
The etymology of both Kingdoms remains the subject of intense dispute. Many popular theories for Auxitoria have been based on the similarity of the name with that the first Emperor Alexander or the capital Alexandria. Relatively recently, the theory that gained most prominence was based on Ausit, which means 'dares' in old Jemasian, making Ausitoria the land of the daring; but the modern preferred theory draws reference from older texts which suggest the native name of the land used to be Auditoria, which was itself perhaps named after the 'Auditors', loud speaking or tax-collecting naval traders who established predecessor client states some hundred years prior to the creation of Alexander's Empire. Thus Auxitoria was named by the common phonetic shift from 'd' to 'th'; the spelling of which is known to have been much more clipped in Jemasian, hence producing a more 's' like sound.
Libraria, sometimes suggested as a sarcastic Ausitorian insult regarding their northern neighbour's former lack of literacy; has sometimes been supposed to have suggested a historical land of the free, from the Jemasian word 'liber' (free), but Jemasian influence is known to have been slight. The most commonly cited modern theory bases itself on the Dezn words 'lieb' and 'rar', making Libraria a land 'dear' and 'rare' to its inhabitants.
To refer to Libraria and Ausitoria as ' a free Aria and besieging Oratorio too many ', as in the Jemasian word 'sit' (siege), was a witticism first recorded by the then-Chancellor Richard Grey at the coronation uniting the two Kingdoms more than three hundred years ago.
History
For the pre-union history of the Union Territories, please see here.
Early History
The Imperial Commonwealth was formed in antiquity as the Auxitorian Empire by the Jemasian General Alexander the Great, who allied with native Auxitorians (whose local rulers were incorporated into the Senate, or Witan) to proclaim his independence from the mighty Jemasian Empire. Their Emperor Claudius was consequently defeated twice before recognizing Auxitoria's independence. Auxitoria, centered on the remarkable natural canal that runs through Alexandria connecting the principle seas, grew rich on its mineral wealth and lack of immediate competitors. However, decadence set in and the Empire was attacked from all sides and, on 29th March 97 AST (Ausitorian Standard Time) the country had to take a foreign (Librarian) Monarch from the North as their own, although they maintained their crucial Parliament, which expanded in size and role to slowly consolidate the two nations, a process considered mostly complete by the mid 2nd century.
The Renaissance and Industrial Revolution
Ausitoria and Libraria were subsequently subdued when the Jevoan tyranny arose to dominate the entire continent and indeed establish colonies on neighbouring ones. While the Tyranny, at its various heights of power, was clearly the greatest power, it lacked in such a pre-modern era without rapid communications the ability to firmly control the various peripheral countries which remained independent and built their links and forces in preparation for The Great Revolt.
In that revolt, which took a mere three years, the Tyranny was defeated and subdued; and the Pax Ausitoria ushered in after Ausitoria annexed the neighbouring Kingdoms of Guardaria and Apraecia under a new monarch Alexander II and then sailed to seas to steal the remains of the Tyranny's Empire and enlarge upon it. However, the Empire never had more than half the population of the homelands, and the Empire enjoyed full parliamentary representation, maintaining a highly centralized state. Investment was rampant and money poured in. But one frightfully quick and enwealthening Industrial Revolution later, the peace was shattered in 338 AST upon the departure of the monarch Alexander II as the Foreign Power Meussikrhumania and the resurgent Tyranny, envious of the two Empire's colossal wealth, attacked and almost defeated Ausitoria.
Modern Period
A resurgent Ausitoria was led back to power by Alexander III, who conquered the four continents not once but twice; and each time loosing it - the first time as it had expanded too fast, and the second to hyperinflation and planned revolution starting in the conquered territory of Scynseklubovia. This ended with Alexander III's abdicated in favour of a pliant King Ian, with the former King rapidly assuming the position of Prime Minister. A third attempt had to be put on hold in the face of now industrialized opponents, who, fearing further for their safety, caused the dismemberment of much of the Empire, and in addition transferred the Kingdom of Libraria (minus their Empire, which was transferred to Ausitoria) to the King's brother King Francis by the Treaty of Archton (368 AST); but Alexander III siphoned off a great amount of Royal power creating the Royal East Ausitorian Commodities Company, and, after obtaining sovereign powers over Ausitoria and Apraecia, was shortly afterwards crowned King-Emperor Alexander IV of the newly amalgamated United Kingdom of Apraecia and Ausitoria.
Recent History
In the tense situation that followed an accidental war subsequently broke out between Ausitoria and Scynseklubovia over a plebiscite in the strategically vital straits of St. Air Case, but Scynseklubovia's economic strength saw Ausitoria recognize the passage of dominance and retreat from global affairs except to join Scynseklubovia when they launched a major war to defeat what remained of the Tyranny, which saw the first use of an Atomic bomb in anger on those continents - with Ausitoria following suit with a careful nuclear test a mere week later. Libraria, under a conservative government, and wishing to regain its Empire; and Ausitoria, wishing to regain its grandeur, tentatively and then happily reconciled to form The Imperial Commonwealth, with Scynseklubovia as their principle rival; although the two liberal nuclear powers always got over their differences. Subsequent events, besides small colonial disputes which were (eventually) peacefully resolved, and a near-default under a socialist government, saw rampant globalization and a shared peace, and growth to more than a billion and half people in a hundred trillion dollar economy.
The Creation of The United Realms
It was the coming of the World Assembly and their gnomes that would catapult the Commonwealth into politics across the known Universe. After annexing Sebvorsca after a war against a foul dictatorship, their determination to do good led them to be embroiled in increasingly complicated political schemes until they fell afoul of a New Edomite and Crystal Spirean plot which threatened the life of once of their civil servants. Disgusted and repelled, they invested their money and mostly returned to the lands whence they had come from, leaving behind the rapidly expanding 'Realms' of Sebvorsca and what was to become known as 'Saphoitoera' - which means 'wiser now' in Old Ausitorian. These, the Imperial Commonwealth Realms, united with the Capricornian Raj and Spirean Realms to form The United Realms.
Geography
Climate
Despite the size of the many realms, the most remarkable fact is that no part of the Commonwealth is more than a thousand kilometers from the sea. Thus the Imperial Commonwealth ranges from polar maritime climates with winter sea ice through to maritime tropical climates with typhoons and cyclones.
Flora and Fauna
Economy
It has often been said of the Imperial Commonwealth that 'the nation thrives on trade like a river thrives on water' - i.e. without trade the nation would cease to be. To this end much of Foreign and Government Policy revolves around encouraging trade, through the use of R&D subsidies and by the government facilitating international banking, creating the Commonwealth Connect, a banking treaty to make bank accounts inter-operable; and the Monetary Credit Bank, to provide financing of last resource. The historic and continued importance of trade to the nation is clearly evident in the continued importance of the currently governing Free Liberal Traders Party, which has been in office in one guise or another for more than nine decades out of the last century.
Principle Sectors and Corporations
The Imperial Commonwealth service sector accounts for around 62% of GDP, with manufacturing accounting for approximately 25%. The Service Sector is concentrated in the wealthiest 'capitals', which are, in order of service sector size, Alexandria (Ausitoria) (to right), Alexandria (Sebvorsca) (to left), Beufort, Newport (Libraria), Kingston (Libraria), New Alexandria (Saphoitoera), Vigvak, and Chattakang.
The Imperial Commonwealth is noted in particular for its Financial Services and Telecommunications industries. The Commonwealth is home to a large number of major conglomerates, including (in order of market valuation) The Royal East Ausitorian Commodities Company, Commonwealth Capital (Investment Bank), Drake Inc. (Electronics), Capital (Retailer), Marlow plc. (Electronics, Energy, Transport), SeaScape (Shipping & Energy Conglomerate), The Royal & General plc. (Bank and Retailer), Aerosphere (Telecommunications), Imperial Electric (Electronics), Julian Commodities, PWADFFI (Investment Bank), Chattakang Shipping Ltd (Bank and Transport), Valenx-Rajing Electronics, Sebvorcan Investment Company, Amraja Automobiles, Royal Librarian Bank, Saphira TSB (Bank), Humongo (Retailer), Ausitorian Airways, Amraja Energy, Imperial Commonwealth Chemicals, Capricornian and Imperial Bank, Commonwealth Supersonics (Aircraft Manufacturer), and the Commonwealth Cooperative (Bank and Retailer).
Income Distribution and Workforce
Income inequality in The Imperial Commonwealth, as a result of recent expansion and the diverse background, is unusually high, with a Gini coefficient of 40.4, in spite of freedom of movement and liberal minimum wage laws, which vary between around $12,000 and $20,000 per annum depending on the local cost of living. In addition most educational and healthcare costs are covered by government vouchers. However, in the homelands, which account for a third of the population, wages are at an average of around $ 75,000 - and in the capital (of 40 million people) the average wages is around $135,000 per annum, while in poorer areas, for instance the Empire of Amraja, GDP per capita is only around $16,500 per annum, although rising rapidly.
This division is commonly summed up by breaking the labour force in the commonwealth into two groups as a result of their cultural background: the highly-educated developed workforce, who are considered highly productive by virtue of their extensive and expensive University education; and the blue-collar workforce in the Empires, technical people with little formal education beyond polytechnics but a stronger desire to work hard. As a result of this distinction a large amount of manufacturing work is conducted within the Empire, which helps to explain the strength of the telecommunications/electronics sector.
Energy
The Home Realms are notable for their nuclear power plants, but upon expansion into Panessos the Commonwealth acquired significant numbers of Fossil Fuel plants. Due to well-developed waterways networks in both the Home Realms and United Realms (particularly in Sebvorca), hydroelectricity also accounts for a noticeable percentage of Energy produced. Efforts have also been made to use renewable energy where profitable, which has resulted first in investment in wind and then more recently in Solar power, with the resulting distribution seen to right.
Foreign Policy and Relations
The Imperial Commonwealth, by virtue of its trading interests, has historically maintained a strongly interventionist tradition, which has been solidified in the 'duty to protect' theory. The Supreme Court of Libraria and Ausitoria has always maintained that the list of rights it protects are protected everywhere within their jurisdiction; and also argues that it has jurisdiction everywhere where the Imperial Commonwealth can enforce it. Subsequently the Courts have been known to find foreign governments unfit to rule before the armed forces sweep in.
However this legal basis for continuous intervention is tempered by the Imperial Commonwealth's abhorrence of destruction and general dislike of military methods in favour of using its soft economic-based power. Thus it is only in cases where there is clearly someone in the wrong and where bloodshed can be avoided that the Imperial Commonwealth intervenes, notably removing the illegitimate government in Bvordsha and acquiring Sebvorca in 2012, forcing Bavungria to give up slavery in 2012, and ending the Pongoli civil war in 2013 - all of which were remarkably accomplished without loss of life on the Commonwealth side.
However, not all foreign policy initiatives have been met with success. The New Edom peacekeeping mission failed due to miscommunication, with New Edom accusations of a lack of clear command structure countered by accusations that neither side in New Edom abided by the terms and due process of law. A subsequent alliance between New Edom and Crystal Spires saw a politically instigated diplomatic incident created, a successful attempt to eject the Imperial Commonwealth from the now-defunct Union of Equality and Freedom, although the Imperial Commonwealth maintains such a move was illegal. Subsequently a policy of temporal isolation has been pursued by the home realms of the Imperial Commonwealth.
Particularly when the Liberal Free Traders are in power, Trade becomes the primary concern of the nation's Foreign Policy. As a member of the World Assembly, the WA Free Trade Zone is considered the cornerstone of the Commonwealth's foreign policy. Participation in The Panessos Senate as Speaker of Panessos and membership in such bodies as the Panessos Free Trade Zone and in CAPINTERN underlines this policy. The government has also been attempting, with some success, to help Ausitorian companies to break out onto the international stage, by encouraging the development of regional brands.
Military
The Imperial Commonwealth Military is divided ceremoniously into the Ausitorian, Librarian, Apraecian, and Union military (the last subsequently subdivided into constituent ceremonial armies); but in practice these are administratively divided between the Navy (the senior service), the Army, the Airforce, and the Cyberwarforce. Administered respectively by the the Admiralty, the Army and Ordnance Board, the Airforce Board, and the Cyberwarfare Command, these are combined in the War Office; and there are a great number of combined inter-branch formations maintained at any given time. It is therefore not uncommon for Admirals to be placed in charge of Mechanized Formations and Bomber Squadrons, for Generals to be placed in charge of Destroyers and Fighter Squadrons, and for Air Marshals to be put in charge of Frigates and Footsoldiers.
In addition to The Imperial Commonwealth Militaries, by age-old tradition a great number of companies have bought and sold Sovereign rights, including the right to maintain their own private armies, although such armies are effectively subject to Commonwealth laws and regulations. Some of the larger companies, involved in international trade, continue to maintain major navies, and even to liberate foreign countries, with much of Saphoitoera and also the Rajan Amraja gained in such a fashion, particularly by the Royal East Ausitorian Commodities Company, before being united into the Imperial Commonwealth - hence the colloquial 'Union Realms'.
Society
Culture
The Imperial Commonwealth is considered by many observers to be the most cultured nation in Panessos, enjoying great diversity in goods and ideas that complements the tolerance of the nation. The Homelands, having independently advanced into the modern era, enjoy their own fine art tradition, sophisticated music (relatively smoothly) ranging from the Baroque to the Modern period, enjoy operas, musicals and plays of all sorts, have and have had many excellent writers of all sorts, and have a cinematic background and continued media presence to match the wishes of its large, varied, and continuously evolving population. While similar developments occurred in parallel in some parts of the Union Realms, particularly the Kingdom of Craterum; many highly distinctive strings of folk music, native literature, and native art developed in isolation and continue to the present, with the government encouraging attempts to interweave such cultures to foster a shared identity.
The Imperial Commonwealth is not normally considered a Religious place, in spite of immigration and the extensive vestiges of various local religions, particularly in the Union Realms. The reformation of the firmly state-controlled Alexandrian Church in line with scientific advancements over the past two centuries has wiped out any traces of divine interventionism and reduced the Bible to the fiction, philosophy, and history sections of libraries. This has turned the church into a social support club that, in the words of the several-times Emperor Alexander Whittingnet, "Usefully preaches being nice to your neighbour and turns out the most beautiful music". This has consistently resulted in a majority of people professing that they do not believe in an intervening god since the Act of Reunion in 376, leading some commentators to conclude that the Imperial Commonwealth is in a 'post-religious age'. However, some other commentators have argued that the Alexandrian Church is an indicator of the future of global religion, pointing to continuing high attendance rates and the importance of the Church in social life.
Cultural endeavors of all sorts and an extensive network of excellent Museums are supported by the tourism board and also by direct government subsidy, with Classical music particularly prized. Many Museums, particularly the better known ones in the capital, have free admission; with the government giving people "Concert and Opera tickets" in place of "Bread and Circuses" on significant days of their life, e.g. at Christmas; getting married (for the first time); or turning 100, 60, or 21. However, with cultural endeavors providing good returns and encouraging significant internal tourism, most financing remains private.
Architecturally, the country remained conservative until relatively recently, developing an 'Ausitorian Perpendicular' form notable for its detail and height, combining as it does Classical and later Gothic decorations in buildings which of unusual stature, particularly in the capital Alexandria where the standard height of buildings since antiquity has been around 8 floors; and such building forms have continued right up to the present times, with the Spring Palace in Alexandria (Sebvorca) built in Librarian late Renaissance style. However, by sheer necessity the country was an early adopter of the skyscraper, with skyscrapers built in large numbers since the invention of safe elevator designs. However, brutist concrete forms rarely gained planning permission, with column forms borrowed from antiquity running alongside crystalline concrete designs until improving glass production methods allowed such buildings to become predominant, leading to the present view that a skyscraper should always blend with either the sky or the mountains.
Demographics
Census data is collected by the Ministry of Intelligence and Statistics at least every 5 years, varying by location. The Ministry reports estimates of the size and distribution of the population to Parliament every month, with the latest report revealing a population of approximately 5,340,091,200. This population is located principally within the two principal axis: the 'Homeland axis', which runs from Nebrugan in the south across the ocean to the capital Alexandria, up the East Scyberfloridhan coast to the former capital Kingston, and down the central valley to the Librarian capital Newport; and the 'Union axis', which runs from the Amrajan capital Rajing in the North across the equator and the ocean to New Whittington through the Kegmet canal through New Alexandria and Alexandria (Sebvorsca) to Whittington (Sebvorsca) in the far South.
| Statistical Region | Capital | Population (millions) |
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| The United Kingdoms of Apraecia and Ausitoria | Alexandria | 454 |
| The Kingdom of Libraria, Scyberfloridha, and Pastoria | Kingston | 403 |
| The Empires of Libraria, Apraecia, and Ausitoria | Nebrugan | 685 |
| Sebvorsca, Seldavia, Bvordsha, Craterum | Alexandria (Sebvorsca) | 929 |
| Saphoitoera | New Alexandria | 630 |
| The Rajan Amraja | Rajing | 1182 |
| Spiralan Realms | Aurumstella | 431 |
The remaining population is mostly distributed in Saphoitoeran 'Associate' nations.
As a result of an intense period of social and sexual liberalization around twenty years ago, despite improving healthcare and continuously rising life expectancy, the Imperial Commonwealth is considered a young nation, with an average age of around 35.
Education
Education in the Imperial Commonwealth is considered excellent, taking first importance in the budget with approximately 17.5% of GDP spent on Education and Research and full private-sector involvement. Education is mostly and increasingly contracted out to the private sector by devolved governments. Besides paying some private administrators to set national curricula, exams, and to test teachers and schools; the government pays privately operated schools and school-running companies directly to cover a baseline cost of education for resident children from 5 to the age of 16, and also provides grants that cover much of the costs of higher education for worthy students.
National curricula and exams are designed for the age of 8 and 11 (the upper and lower primary exams) and the age of 15 and 18 (the upper and lower secondary exams), but a large minority of schools set their own tests and exams, usually in addition to national standards; and the majority select on academic criteria. Most schools are free at the point of charge but some charge additional fees, and a sizable minority also provide awards and bursaries to cleverer poorer students. There are a several thousand Universities and Polytechnics in the Imperial Commonwealth of varying standards, the best setting world standards. Many operate in conjunction with or as part of leading companies, and as a result the Imperial Commonwealth is notable for combining Internships with part-time courses; with 54% of the fully-working age population having entered tertiary education.
Healthcare
Healthcare in the Imperial Commonwealth is considered highly, taking 11.4% of GDP, a number considered high even amongst developed nations; although this includes money put aside for the aging population and some scientific research. Healthcare is largely operated by devolved governments, and increasingly contracted out to the private sector in an event to lower expenses, with chemists having always been private. As such healthcare is free on the point of delivery for all residents, and subsidized for all tourists; with such costs covered by general taxation. The private sector also offers additional and complementary services. Regulatory bodies exist to ensure customer protection, basic standards, and hospital and clinic rankings, with their duties mostly contracted.
Law and Order
In spite of the highly liberal society, or perhaps because of it, what few laws there are are generally well obeyed. It has been said by critics that the nation has all the aspects of a police state: compulsory ID cards, considerable border surveillance, spying networks, vehicle tracking, group infiltration, mandatory blood tests, and extensive CCTV networks. However, because of the controls enforced by the highly independent Judiciary, and the extensive requirements for warrants before personal details may be investigated, the end is result is what has generally been considered among the safer nations in the world.
It has however been noted that recent terrorist attacks appear to be reversing this trend, encouraged by the regional power vacuum and also perhaps by the sheer unwieldy size of the Commonwealth; and in relatively deprived areas there has been civil unrest, nationalist agitation, and looting. Nevertheless most observers in the Imperial Commonwealth expect this to decline with continuously improving social services, tax cuts, and a resumption of economic growth.
Politics and Government
The Imperial Commonwealth is a multi-party multi-Parliamentary multi-state democratic Constitutional Monarchy. The Government sits in the old citadel in the de-facto capital Alexandria and by tradition wields unlimited power, although it is accepted that extensive protections of liberties are required to be protected by tradition.
The currently governing party in both the Home Realms and the United Realms is the Liberal Free Traders, which has usually dominated politics since founded by the Emperor Alexander Whittingnet II nearly a hundred years ago. The Liberal Free Traders typically receive support from the burgeoning middle class, social liberals and cosmopolitans, and in areas dependent upon trade, Empire, and the union; particularly in historic border regions. The official opposition is currently led by the Conservative party, a large splinter group from the Liberal Free Traders; which is socially conservative and receives support in predominantly rural areas and from the 'static' upper class. The Social Labour Party serves as the third party, typically receiving support from the poorer elements of society and in struggling de-industrialized areas.
Division between the Home Realms and United Realms
To manage practical concerns, the central government in the Home Realms passed an Act for the Consolidation of the United Realms, providing those realms with the license to operate on behalf of the central government outside the region of Decis. Some have argued that this constitutes tacit acknowledgment of independence in the Home Realms, while others maintain the argument that the license will be revoked when the Home Realms resume their historical interventionism; and that the Realms will be reunited.
Legislature
Legislative power is vested in the bicameral Imperial Parliament or Witan; the Lower House (the Commons and Assembly) of which is elected from across the Commonwealth every 5 years by tradition. The Upper House (the Lords, Senate and Advisors) is composed of members individually appointed from time to time by a wide variety of government members and departments in an elaborately codified procedure. This House, by tradition, maintains blocking powers, although usually it gives way to the lower house, particularly on financial matters, after some slight delay. In the event of an impasse, a medieval court ruling that the budget should be maintained in such a away that any deficit would fade within a century according to the best projections is expected to apply.
Several historic regional Parliaments are also in existence, although most, with the exception of the Imperial Parliament of the United Realms, have severely limited powers.
Judiciary
The Judiciary is run by the Supreme Court, to which members are appointed for between twelve and twenty years by the Prime Minister with the agreement of both houses. By tradition, the Judiciary may rule on the correct interpretation of laws at its own initiative, often considering hypothetical cases before the actual laws are passed or refused, and recommending legal changes as appropriate; and the Supreme Court also sits in the Upper House.
In addition to the Supreme Court in the United Realms, which manages the Judiciary of the United Realms distinctly from the Home Realms, many other Regional Courts also exist, with a plethora of high courts spread amongst the Constituent Nations of The Imperial Commonwealth.
Executive
| Leader | Name |
|---|---|
| Emperor | His Imperial Majesty Alexander Whittingnet III & IV |
| Prime Minister | The Rgt. Hon Sir Charles Perques |
| Union Prime Minister | The Rgt. Hon Sir Henry Taylor |
The Executive, legally sworn in 'to uphold the law', is thus subject both to the Judiciary and Witan; the former of which can find parts of the Executive unfit to rule, and the latter of which can find no confidence in the Government, and change its composition. However, the Executive is vested with an extremely wide range of powers on a temporary or indefinite basis by Parliament, sometimes aided and sometimes abetted by the civil service, the 'permanent' government. As a result the Imperial Commonwealth and the United Realms are both often considered by observers to be highly centralized states.
Great Offices of State in The United Realms
| Position | Holder |
|---|---|
| Emperor | His Imperial Majesty Alexander Whittingnet III & IV |
| Union Prime Minister | The Rgt. Hon Sir Henry Taylor |
| Deputy Prime Minister | The Rgt. Hon Lady Victoria Reinwhite |
| Foreign Secretary | His Grace Richard Palmerston |
| Interior and Home Secretary | His Lordship David Caspan |
| Chancellor | His Lordship George Tilt |
| Defence Secretary | His Lordship Argus Fitzpelvitch |
| Intelligence Secretary | Her Ladyship Alice Fitzwhit |
Regional Administration
For the list of constituent nations, and other information about them, see Constituent Nations.
As a result of the many constituent historic 'nations', the Imperial Commonwealth officially consists of 43 often overlapping 'states', many of which now have ill-defined boundaries, and many of which use the same capitals. The size of such states ranges from a few thousand people to more than a billion. Each state is in possession of its own government, which is typically charged by the Central government with certain administrative functions; but rarely with policy-making or significant sovereign powers. Policy-making power is devolved in part to a several dozen distinct Regional Policy Boards, which all contain around 50-100 million people.
Symbols
The flag of The Imperial Commonwealth is the Union Flag. It incorporates with the red background and yellow chevron of the Librarian Monarchy (two white chevrons with a central yellow chevron on red), which is itself at least partially descended from the older Ausitorian flag (three white chevrons on blue) - which is represented by the two blue and white chevrons. No other Kingdoms are represented in the flag, although many have their own distinct flags; and indeed many have been given their own joint flags, for instance the United Commonwealths of Sebvorshka and Saphoitoera Flag (pictured left).
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