Nation/Kabalina

Federal Republic of Kabalina
Federal Republic of Kabalina
	Motto: “For the Betterment of Mankind"
	Anthem: Freedom in Totality
	Above: Location of Kabalina in Europe; Below: Kabalina's State Divisions
Region	Federal Nations Alliance
Capital	Amalia
Largest city	Haven
Official languages	English (Lingua Franca), German, Danish, Swedish, Dutch
Recognised national languages	Norwegian (Spoken almost exclusively in the Dependency of Frieden Insel)
Ethnic groups (2014)	48.2% Nordic, 45.5% Germanic, 7.3% Other
Demonym	Kabalinian
Government	Federal Parliamentary Constitutional Republic
Legislature	The National Parliament of Kabalina
Establishment
Area
Population
GDP (PPP)	2014 estimate
GDP (nominal)	2014 estimate
Gini (2014)	25; low
HDI (2014)	0.935; very high
Currency	Kabal ((K$))
Time zone	Kabalinian Standard Time (KST) [GMT/UTC+0] *No DST
Date format	DD/MM/YYYY
Drives on the	right
Calling code	+9812
Internet TLD	.kab

This page is a work in progress by its author(s) and should not be considered final.

NationStates Link: https://www.nationstates.net/nation=kabalina

The Federal Republic of Kabalina is a Federal Parliamentary Constitutional Republic in Northern Europe. As an island in the North Sea, Kabalina borders no other nations, but is located tightly between the United Kingdom and the Scandinavian Peninsula. Kabalina covers an area of 89,751 square kilometers, and has a population of about 20.1 million with a moderate population density of 243 persons per square kilometer. A solid majority of the population lives in the country’s many urban areas. The climate is largely mild and temperate, and a great many freshwater lakes and rivers make up 8 percent of Kabalina’s total land area. The geography of Kabalina is full of striking contrasts, with a dense forested area forming a border between the plains of the south and mountains of the far north.

A diverse array of settlers are responsible for Kabalina's development into the multi-linguistic and multi-cultural nation that it is today. Originally settled by Norsemen in the late 8th century, the island quickly became home to various newcomers from continental Europe, with its environmental beauty, natural resources and wildlife, and convenient geographic location leading several surrounding powers to claim portions of the island as their own. By 1400 A.D., three European powers had established claims to Kabalina: the eastern half of the island was ruled directly by the Scandinavian Kalmar Union, while the west was split, with English settlers in the northwest claiming a small amount of territory for their own, and the central/southwest serving as the northern-most province of the Germanic Holy Roman Empire. Internal conflict in the early 1500s allowed the Germanic west to assume near total control of former Kalmar and English territories on the island. Around 1600 A.D., the unified Dutch state had also laid claim to the port city of Haven along the west coast. A power vacuum formed after the early 1700s collapse of the Holy Roman Imperial rule in Kabalina was quickly exploited by neighboring Great Britain, and the island of Kabalina was subsumed into the British Empire. Independence was declared from Britain in 1867, thus establishing the First Unitary Kabalinian Republic, which survived until internal turmoil led to civil war in 1948. An authoritarian, fascist puppet government stealthily assumed power following a period of intense violence known as the Great Turmoil, and The Kabalinian Nation was established. Despotism dominated the island until 1968, when another violent revolution ousted the single-party dictatorship, and a new constitution was approved, thus establishing the current Federal Republic of Kabalina.

Since the implementation of the current constitution in 1968, Kabalina is a federal parliamentary constitutional republic. Legislative power is vested in the 200-member unicameral National Parliament of Kabalina, usually referred to as "the Federal Parliament," "Bundesparlament," or simply "Parliament." Executive power is exercised by the heads of Government and State, the Prime Minister and Executive Minister respectively, as well as the Federal Ministerial Office, which is composed of advisors, agency/department heads, and other important government officials. A mixed Common/Civil Law system is in use in Kabalina, and the Judicial branch of the federal government, the Democratic Court of Kabalina, plays a vital role in evaluating the constitutionality of laws, ruling in cases involving the federal government, and making final determinations on court decision appeals. As a federal nation, Kabalina is made up of 9 states (Stater), though the relationship between the states and the federal government often more closely resembles a unitary rather than a federal organization. The country's capital and seat of government is Amalia, and the largest city by population is the port city of Haven. Unlike most of its European neighbors, Kabalina is not a member of the European Union, nor is it a member of the Eurozone or the Schengen Area. It is, however, a member of the United Nations, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the Council of Europe, and enjoys many bilateral travel and trade agreements with the European Union. Kabalina is not, nor has it ever been, a member of NATO or any other military organization, having remained effectively neutral since its inception in 1867.

Kabalina is a very highly developed country with an advanced, high-income economy, and a high standard of living. The country also ranks among the most peaceful in the world according to the Global Peace Index, and achieves strong performance in democratic governance. Despite its Free Market Economy, the environmentally-stunning nation maintains a Nordic social welfare system that provides universal health care and cost-free tertiary education for all its citizens (Mixed Capitalist-Socialist/Nordic Social Democracy). Per capita income In Kabalina is among the highest in the world, and the country ranks quite highly in all metrics of national performance, including quality of life, health, education, protection of civil liberties, economic competitiveness, equality, prosperity, and human development. The success of this system is evidenced by Kabalina’s consistently high rankings in cross-national studies of happiness, even though the country has one of the highest total personal tax burdens in the world.

Like other northern European countries, Kabalina has a long legacy of political, social, and cultural progressivism, having long maintained strong civil and political liberties for all of its people. Kabalinian social thought and culture are amongst the most progressive in the world. The current year in Kabalina is 2017.

Etymology

The name Kabalina came about the in the early 1700s, when a group of nobles (identified at the time as a "cabal") attempted to declare independence for the country, culminating in the unsuccessful June Revolt. After the failure of the revolt, the island became known both domestically and abroad as "Kabalina," with the "-lina" being a Scandinavian/Germanic diminutive suffix. Ever since 1712, the island has been officially referred to by itself and outsiders as "Kabalina," a catchy way of saying "Little Cabal." While the original name was derived from the derogatory branding of the revolting nobles as a "cabal," the name was maintained domestically largely as a way of showing the disposition of the island's inhabitants toward the necessity of a greater understanding of the universe and existence, harkening back to the original Jewish term.

A cabal is a group of people united in some close design together, usually to promote their private views or interests in a church, state, or other community, often by intrigue, usually unbeknownst to persons outside their group. In European culture it became associated with occult doctrine or a secret, such as with King Charles II's 'Cabal Ministry'. The English term cabal originates from the earlier French word cabale, which evolved from the Medieval Latin cabala. Cabala (or Kabbalah), is the ancient, esoteric Jewish discipline of interpreting Hebrew scripture. Traditionalists argue that the term refers to a pre-religion era philosophical method for understanding the nature of the universe, human relationships with possible spiritual beings, and the purpose of existence.

Geography & Climate

A view of a mountain range in Bergen.

Kabalina is a northern nation with vast, lush forests rich with wildlife, and temperatures averaging around 20°C in summer and -4°C in winter. Its climate is generally humid and chilly. Snowfall can be brutal in the latter months, and weather is normally cloudy, rainy, and somewhat dreary, with a yearly average precipitation of just over 600mm (23.62 in.), though sunshine is particularly strong when the skies are clear. An aurora may sometimes be visible from most areas of the country. Numerous mountain ranges exist, mostly in the northern areas of the country, and dense forests dotted with beautiful lakes and several small rivers encompass most of the hilly central area of the nation. Uniquely, the southern-most areas are largely tundra, vast expanses of flat lands with patches of trees and waterways. Projects to implement solar and wind power generation in the south have received substantial government funding, and now provide a significant amount of renewable, green energy for the nation. Kabalina claims numerous coastal islands, most under 2km in total area, and the government has declared that its maritime boundaries extend 20 nautical miles off of its coast.

Kabalinians pride themselves on their environment’s beauty and species diversity, particularly the abundance of their national animal, the Stag, the male sex of a breed of deer exclusive to Kabalina. Logging and lumber businesses have been severely limited, though they still comprise a significant amount of Kabalina’s industry. Fishing and hunting are large local industries that thrive thanks to the wildlife of the country, and Kabalinian farmers have proven themselves to be experts at adapting to the terrain of the country that would cause trouble for many in the profession. Meat, dairy, fish, and produce products are abundant in the country, and are a sizable portion of exports. Numerous waterways provide ready access to clean drinking water for the entire population, and waste management systems are given high priority in order to preserve the quality of water and the rest of the environment. It is hypothesized that a tremendous variety of natural minerals and resources (such as copper, gold, iron, silver, uranium, petroleum, and zinc) lie underneath Kabalinian soil, but the government’s staunch environmental protections and economic regulations have restricted both searches for and acquisition of much of these resources.

The highest point in Kabalina is Mount Jensen, in the state of Bergen, with an elevation of 4,313 m. (14,150 ft.). The country's lowest point is the Johannes Trench, located underwater off of the eastern coast, between Norway and Kabalina, at an elevation of (-500 m. / -1,641 ft.). Around 60% of Kabalina's total land area is at least somewhat forested, while most of the rest is either urbanized, mountainous, or plains, and a number of large lakes, rivers, and Fjords are present throughout the country, contributing to its 8% water composition.

History

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Initial Settlement: Norsemen and Franks (~700 C.E. - 931 C.E.)

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Middle Ages: Scandinavian and Germanic Coexistence (931 C.E. - 1505 C.E.)

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Early Modern Period: Germanic Hegemony (1505 C.E. - 1708 C.E.)

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Age of Imperialism: British Colonial Rule (1708 C.E. - 1867 C.E.)

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First Unitary Kabalinian Republic (March 1867 C.E. - August 1940 C.E.)

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The Second World War: British Naval Occupation (August 1940 C.E. - May/June 1945 C.E.)

Situated directly and practically equidistant between Norway and the British mainland, Kabalina was of substantial strategic value to both sides in the war, capable of being used by Germany to invade Britain, or by Britain to invade occupied Denmark or Norway. In congruency with the nation’s preparedness mindset, Kabalina began a large military buildup in the fall of 1939, with full mobilization occurring within only one week in September. The government began directly overseeing production of military goods starting in early October, and full conscription of both men and women was initiated on September 30th. A sizable military force and the potential of indefinite resistance by the population helped guarantee Kabalina’s neutrality throughout the Second World War.

Kabalina’s regular army, initially comprised of only 6 divisions, was bolstered to approximately 850,000 men by April of 1940, with substantial reserves able to field between 1.5 and 2 million men and women. In addition to these numbers, nearly all adult-aged Kabalinians were armed in accordance with the national tradition of deterrence and readiness of the general population, assuring a massive irregular Home Guard force would also be present in event of invasion. Front-line troops were well-trained and equipped with relatively modern personal equipment and small arms, specifically the K37, a domestically-produced Karabiner 98 kurz Mauser bolt-action rifle variant, chambered in the German 7.92x57mm Mauser and equipped with an M1 Garand-esque rear sight. Unlike many armies of the time, Kabalina routinely issued sidearms to soldiers, generally 9mm Browning Hi-Power semi-automatic pistol clones produced domestically under license, as well as imported American Smith & Wesson Model 10 Military & Police revolvers chambered in .38 Special. Regular army divisions consisted of three infantry brigades and one or two artillery regiments.

Motorized and cavalry forces were modeled off of the French “fast divisions” of the time, with divisions consisting of 1 tank and 2 cavalry or motorized infantry brigades. At the first outbreak of war, Kabalina had only 40 tanks, all outdated models. By July of 1940, Kabalinian industry had boosted the number of tanks to 450, mostly domestic variants of Czech and French tanks, such as the Panzer 35(t). Unlike many militaries of the day, Kabalina focused on ensuring that all forces had access to modern radio equipment, meaning that radio-equipped Kabalinian vehicles could communicate almost as easily as their German counterparts, a quality that early deployed French and Czech tanks lacked. On top of this, a relatively large percentage of Kabalinian forces were motorized or equipped with horse-drawn transportation. While small in number compared to German armoured forces of the time, Kabalinian AFVs were more than sufficient in number to defend the open, flat terrain areas where they were most needed. Anti-tank and anti-aircraft vehicles were also widely produced and integrated where needed.

Kabalina’s air forces, organized at that time under the army, numbered only 120 combat aircraft at the war’s onset, including 80 fighters, 20 bombers, and 20 reconnaissance aircraft. Most were older aircraft, though modern fighters such as Hawker Hurricanes were being produced domestically under license since summer 1938, and were being phased into service at a lagging pace. Even though Kabalinian aircraft were equipped with modern technology, such as excellent radios and armaments, most of the designs present in the air forces were antiquated as of late 1939. Ground-based air defense systems dominated Kabalinian military strategy throughout the war period. Unlike the air forces, the Kabalinian Naval Flotilla of September 1939 was a strong regional navy, capable of effective defense of Kabalinian territorial waters and mild escort duties for trade vessels. Though initially consisting primarily of surface vessels, the navy shifted its focus to submarines in early 1940 to counter overwhelming British naval superiority. The importance of destroyers also increased as responsibility grew for the navy to provide merchant security against potential British and German attacks. Throughout the entire war, the Kabalinian Naval Flotilla remained relatively small, but respectably modern.

Perhaps most vital to the effective defense of Kabalina, and the deterrence of potential invasion, was the elaborate system of military fortifications build in the mountainous Bergen and Waldstaat regions of the island. Inspired by the Swiss National Redoubt fortifications constructed initially in the 1880s, Kabalina began construction of an extensive series of underground tunnels and bunkers capable of housing a substantial armed force, and enabling a very small force of defenders to effectively repel a massive-sized assaulting force, while also serving as a base of operations for irregular forces and resistance fighters. Like the Swiss structures, these lines were intended to be an impassable barrier of complex fortifications that could allow Kabalinian forces to continue armed resistance indefinitely, while also denying control of a sizable portion of the island to potential aggressors, including vital northern ports. These fortifications, known as Fortress Bergen, remain in use to this day.

In addition to military deterrence, diplomacy was necessary to avoid war. A non-aggression pact was signed between Kabalina and Nazi Germany in mid-July 1940, guaranteeing Kabalinian neutrality against the Axis powers under the conditions that Kabalina would not aid Allied nations, and would continue its naval protection of Kabalinian-German sea commerce. Up until early 1945, Kabalinian trade provided Germany with vital strategic resources, such as coal, iron ore, steel, pharmaceuticals, and chemical goods. Despite the wartime British naval blockade of the North Sea, neutral Kabalinian sea trade to Germany suffered little serious harassment due to both trade agreements with the Allies, and the escort activities of the Kabalinian Naval Flotilla.

British Troops near a Kabalinian port.

Following the successful German invasion of Norway in June of 1940, fear began to propagate in Britain that another German invasion, this time targeted against the island of Kabalina, was inevitable. Knowing that Kabalina would resist any potential invasion with force, and that this resistance would be continued indefinitely by partisan forces, Britain elected to take a more cautious route. In the early morning of August 9th, a sizable detachment of British naval vessels, along with a significant number of Royal Marines, entered Kabalinian waters, leading to a tense standoff between the two navies. Faced with the prospect of a losing naval conflict followed by an inevitable invasion and bloody occupation, the government of Kabalina was quick to negotiate a compromise with the British.

Under the terms of the Haven Agreement, Kabalina would allow British occupation of its ports with certain conditions. Occupation forces would be confined to ports, airfields, and other potential invasion locations, with only troops on official leave allowed outside of designated areas. No air forces would be permitted in Kabalina’s airspace, and no offensive operations of any type were to be initiated from Kabalinian ports or waters. Kabalina would remain responsible for the security of Kabalinian trade and territorial waters, and British naval vessels were only to engage in direct defense of their own ships- security of Kabalina’s waters against potential German threats was a task that was to remain to the Kabalinian Naval Flotilla. Additionally, trade between Germany and Kabalina was to remain neutral, under the condition that Kabalina would also trade with the Allies, offering them better financial terms and first preference in deals.

A few incidents occurred in Kabalinian waters, including German U-Boat attacks against British naval vessels and British attempts to mine and patrol waters to harm German vessels. However, both the Germans and the British largely respected occupation terms. Therefore, while all of Kabalina’s major seaports were garrisoned by British troops and warships, Kabalinian neutrality and self-rule were largely maintained.

Intentions to invade Kabalina were discovered after the war as having been a part of the planned, but never initiated, Operation Seelöwe (Operation Sea Lion), a proposed German invasion of the British mainland in September of 1940. Luckily for the relatively small nation, German focus shifted to the east with the beginning of 1941’s Operation Barbarossa, an invasion of the Soviet Union, and all German offensive plans against Kabalina were totally abandoned, along with the proposed Sea Lion invasion. Nonetheless, having suspected that its neutrality would be violated by the Axis in spite of the July Non-Aggression Pact, Kabalina secretly developed contingencies to join the Allies in event of a German declaration of war. Many historians attribute Kabalina’s suspicion of German intentions as having been a major driver in the country’s decision to negotiate rather than resist British occupation.

With German defeat looming, Kabalina elected in March of 1945 to renegotiate the Haven Agreement to engineer terms more favorable for the Allies. Allied aircraft would be allowed unrestricted access to Kabalinian airfields, and both airfields and ports would be permitted to serve as launching points for offensive operations. On top of this, offensive and defensive operations by Allied naval vessels in Kabalinian territorial waters would be permitted. Kabalinian trade of designated vital resources with Germany came to an end in February of 1945, with all trade with the Axis powers effectively terminating by mid-April.

Allied occupation of all Kabalinian territory officially ended on the 25th of May 1945, with all Allied forces having completely evacuated Kabalinian territory by the second week of June. Although Kabalina had successfully remained neutral, and retained virtually full sovereignty during the entire war timeframe, intense domestic pressure had been put on the ruling government due to its perceived weakness and collaboration with the nation’s historical adversary, Great Britain. Tensions generated during wartime would eventually boil over into violence, leading directly to the Great Turmoil of 1946-1948.

The Great Turmoil (1946 C.E. - August 1948 C.E.)

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The Kabalinian Nation: A Fascist Puppet (August 1948 C.E. - October 1968 C.E.)

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The Autumn Revolution (Autumn 1968)

See Also: The Autumn Revolution

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Cold War Era: Federal Republic of Kabalina (October 1968 C.E. - 1990 C.E.)

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Post-Cold War Era and The Near Future (1991 C.E. - Present)

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Demographics

A Kabalinian Female

A Kabalinian Male

The vast majority of Kabalina’s 20,146,110 inhabitants are native-born Kabalinians, with one or both parents being native Kabalinian citizens. Overall, the population is largely composed of individuals of Germanic ancestry, with official statistics making a distinction between Scandinavian/Nordic (technically North Germanic) and Germanic (the approximate area of modern Germany) ethnicity. Kabalina was originally settled by Germans from the middle and northern parts of today’s Germany, Danes, Swedes, and Dutch settlers having immigrated to the port city of Haven. Immigration is fairly restricted, with policies favoring immigrants from similar ethnic backgrounds to the native population, as well as professionally qualified individuals (such as physicians).

A number of languages are spoken throughout various parts of Kabalina, and English serves as a lingua franca that all citizens use to communicate between one another and with foreigners. Nearly all Kabalinian citizens are capable of communicating fluently in all of the nation’s official languages: English, German, Danish, Swedish, and Dutch. Proficiency in languages is a highly valued trait in the country’s educational and economic realms, and numerous languages are taught in secondary schools. The language used in official government affairs and in the public educational system is English.

Healthcare is set out in the Kabalinian constitution as a right of all human beings; as such, Kabalina utilizes public tax dollars to provide cost-free, high-quality healthcare to all individuals in the country. The healthcare system in Kabalina is amongst the most cost-efficient and quality-care providing in the world, with the healthy and attractive general population serving as a visible demonstration of the system’s effectiveness.

Education is also a constitutionally guaranteed right of all individuals in Kabalina. Like healthcare, public tax dollars fund cost-free public education for pre-schooling, primary and secondary schooling, and tertiary schooling. University education is provided free of charge to all citizens, and stipends are issued for living expenses. Because of this progressive educational system, the population of Kabalina is amongst the most well-educated in the world.

Religion plays relatively little role in Kabalinian society. The constitution clearly states that there is to be a permanent separation of church and government, and that laws and regulations should be based around the natural rights and liberties of human beings, and not religion-crafted concepts of morality. A majority of Kabalinian’s identify as atheist or “non-religious,” with only 18% being affiliated with mainstream religions. The dominant religion amongst believers is the Lutheran denomination of Protestant Christianity.

Kabalina is a highly urbanized society, with strong public transportation providing for travel between and within the country’s various cities and towns. The largest city by area and population is Haven, and the second largest city by both measures is the capital, Amalia.

Population & Race/Ethnicity

Statistics of ethnicity are maintained by the federal government of Kabalina, allowing for a good understanding of the exact composition of the nation's population. The largest single ethnic background of "ethnic Kabalinians" is German (40%), with the second largest being Danish (30%), the third largest Swedish (23%), fourth largest Dutch (5%), and all others comprising the remainder (2%). 48% of the total population is of "Nordic" descent, 45% of "Germanic" descent, and the remaining 7% from 'other' despondency. Additionally, the majority of the country's immigrant population is categorically "Scandinavian" or "Germanic".

Strict records of births and deaths are maintained by the state and federal governments of Kabalina, allowing for a nearly exact count of the population to be tabulated. According to these records, the total population of Kabalina is estimated to be around 20,146,110. The population exceeded 20 million for the first time on approximately 19 October, 2012, with immigration from developed countries, primarily in Europe, driving the population more so than new births. The population density is 224.5 people per km² (361.25 per square mile), with most of the population living in the middle-north (the state of Ilyse) and along the coasts. About 80% of the population lives in urban areas, making for very densely populated cities that require careful city planning and new construction to ensure that enough living space is present for all occupants, and that urban areas do not feel overly congested.

Very few Kabalinians choose to permanently emigrate from the country, helping to balance against the relatively low (and declining) birth rate amongst the nation’s native Kabalinian citizens, which currently stands at only 9.4 births per 1,000 inhabitants, one of the lowest rates in the world. Government statistics reveal that only around 13.5% of the inhabitants of Kabalina were not “ethnically Kabalinian,” a label defined as being born abroad or born in Kabalina to two parents born abroad. The most common immigration backgrounds include neighbors, such as Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, as well as non-neighboring countries, such as United States expatriates, former Yugoslavs, and Baltic state citizens. The largest group of immigrants came from the Baltic region, with the single largest country of emigration being Latvia. Relatively strict federal laws exist relating to immigration from developing countries, and unskilled workers from non-EU countries find it nearly impossible to gain legal residency or to immigrate. Partially due to the combination of low immigration and low birth rate, the population of Kabalina has been experiencing stagnated growth over the past decade, with the population aging after a birth boom in the early 1990s. With current trends, the population is expected to begin declining by 2030.

Languages

WIP A number of languages are spoken throughout various parts of Kabalina, and English serves as a lingua franca that all citizens use to communicate between one another and with foreigners. Nearly all Kabalinian citizens are capable of communicating fluently in all of the nation’s official languages: English, German, Danish, Swedish, and Dutch. Proficiency in languages is a highly valued trait in the country’s educational and economic realms, and numerous languages are taught in secondary schools. The language used in official government affairs and in the public educational system is English.

Health & Healthcare

The universal health care system in Kabalina is almost exclusively government-funded, and is relatively decentralized, with a few optional private healthcare providers providing additional service on a very small scale. The system is financed by tax revenues from various forms of taxation at the municipal and state level, and full coverage is provided free of charge to all citizens of any age or social status. An annual physical and mental health checkup is required for all citizens and is provided free of charge. Federal healthcare spending equates to roughly 5% of GDP, though most spending is at the state or local level, bringing total expenditures to approximately 10% of GDP. Average life expectancy is 80 years for men, 85 for women, and there is one doctor for every 195 persons, thanks largely to federal immigration and education policies. The Kabalinian healthcare system is regarded as being one of the most monetarily efficient and quality care providing systems in the world.

Unlike some other countries, Kabalinian law does not allow citizens to be directly charged for physician visits, and wage-working patients with certified physician “Notes of Illness” must be paid minimum 70% of their normal daily wage by their employer for the first two weeks of illness, after which the state may, depending on financial circumstances, continue to provide a figure between 20 and 70 percent of the individual’s wage indefinitely, so long as the daily wage does not exceed an amount set by federal guidelines. Average waiting time for non-emergency a physician appointment is three to five days, with emergencies naturally obtaining immediate treatment. Emergency Care facilities exist that can provide basic treatment, diagnosis, advice, and “Enhanced Speed Referrals;” these locations offer relatively fast, same-day service and are primarily focused on situations that require timely assistance, but are not urgent enough to necessitate a hospital visit, such as certain broken bones, cuts, or low-level, short-term illnesses. Under the Constitution, the government may not, at any level, refuse to provide coverage to any citizen, or refuse to fund medical operations or other services, so long as these procedures are recognized by at least one municipality as medical and not cosmetic. The public healthcare system covers not only physical illness, but also mental illness as well. A maximum of two dental visits per year are also covered by the public system, with additional coverage extending for certain procedures, such as fillings. After the patient has met an annual “pre-pay limit” of $250 USD, the state will pay in full for prescription drugs for the rest the year, so long as the patient maintains an active prescription authorized by a physician or psychiatrist. Coverage also includes assisted living and nursing home services, as well as end-of-life expenses such as funerals (up to a certain limit). Hospitals are exclusively public, government-run, and not religiously affiliated.

Amalia's Centralhaus Hospital

In organization, the system is somewhat similar to that of Sweden, with three levels for management and organization: national, regional, and local. At the federal level, the Kabalinian National Health Service is responsible for setting guidelines and principles for care, as well as coordination between the various state healthcare agencies. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Kabalina directly identifies healthcare as a right of all citizens, and requires government health services to always craft healthcare policy to provide good-quality services at a low cost to all. This portion of law is often used by state and federal agencies to guarantee that even the most cash-strapped municipalities continue to provide a high quality minimum of service. Although funding comes primarily from state and municipal taxes, a certain portion of federal funds may also be made available to state and local agencies in event of budget issues. Close cooperation between the public healthcare sector and the private technology industry has made Kabalina one of the leading users of healthcare technology, with electronic records and prescribing being prolifically adopted. Expansive efforts to encourage healthy lifestyles and exercise receive sizable government funding and other support.

Regulations exist that place certain burdens on private insurers, whose policies are generally supplements for small, specialized gaps in public coverage, such as dental or cosmetic procedures. Private insurers are regulated by the NHS, as well as state level agencies, and are legally obligated to follow specific guidelines set at the federal and state levels, with notable regulations pertaining to fees and coverage costs, as well as quality of care standards. Strict taxation and profit limitations are placed on private insurers, though these measures are criticized by some as being a government attempt to discourage the existence of private insurers.

The effectiveness of the healthcare system is readily demonstrated by the country's long life expectancies, low rates of preventable illness and obesity, and overall excellent physical health of its citizens. The prevailing non-criminal causes of death are attacks by wild stags, which are currently overpopulating parts of the country, exposure or accident related death in the wilderness, cardiac issues (of which Kabalina still possess a considerably lower rate that most other countries), and end-of-life ailments ending in death. Kabalinian medical recording considers years of life lost and premature death to be best calculated by years of life remaining until age 75. Cause of death after the age of 75, while expanded upon in detailed after-death reports, is listed primarily as "Old Age."

Education

Education is a constitutionally-guarenteed right in Kabalina, and the nation prides itself on its expansive, high-quality, and low-cost educational system, which provides cost-free access to tertiary education of various types for all citizens. Due to high spending on the system and an emphasis on advanced studies and continuing education, the county maintains a disproportionately high rate of individuals with professional and graduate-level degrees, and the population is amongst the most educated in the world (by time spent and level of degrees obtained). Mandatory education begins with Kindergarten at age 3, and ends with secondary school exit examinations at age 18. As the burden for funding university education falls exclusively at the federal level, rather than the state level, federal spending on education is naturally extremely high. Total federal spending on educated comprises 18.4% of the federal government budget, or 6.7% of GDP. Tuition, books, and other fees at all levels of education are paid for by the government. A stipend is issued for all university students to pay for living expenses (food and housing), and subsidization exists for certain other expenses for qualifying students.

Mandatory Initial Schooling

Schooling in Kabalina typically begins with a traditional "Kindergarten" around age 3 and ending around age 6. Primary schooling is divided into various "levels," and encompasses ages 6 to 14. At around age 14, one begins the next level of schooling at an Intermediate School, lasting until age 16, when a student may choose to continue to one of three forms of secondary school: a Gymnasium (university-prep school), Professional Academy, or Technical School. Students may transfer from one secondary school to other at any point in time. Exit examinations for all secondary schools are undertaken at age 18, marking the end of secondary education. Mandatory schooling extends to age 18, after which students who have failed exit examinations may elect to drop out of schooling or attend remedial classes for four months . For drop-outs, online and part-time courses are offered to obtain a "Secondary Education Diploma" (SED). The drop-out rate for Kabalinian students is extremely low, at only 2.5%, for a total graduation rate of 97.5%.

Technical schools teach job-specific skills, and are well-renowned as the best path for occupations such as electricians or other vocations requiring job-specific training. Technical schools benefit their students by providing apprenticeships and on-the-job training for students, allowing them to gain hands-on learning experience in their chosen areas of study. A Vocational Exam is taken at age 18, and, upon passing, mandatory schooling ends and the student is presented with technical training certifications in selected areas of study. Because Kabalina's educational system stresses attaining the best possible education in one's intended field, technical schools are well-regarded by the citizenry, and are not viewed in any way to be inferior to Gymnasium or university institutions.

Professional Academies provide students with some of the education necessary for success at university, while also offering skills-based and job-specific training options; Academies are a good fit for students who are not sure if they wish to proceed to university or instead pursue a more specialized, "technical" sort of occupation. Most students transfer out of Academies, choosing instead to pursue technical certifications or university degrees via their respective secondary institutions. For those students who choose to remain in Academies, an exit examination testing academic knowledge and skills is conducted at age 18, after which a Professional Academy diploma is awarded. Career paths that favor Academy graduates include state/local law enforcement, sales positions, and blue-collar management positions.

The majority of students attend Gymnasium, which acts as a continuation of academic studies with the intention of readying students for university-level academic work. Students study all areas of academic relevance, including social studies, language, mathematics, science, and others. Upon reaching age 18, students of Gymnasiums must complete at least one of three Academic Prowess Assessments (APAs), standardized tests that each cover one specific academic subject: social studies (history/humanities), language usage (reading/writing), and systems analytics (science and mathematics). This process allows students who excel in one or two subjects to have a fair and equal chance at university admissions against all other students, rather than simply providing an arbitrary composite "average" score, such as the North American SAT exam; for example, a student who struggles with mathematics may achieve a perfect score on the social studies APA, allowing them to gain entry to university just as easily as someone with no pronounced academic weaknesses. Universities are prohibited from requiring specific APAs (or multiple APAs), and from favoring one APA type over any other. That said, a strong score in multiple APAs can be beneficial to admissions. No minimum score is necessary for graduation from Gymnasium, as only completion of an APA is required. While Gymnasium students are specially prepared for APAs and university academic work, any graduate from any secondary school may sit for an APA and pursue university education. Graduation from Gymnasium usually entails a ceremony, with physical diplomas being handed out to successful graduates.

Grading in all secondary schools is done on a point scale, with 5 being the highest and 1 being the lowest point score. Half points may be awarded to students who make an effort to improve. A 'Grade Point Average' is calculated based on points scored, and is used alongside APA scores as a determinator of university admissions or secondary school diploma/certification latin honors. Primary schools and Kindergartens do not evaluated students numerically, instead relying on teachers to individually tailor the education of students according to their needs. Rather than stressing evaluation, standardization, test-taking, or university attendance, the Kabalinian educational system focuses on making sure that all students receive the best possible education in their desired areas and are genuinely prepared for the future. Classrooms focus less on evaluation than most other nation's, with genuine learning being the center-point of all education. Due to this deemphasis of assessment and evaluation, the Kabalinian system has become world-renowned as a global leader in primary and secondary education. To facilitate this type of learning environment, class sizes in all schools are kept relatively small, at no more than 15 students per instructor as a maximum, and an average of 10 students per instructor. 'Teacher' is a well-respected occupation, and instructors are well compensated for their efforts to educate children. Teaching positions are highly selective, and only the best applicants are chosen to become instructors. While many countries, such as the U.S., have teacher shortages, Kabalina has an excess of qualified individuals, and many instructors who choose to leave the country, usually temporarily, in order to find work. Teachers may unionize, but no form of 'tenure' is in operation anywhere. Funding for pre-university educational institutions is provided jointly by federal and state tax monies, ensuring equal quality of education across the economic spectrum by guaranteeing that schools in lower socio-economic areas receive equal funding to those in higher socio-economic areas, and that no state receives less overall education funding as a result of having a smaller tax base.

Optional Continuing Certifications or Training

Numerous private and public organization offer additional certifications or specialized occupational/management training that may be taken advantage of after completion of secondary schooling, providing options for continuation of technical or professional training. Most public programs are provided free of charge, being funded largely by public tax money, and provide an excellent method for graduates to become specialized by obtaining further certifications in their areas of expertise. For example, someone who has graduated from a technical school with a certification as an electrician may receive a Journeyman or Master certification in his/her field, or a blue-collar manager having graduated from a Professional Academy may receive specialized management training in a specific area, such as hospitality. Anyone who has successfully completed secondary schooling may acquire technical or professional certifications from these programs, making it possible for a Gymnasium graduate to easily obtain certifications in technical fields if he/she elects to do so. Thanks to the wide array of continuing technical and professional educational opportunities available to Kabalinian citizens, the technical and blue-collar workforce of Kabalina is regarded as amongst the most well-qualified in the world.

University Education

Because university education is provided free of charge for all students, and living expenses are generally 100% paid for via university and government stipends, attendance of university is extremely commonplace in Kabalina. The vast majority of Kabalinians, regardless of profession or secondary schooling, possess at least a two-year university degree, and the populace of Kabalina is amongst the most highly-educated in the world.

Admissions to university are decided on the basis of cumulative GPA, APA scores, and other academically-relevant factors. The university admissions process in Kabalina places a great deal more focus on academics than any extracurricular activities, with a standardized secondary school grading and educational system across all states allowing GPA and APA to serve as fair standards by which to compare students from all across the nation. Because all universities and publicly run and funded by the federal government, strict federal guidelines exist as to what factors may or may not be considered for admissions decisions. Notably, any form of "affirmative action," that is, consideration and promotion of applicants due to factors such as race, socio-economic background, religion, nationality, gender/sex, or other demographic factors, is strictly banned. Federal law states that "while institution of higher education may possess an inherent desire to improve student body diversity through evaluation of such demographic factors, the duty of the university to provide a diverse and varied student body and learning environment does not assume precedence over the right of prospective applicants to be evaluated equally and fairly, through mediums by which personal academic prowess, intelligence, and hard-work are the sole drivers of success, variables that all fall under the relative control of the prospective applicant." Court rulings have held throughout history that any consideration of non-academic related factors leads to an inherently unfair evaluation of applicants.

Once admitted to university, students may select all of their own courses, with the academic term being divided into two semesters per year (Fall: August - December; Spring: January - May). Additional Winter and Summer terms are offered for students wishing to obtain additional credits. Credits are awarded based on course difficulty level and length, with entry-level courses being 1 credit, most courses being 2 credits, and higher level courses being 3 to 4 credits. Students must declare a Main Focus Area (MFA) by the end of their second year, and may elect to add a Secondary Focus Area (SFA), or study in multiple MFA or SFAs. Typical course load per semester varies depending on selected focus areas, number of focus areas, and level of study, and different programs require differing numbers of credits for graduation.

Universities are prohibited from establishing their own student performance measures. Grading is set by federal standards, with all university courses abiding. Professors may evaluate students and provide them with a 'Pass,' 'Fail,' or 'Honors Pass; ' extensive studies have found this system to be extremely efficient at reducing stress for students, while allowing educators to focus on teaching rather than evaluating, and students to focus on genuine learning rather than grades. Students receiving a certain number of 'honors' in proportion to the number and difficulty of their courses may be eligible to graduate with 'University Honors' distinction. As a result of the P/F/H system, class ranks are nonexistent, and competitive pressures that interfere with student learning are diminished. Nonetheless, final semester examinations are generally conducted in most courses, and can have a substantial impact on a student's "grade." Upon graduation, students may choose to partake in a graduation ceremony, during which they receive their physical diploma.

On average, Kabalinians obtain an Associate degree within 2 years, a Bachelor degree within 3-4 years, and a Master within 5-6 (including 3-4 for Bach./Assoc. degrees). In order to obtain a professional or doctoral degree, such as a Juris Doctorate (J.D.), Medicinae Doctor (M.D.), Philosophiae Doctor (Ph.D.), or other similar degree, one must obtain entrance into a graduate schooling program. Graduate programs are offered by most major universities, with tuition and other expenses again being paid for by the state via tax revenues, though living stipends may be issued or denied based on individual circumstances. Generally, a medical degree takes 4 years to complete (plus 3-10 years of additional training), a law degree takes 3 years, and most other degrees require between 2 and 4 years to obtain. Students wishing to study graduate level law or medicine must first obtain a Master degree from university in Law or Medicine.

Unlike the United States, universities in Kabalina do not have "campuses," per se. Rather, most universities are located in urban areas, and consist usually of a series of buildings in one general area that have been purchased or otherwise obtained by the university. Time at university is not generally regarded as being primarily for socialization, and there are no fraternities or sororities of university students. The vast majority of students live in private apartments, with university housing being provided only for students with financial need. While classrooms are restricted to only enrolled students and staff, any individual may enter any university owned building, as these are considered public property. Also, anyone with a valid License to Carry Concealed Firearms, including professors and students, may carry firearms inside of university buildings, as Kabalina does not have "gun-free" zones.

Religion

WIP Formerly a protestant-dominated island, Kabalina underwent a process of separating religion and government in the late 1800s. Modern Kabalina maintains no national religion, with the government avowedly atheist, and a strict separation of religion and state existing that functions to protect both institutions from infringement by the other. Formerly a protestant stronghold, the population of Kabalina is now overwhelmingly non-religious, with 38% of citizens identifying themselves as atheist and only 18% affiliated with mainstream religions.

Largest Cities

The capital city, and second-largest by population, Amalia, has a municipality population of about 610,090, with estimates of up to 2.7 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area. The largest and third-largest cities are Haven and Lichtheim. The total area of Haven contains over 5 million inhabitants, while Lichtheim is home to around 1.5 million persons. The most densely populated state is the small city-state of Haven, with the second most densely populated being Ilyse, which is home to the large capital city, along with several of the other most populous cities in Kabalina. Meanwhile, more rural areas, namely the vast state of Tydelig, have a very low population densities relative to the national average. The northern mountain region, the state of Bergen, is the least populated state in the country. A larger portion of the population lives on the western coastal regions of Kabalina than in the entire remaining area of the country combined, largely due to intensive German settlement and development during the Middle Ages and Early Modern Period, and British emphasis on economic growth in the country’s west during the late 1700s

Government & Politics

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Law

See Also: Constitution of Kabalina

WIP The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Kabalina serves as the basis for the government and legal system of Kabalina, confers special protection to certain rights and liberties, and establishes the special federal relationship between Kabalina's states and the national government. As a former British possession, the country operates using a unique mixed civil and common law system.

States

WIP Under the Kabalinian system, states are granted some freedoms in their affairs, namely that they may construct their own governmental structures (some states have a parliament, some have a “council,” some have a president, etc.). A stipulation is that state governments must be elected via at-large, plurality elections and not districts, and must abide by all electoral rules set fourth in the constitution and by the federal government. All states and their laws are superseded by the federal government and its laws, and states and their governments absolutely do not have the right to secede, act in opposition toward the federal government, or engage in interactions with foreign nations.

Parties & Elections

The Kabalinian National Parliament (Bundesparlament) is a unicameral, multiparty organization consisting of 200 seats currently divided amongst nine political parties: the Social Democratic Party, Social Liberal Party, Socialist Party, Liberal Alliance, Transsociety Party, Conservative Party, Global Party, Green Party, and Accountability Party. The current ruling party is the Social Liberal Party. The Federal Republic of Kabalina is made up of 9 states and the island Dependency of Frieden Insel. For elections, the National Parliament uses a modified Mixed-Member Proportional Representation system. Parliament’s seats 200 are divided into two types: directly elected seats and party list seats. All parliamentary candidates must be 18 years of age or older, and have no significant criminal record, criminal convictions for corruption, or “questionable loyalties to the nation.” Each state receives 11 direct elected seats, and elections are conducted at-large (no districts), with proportional representation implemented to allocate seats to plurality-based winners. The Dependency of Frieden Insel is entitled to 1 directly elected Parliamentary Representative (PR).

Party list seats are distributed to states every five years according to population, and elections are conducted at-large (no districts). Certain rules apply to simplify the Kabalinian system relative to other MMP systems: no fractions of seats may be awarded to states; if fractions exist, they will be consolidated into whole seats, which are then awarded one at a time to states in order from smallest population to largest (for example, the largest state by population, Ilyse, could have 17.2 seats, and would be given only 17, with that .2 potentially being consolidated with other fractions to create a whole seat, which would then be granted to Berge, the least populous state; if fractions resulted in yet another seat being created, it would go to Tydelig, the second least populated)- this system ensures that small states receive excess seats, and thus increased power relative to larger states. The total number of seats in Parliament must equal 200, and no hang-over seats will be awarded.

Party list seat-holders are elected at-large by plurality vote in a semi-open list system, where all citizens officially registered with a party may vote for any number of candidates in a “Free List Election” to fill seats that are allocated based on “General Election” party list seat votes. “Free List Elections” are held caucus-style, with party voters gathering in state designated caucus locations to elect candidates, with 10-20 locations usually being designated. It is typical for candidates to focus on a small number of caucus locations, which they will visit on election day in order to directly court voters. Mail-in votes for candidates in “Free List Elections” are also accepted and counted.

Like direct election seats, no fractions of seats may be awarded to parties. If fractions exist, they will be consolidated into whole seats, which are then awarded one at a time to parties in order from least popular to most popular, with a minimum threshold of 10% of total vote for a party to receive any of these excess seats (for example, if the Feminist Party only receives 9% of total “General Election” vote, it is not eligible to receive excess seats). In order to receive party list seats, a party must receive enough of a percentage of “General Election” votes to obtain at least one full seat in Parliament, and parties that receive less than 5% of the “General Election” vote are not eligible receive any party list seats; The total number of seats in Parliament must equal 200, and no hang-over seats will be awarded. As with direct election seats, the Dependency of Frieden Insel is entitled to 1 party list seat.

Similar to other parliamentary systems, the Prime Minister (Head of Government) is elected by simple majority or plurality vote by the majority/plurality party in Parliament. The Executive Minister is directly elected by at-large popular vote of the people, but must be confirmed by a simple majority vote of Parliament. If Parliament rejects an Executive Minister, the Prime Minister must appoint a Temporary Executive Minister, whose powers are subject to special limitations, until such time as a special election may be held. Political tradition dictates that Parliament should approve the democratically elected Executive Minister, and this tradition has been followed since 1968, despite not being codified in law.

To run for Executive Minister, one must be a natural-born citizen over the age of 35 with no serious criminal record (primarily no convictions or even substantial accusations of corruption), and “whose loyalty to Kabalina must not fall into question due to time spent or connections maintained abroad.” The final measure was put in place to help prevent tampering of elections by outside countries. The Executive Minister plays a very minor role in the legislative process. The Federal Ministerial Cabinet, appointed jointly by the Prime and Executive Ministers, works to carry out legislation passed by Parliament, with the Executive Minister serving as the head of the EMC. The Prime Minister (PM) is elected by Parliament, must have been a Parliamentary Representative at the time of nomination, and must be at least 28 years of age. He or she serves as the Head of Government, possessing much more power than the Executive Minister. Additionally, either the Prime Minister or Executive Minister must be regarded as an “expert” in some field, a requirement that usually entails that one or the other simply possesses an advanced degree in any area (for example, the current EM possesses a doctoral degree in theoretical physics).

Elections for all Parliament seats and for the office of Executive Minister are held every 2 years. Term limits exist for Parliamentary Representatives, Prime Minister, and Executive Minister: maximum of 26 years in office for any Parliamentary Representative; maximum 10 years in office for any Prime Minister/Executive Minister. General election day is 12 December, with voting for the PM and EM offices held by Parliament on 18 December, assuming that no election irregularities preclude doing so. Parliament is technically dissolved on December 31, with officeholders remaining officially in office until 2 January, when the new government is officially formed.

Citizens going to the polls or voting by mail in “General Elections” have two choices on the ballot: Direct Election Candidates and Political Parties. Voters may select as many Direct Election Candidates and Political Parties as they wish; total votes per candidate and party are added up, with Direct Election winners chosen by plurality throughout the state, and party list seats distributed proportionately among parties according to percentage of total votes in the state. Ballots for “Free List Elections” of party list candidates are write-in only, though parties generally publish and distribute lists of official party-supported candidates to assist voters with no strong individual preferences. A vast majority of “Free List” voters choose simply to express party support by voting for the party’s officially supported candidates, though theoretically, citizens may vote for any candidate whom is both officially registered with that party, and meets state-established election entry requirements.

Legislature

WIP Kabalina's federal legislature is the National Parliament of Kabalina, often referred to alternatively as the "Federal Parliament," "Bundesparlament," or simple "Parliament. All federal law-making is handled by Parliament, with most affairs requiring only a simple majority to pass. Issues related to constitutional freedoms or items enumerated in the constitution are subject to a supermajority of 61%, and may require additional approval from the Executive Minister (EM). On such constitutional questions, the citizenry or 75% of Parliament may call a ‘vote of distrust’ to nullify the need for EM approval. Constitutional amendments are subject to an 80% supermajority, plus unanimous approval of the states. Another method of amendment is via a majority of popular vote, simple majority of Parliament, and approval of the Executive Minister or Prime Minister (PM). Upon a ‘vote of no confidence’ by 70% of Parliament, a new PM or EM may be selected. A PM may independently dissolve Parliament and call for new parliamentary elections, a motion which requires approval from both the EM and 25% of Parliament, or 61% of Parliament without EM approval.

Executive

WIP The Federal Ministerial Office serves as the head of the federal government's executive branch, with the chief executive and Head of State being the democratically-elected Executive Minister.

Judiciary

WIP Two federal courts are established by the Constitution of Kabalina as possessing supreme judicial authority throughout the nation: the Democratic Court of Kabalina and the Federal Constitutional Court.

The Federal Constitutional Court maintains ultimate appellate jurisdiction over constitutional questions, and per the constitution, must be consulted for approval of certain acts of the legislature identified by the Executive Minister, Prime Minister, or any two Lord Justices of the Democratic or Federal Constitutional Courts. As such, this Court plays a crucial role in assessing the constitutionality of all acts of the legislature, and attempts to preemptively neutralize potentially unconstitutional legislative measures before they can even advance to the stage of becoming law. The Court also has appellate jurisdiction over constitutional questions that arise in lower courts, serving as the final decision maker on such constitutional questions. While the Democratic Court of Kabalina also exercises appellate jurisdiction over constitutional question cases, thus engaging in judicial review, the Federal Constitutional Court may review any such decisions of the Democratic Court and affirm or overrule them.

The Democratic Court of Kabalina is vested with final appellate jurisdiction over all non-constitutional cases. This Court operates with a wide degree of jurisdiction over cases of all types, and may choose by a vote of 5 judges (called Lord Justices) to grant certiorari to any cases appealed to it from any General or Specialized lower courts.

Law Enforcement

WIP Law enforcement in Kabalina is somewhat decentralized, with states having the primary responsibility for law enforcement within their own borders.

Following recent terrorist attacks throughout Europe, proposals to increase centralization of Kabalinian police forces for the benefit of training, equipment, communication, and command structures have received significant support. A major overhaul of law enforcement organization, the Policing Federalization Act, is currently undergoing debate in Parliament. If passed, the PFA would dramatically alter the organization, structure, and hierarchy of police agencies throughout the country, effectively eliminating the current solid distinction between state and federal law enforcement agencies in favor of a larger, sub-divided federal policing force. As the effects of the legislation would be substantial, it is expected that protracted debate will delay the passage of the PFA until at least 2018. Nonetheless, the proposal has obtained endorsements from all levels of law enforcement, and retains strong support from all political parties and the general public. Some opponents of the proposal fear that the PFA would be yet another erosion of the 'pseudo-federalist' relationship between the states and the federal government.

Federal Police Forces

A Federal Police Service Officer

Public Security Group (PSG): Large federal law enforcement, investigative, and internal intelligence agency with a wide range of jurisdiction, including investigation of designated federal crimes, coordination between all the nation’s police forces, and assisting the NSS with its duties. The PSG's Firearms Division is the lead federal law enforcement agency for firearms regulation enforcement activities. Agents are plain-clothes, usually spotted wearing business suits. Concealable bodyarmor may be worn, though it is usually foregone. All agents are issued a Heckler & Koch P30 9mm pistol, three magazines, and a pair of handcuffs; heavier weaponry and substantial bodyarmor are readily available in event they are needed.

National Security Service (NSS): Locates and apprehends criminals guilty of violent terrorism, treason, sedition, espionage, or sabotage. In order to protect civil liberties, this branch is highly regulated and rarely makes arrests due to its specialized nature. Most often, the NSS recruits experienced agents from the PSG, and it is not uncommon for NSS positions to be part-time, given the limited nature of investigations and restrictions placed on the group’s activities. Recently, NSS task forces have been assembled at an unprecedented level, tasked with tackling potential lone-wolf or organized terrorist attacks by Islamic and right-wing extremists.

Federal Police Service: Standard uniformed police forces at the federal level. Primarily responsible for policing the two city-states, but also operates in certain specially designated areas, including ports of entry for purposes of border security. Recently, FPS units have begun integrating with state policing agencies to improve communication and coordination. Uniforms and equipment of both the federal and state police forces are largely standardized; uniforms consist simply of black dress pants, a button-up white dress shirt, thick black leather belt, and a black clip-on tie. An issued black jacket may also be worn during cold weather. Most federal officers are mandated to wear a plate carrier bodyarmor vest with “FEDERAL POLICE/BUNDESPOLIZEI” clearly visible on the front and back. At this time, officers at federal and state levels are issued long guns (usually AR-platform or G36-style rifles, or MP5/MP7 submachine guns) with various electronic sights, CZ P01 9mm sidearms, and multiple magazines for both weapons. Both firearms are generally required to be kept on their person at all times, though this requirement has been relaxed in recent years; nonetheless, seeing a uniformed police officer without a rifle is a relatively rare occurrence. In addition to firearms, police are also issued radios, x2 handcuffs, expandable batons, mace spray, an LED torch, gloves for handling evidence, and an X26 Taser (all law enforcement tasers are colored brightly to help distinguish them from firearms). Despite relatively low crime rates, Kabalina’s extremely lax gun laws entail that violent crime, though rare, is likely to involve firearms, and powerful firearms at that, thus the rather aggressive police load-out. All uniformed police are also issued and required to wear body cameras at all times when on duty.

Federal Roadways Patrol: Responsible for patrolling roadways that come under federal jurisdiction, namely those in the two city-states and designated “vital” roadways. FRP also has wide-reaching jurisdiction over all railways and busing services across the country, and has increasing assumed responsibility for security at train and busing stations, augmenting or replacing state police in that role. Patrol forces wear the same uniforms as their standard police counterparts, though they usually wear a brightly colored orange safety vest to make their presence more visible to incoming drivers during stops. Recently, Federal Patrol officers have begun receiving fancy new BMW vehicles, much to their delight. Federal guidelines mandate how all federal and state patrol vehicles must be marked, and federal vehicles are marked with the same identification as police bodyarmor vests.

Federal Detective Division: Group formed from promoted members of the Federal Police Services or Roadways Patrol. This group investigates crimes ranging from theft to murder, largely within the two city-states and specially designated areas. As of 2017, the FDD has initiated creation of special units that will be integrated with state investigative agencies. Detectives are plain-clothes officers, and no dress code exists beyond stating that detectives should attempt to appear professional unless doing so impairs their investigative pursuits. All detectives are issued CZ P01 pistols.

Tactical Application Group (TAG): Elite federal reaction force deployed when conventional authorities are incapable of handling a threat. Special circumstances for deployment include riot control, hostage situations, and high-risk raids. TAG generally operates within the city-states and specially designated areas, but has been used on rare occasions to assist PSG/NSS task-forces and state authorities in terrorism enforcement.

Politika Sicherheit (Political Security): Special component of the military; provides security for vital government buildings, personnel, and embassies. Naturally, they are heavily armed, and given the latest in gear and technology.

State Police Forces

State Police: The most numerous and visible police presence in the country. Each state has its own police force, responsible for typical law enforcement functions. State police uniforms and equipment are nearly identical to their federal counterparts. State plate carriers read “*NAME OF STATE* POLICE/*POLICE in the state’s dominate language*” (for example, Swedish-speaking Helmö’s “HELMÖ POLICE/POLIS”). Each state police force also has its own specific colour of clip-on tie. Limited exceptions to equipment standardization exist with larger and/or “poorer” departments, where older weaponry may be issued (such as older AR-platform rifles). The police forces of Helmö and Tydelig, for example, regularly issue somewhat older CZ 75 D 9mm pistols when supplies of the newer P01 are insufficient. Tasers may not be issued if budget or supplies are insufficient. Rank structure differs depending on the state.

State Roadways Patrol: Responsible for patrolling state-controlled roadways. Each state has its own patrol force. Patrol forces wear the same uniforms as their standard police counterparts, though they usually wear a brightly colored green safety vest to make their presence more visible to incoming drivers during stops. Vehicles differ from state to state, but must all be marked in a similar fashion to the state police bodyarmor vests (“*NAME OF STATE* POLICE/*POLICE in the state’s dominate language*”).

State Investigators: Investigate crimes that have been committed, ranging from theft to murder. Each state has its own investigators, usually promoted from within the ranks of that state’s police or patrol forces. Most investigators are plain-clothes, with the various states mandating different dress codes. Sidearms are typically the same as standard officers, namely CZ P01s or 75 Ds.

Special Response Force (SRF): Heavily armed and well-equipped reaction force deployed when conventional police are incapable of handling a threat. Special circumstances for deployment include riot control, hostage situations, and high-risk raids. Each state has its own SRF groups, though they are rarely called out.

Local Police Forces

Local Police: A great many small “cities,” towns, and villages possess their own police forces, with widely varied equipment, uniforms, vehicles, and weaponry. Kabalina’s extremely lax firearms laws mean that these local forces are generally well-equipped and heavily armed (an armed and trained civilian militia is a crucial part of Kabalina’s military defence). Usually local police forces are small, consisting of fewer than five individuals, and they may be part-time or volunteer-staffed. None possess investigative or specialized capabilities, as such tasks are allocated to state or federal authorities. Federal academies exist for the purpose of providing low-cost training to small local departments, and are a popular option.

Foreign Relations

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Military

The Kabalinian Defense Forces (KDF) is the unified armed forces of Kabalina and its territories. According to the Constitution, maintenance of an organized military force is an obligation of the federal government and reserved only for that body. However, state level militia organizations provide augmented defensive capabilities and additional manpower in event of an invasion or other state of defense. The Kabalinian Defense Forces comprises the regular combat forces of Kabalina, and falls constitutionally under the dominion of civilian government, with the heads of each service branch being subordinate to numerous civilian authorities, namely the Minister of Defense, Executive Minister, and Prime Minister. The three major service (core) branches of the KDF include the Kabalinian Land Army (KLA), Kabalinian Naval Flotilla (KNF), and Kabalinian Air Force (KAF). Leadership of the Kabalinian Home Guard (KHG), the nation’s organized militia, consists of military authorities, placing the Home Guard also under the banner of the KDF despite its almost exclusively civilian composition. Kabalina has long maintained a non-provocative defense posture, stating that it shall not act militarily outside of its own borders except in response to a direct, substantial threat or as part of a peacekeeping or other small-scale action authorized by a major, credible body of nations, and as such, the military is organized from its core as a purely defensive force.

A strict separation between KDF military and civilian law enforcement is mandated by the Constitution, though several civil defense roles are allocated to the military by both the Constitution and at the discretion of the Ministry of Defense (MoD), including: security of certain vital areas (e.g., airports, nuclear energy facilities, certain federal buildings, officials, and embassies…) border security and enforcement, and counter terrorism duties as authorized by the National Security Service. Only in event of a declaration of war or state of defense may military forces be used in less restricted ways on Kabalinian soil. Such declarations must be approved by 75% of Parliament, plus the Prime Minister and Executive Minister, and any active external military engagement or deployment of peacekeepers or special task forces may be ended by a simple majority of popular vote, should the government fail to act according to the will of its subjects. A ‘State of National Defense’ may be only jointly declared under conditions of “active invasion” (meaning foreign forces must be presently on the contiguous soil [or aircraft in the airspace] of Kabalina, and engaging in hostile military actions).

Ranks within the KDF closely resemble NATO structure, although Kabalina is not and has never been a member of any international military organizations. For organizational command and control purposes, forces are divided into four Battlegroups: Ilysian, Eastern, Plains, and Lidian. All military communication is conducted in the Lingua Franca, English, so as to avoid any confusion resultant from Kabalina’s multilingual composition. Nonetheless, informal names in the nation’s native German, Danish, Swedish, and Dutch for various organizations and branches have managed to catch on, and are frequently used in public society and the media.

As of 2015, defense spending comprises roughly 7% of Kabalina’s federal budget, approximately 2.66% of GDP. The three core branches are made up of 46,000 regulars and 36,000 reservists, including fighters and support personnel. Current objectives set by the Ministry of Defense for the KDF include modernization and improved flexibility.

Kabalinian Land Army

An Army Reservist of the KLA in training

The Kabalinian Land Army (informally: Armén) is Kabalina’s principal land warfare force, administered by the Interior Ministry of the Army under the MoD. The army was created in its present form immediately after the 1968 revolution, the second fighting force formally founded, after the constitutionally established Home Guard. A Chief of the Army functions as the organization’s highest-ranking military commander; this position is currently held by Chief General Robert Kuhlmann. Like all of Kabalina’s core military branches, the army is a professional group made up solely of volunteers, a vital part of the MoD’s broader attempt to evolve the army into a highly mobile, maneuver warfare based defense force. Kabalina’s army is divided into numerous subgroups, listed from largest to smallest by number of fighters: Field Armies, Corps, Divisions, Brigades, Battalions, Companies, Platoons, Squads, and Fireteams. Numerical composition of the groups above company level often shifts, but the makeup of smaller elements has remained consistent at 4 soldiers per fireteam, 9 soldiers per squad, and 3 squads per platoon. Enlistment in the army is currently at an all-time low as part of a government plan to assist wider military modernization in part by reducing manpower-associated costs, though the army still remains the largest branch by manpower, with 22,000 regular soldiers and 15,000 reservists.

Army Force Reserves (Reserver) are tasked primarily with providing organizational and tactical support for the militia, a responsibility that entails mobilizing armed citizens, organizing them into fighting units, and managing these fighting units. Army Reserve Divisions are divided amongst the states, with each state being assigned a specific division that is responsible for handling the Milits in that area. Occasionally, reservists may be called up into the Regular Army to fill shortages or needed roles. Regular Army (Här) troops are the primary defensive force. The Här consists of full-time soldiers with weapons, ammunition, equipment, and uniforms provided by the government. They engage in regular training exercises with reservists, and operate exclusively inside the borders of Kabalina, except in a state of open warfare.

Much like the rest of the KDF, the army follows a standard NATO-style rank structure, consisting of, from lowest to highest rank: Private, Private 1st Class, Lance Corporal, Specialist, Corporal, Junior Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, Master Sergeant, Sergeant Major, Junior Lieutenant, Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, Brigadier General, Major General, Lieutenant General, General, and Chief General. Because of Kabalina’s significant educational system, the military is burdened with a number of commissioned officers disproportionate to many other nations, resulting in increased deployment of junior officers to smaller organization elements. This means that most squads are led directly by a lieutenant or junior lieutenant, with platoons then usually headed by a captain, and fireteams generally commanded by a sergeant.

United Special Operations Command operates as a semi-autonomous component of the KLA, functioning as an organizational institution for special operations forces maintained by all three core branches of the KDF. Specifically, it consists of the army’s Special Operations Group, the navy’s Aquatic Warfare Division, the air force’s Special Control Teams, and the independent Politika Sicherheit (a special organization that provides security for the parliament building, the prime and executive ministers, ambassadors, and embassies). Army SOG is widely considered to be amongst the region’s premier fighting forces, with specialized duties in counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, special reconnaissance, peacekeeping, and operations with foreign forces. Most significantly, SOG operators would be called upon during a state of defense to assist and augment the capabilities of Home Guard militia forces. The SOG is unique in that it is the only part of the KLA that may be deployed outside of Kabalina’s borders, precluding a state of open defensive warfare. SOG may participate in special task forces authorized by inter-state bodies, as well as peacekeeping operations, so long as Parliament, the Prime Minister, and the Executive Minister all give proper authorization, making SOG deployments a very rare occurrence. Criticism has been issued by Parliament regarding the amount of ammunition per capita by the SOG; however, the gun-happy citizenry has expressed support for people shooting as many bullets as they want to.

Kabalinian land combat doctrine prizes mobility and firepower at the platoon level, and the army’s selection of vehicles is based primarily around these two factors. With continuing reductions in the number of infantry combat forces, the MoD has acquired significant funding for modernization and proliferation of a large number of high-tech vehicles that rely on a combined arms strategy to achieve success. In order to provide maximum mobility and firepower for squad-sized elements, the KLA attaches an IAV Stryker M1126 ICV to each nine-man squad, providing a platoon element with two M2 .50 caliber machine guns and one Mk. 19 40mm grenade launcher, as well as full armor protection against small arms and limited explosives. The Stryker serves as the principal vehicle platform for the KLA’s light vehicles, with the following variants in use: ICV, MGS, CV, RV, FSV, MC, ATGM, ESV, MEV, and NBC RV. A small number of tracked M113 Armored Personnel Carriers, leftovers from before the modernization drive, remain in limited service with some reservist elements. For heavier tasks, a number of Combat Vehicle 90s have been acquired from Sweden, providing a tracked alternative with heavier weaponry and better performance for the regions of Kabalina that are subjected to frequent ice and substantial snowfall. Additionally, small numbers of Puma IFVs are also undergoing testing, and are expected to serve to further diversify the KLA’s light vehicle arsenal. Finally, the LAV-25 reconnaissance vehicle remains employed in limited service for forward observation and scouting roles.

In addition to the Stryker platform, the KLA employs a number of vehicles for more specific tasks. The M109 Howitzer remains the force’s most prominent self-propelled artillery unit, though funding for Panzerhaubitze 2000 acquisition is a high priority on the army’s upcoming budget proposal, and the PzH 2000 is expected to largely replace the M109 in the near future. Vehicle-based anti-aircraft capabilities are also highly ranked on the army’s agenda, with plans to move away from the Cold War era M163 Vulcan Air Defense System (short range) plus MIM-72/48 Chaparral (long-range) air defense vehicles, toward a more flexible, mobility-centered option. Army SOG operates a very small number of International MaxxPro MRAPs for peacekeeping duties in theatres where IEDs and mines pose a significant risk, but these vehicles have not been adopted outside of special operations forces. Lastly, the Leopard 2 series of tanks provides the utmost firepower for the KLA. Most of the tanks are of the A4 variety, with a small number of A6s in service; future planning includes replacement of numerous A4 tanks with more modern A7+s or other future variants. While the above listed make up the bulk of the KLA’s vehicles, numerous other vehicles are employed that are not discussed.

Aerial vehicles of the KLA are managed by the Army Air Corps, and include manned rotor aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. Army doctrine relies heavily on the presence of close air support provided via attack helicopters. To this end, the KLA has acquired numerous AH-64 Apaches for heavy fire support, as well as Eurocopter Tiger HAP and HAD helicopters for lighter support. Additional CAS may be provided by Air Force fixed-wing craft, which primarily aim at maintaining air superiority. For transportation purposes, the MH-6 Little Bird has long been a mainstay of army forces, and armed variants of this craft are prolific in aerial reconnaissance and light air support roles. CH-47 Chinooks provide additional transportation, and many NH90s have been ordered to supplement the Chinooks and replace some MH-6s. Testing has commenced recently for the V-22 Osprey, which is expected to be used by SOG, though results remain undisclosed. MQ-9 Reapers provide UAV support, with current plans for the future requesting trials for ScanEagles as well. Finally, RQ-11s are planned to be issued at the platoon or company level to provide infantry elements with increased intelligence gathering capability.

Because of Kabalina’s strong domestic firearms industry and extremely lax gun laws, the Kabalinian army has always been equipped with state-of-the-art small arms and personal equipment. The current standard-issue rifle of the KLA is the G1A4 assault rifle, a domestically manufactured AR variant rifle chambered in the also domestic 6.6x45mm.

A KLA Infantryman

The 6.6mm rifle platform is designed to be backwards compatible with older, more common 5.56x45mm ammunition, as it uses the same magazines at the same standard capacities, and only a new barrel is needed to change between the two calibers (6.6mm casings are the same as 5.56 casings, but with a wider neck). The G1A4 uses a long-stroke gas piston system, similar in design to that of AK, Tavor, or SG-550 series rifles. Specially designed buffer tubes and buffer springs are used to eliminate carrier tilt, reduce point of aim disruption, and reduce perception of abrupt and violent starts and stops caused by bolt carrier movement. The G1A4 uses a standard capacity 30-round STANAG magazine, and is generally issued with an ELCAN scope, forward vertical grip, PEQ-style LAM, and a specially designed, domestically produced sound suppressor. Typical barrel length is 14.5”, but 20” and 12.5” barrels have been approved for use and may be substituted with permission or upon request of individual company commanders. The M320 GLM is used for grenadier roles and a domestically-produced 6.6mm Minimi Light Machine Gun variant serves as a squad automatic weapon. A 9x19mm CZ P-01 or Walther PPQ sidearm is issued to all regulars and reservists, though most units allow individuals to use personal sidearms with approval. As Kabalina is not, nor has it ever been, a signatory to the Hague Conventions banning certain ammunition types, expanding or fragmenting ammunition such as jacketed hollow-point rounds are widely used in 9mm and 6.6mm.

A specially tailored plate carrier was designed for army use and provides lightweight, non-obstructive torso protection, allowing greater mobility than most designs at as minor of a protection loss as possible. Front, rear, and side armor plates are an exclusive Kabalinian design, providing protection against everything up to and including .30-06 armor-piercing rounds while maintaining a total combined weight of around 6.8 kg (15 lb.). Collar, shoulder, and groin protectors are also issued, but their use is determined by individual soldiers, as these impair movement and may provide little benefit for a highly mobile defensive force such as the KLA. Helmets issued are Enhanced Combat Helmets, produced under license from the United States, though a large number of MICH-style helmets remain in service for training exercises and stockpile purposes.

Dress Uniforms for the KLA resemble those of the German Army, with blue berets being issued as optional headgear. Battle Dress Uniforms are issued in KABPAT (similar to CADPAT) and All-Terrain Camouflage Pattern [ATCP] (a MultiCam variant), with the choice of pattern being left to individual soldiers based on availability. Unlike many other militaries, the KDF as a whole is very lenient when it comes to personal grooming, allowing a great deal of personalization of head and facial hair, so long as a clean and “proper” look is maintained. Elbow and kneepads are provided with BDUs, as are standard black combat boots, sunglasses, and several other necessary personal clothing items.

Kabalinian Naval Flotilla

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Kabalinian Air Force

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Kabalinian Home Guard

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Economy

WIP Kabalina operates a highly modern and very diverse Free Market Economy, using strong consumer and employee protections to further the objectives of the nation's Mixed Capitalist-Socialist/Nordic Social Democracy society.

Tourism

WIP Tourism is by far the largest single economic sector of Kabalina by employment, providing 5% of the nation's GDP and employing nearly 10% of the population in tourism-related occupations. In recent decades, Kabalina has undergone a tourist boom, thanks largely to its progressive laws surrounding individual civil liberties, beautiful natural environments, and technologically advanced, modern cities. Whether it is fully legalized recreational drugs, the Galläk Fjord, or the cost-free 2 Gigabits per second urban wifi, Kabalina's tourism sector offers something for all visitors.

Information Technology

WIP Strong government investment and loose regulatory policies have incentivized the growth of the tech industry throughout Kabalina. Thanks to the country's highly educated workforce, favorable economic agreements with other countries, and world-renown IT infrastructure, tech companies have flocked to the country. The area north of central Lichtheim, the capital city of Ilyse, is colloquially referred to as "Mini-Silicon Valley" due to the large number of high-tech businesses in the area.

Arms Manufacturing

WIP Thanks to Kabalina's extremely lax weapons laws, a large and diverse arms manufacturing industry has emerged, catering largely to domestic customers, but also engaging heavily in military and civilian exports. Domestic arms manufacturers provide most armaments for the Kabalinian military, including including small arms, personal equipment, and vehicles, often obtaining production licenses from other nations in order to ensure that actual production remains within Kabalina. Although foreign-made weapons comprise a firm majority of civilian firearms, a large number of Kabalinian produced small arms have begun to flood the market, largely due to the post-Cold War era relaxations of gun laws and reductions of the size of the military.

Fishing and Seafood

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Culture

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Fashion

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Media

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Technology

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Sports

WIP Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Kabalina by number of participants. The second most popular sport is firearms shooting (both recreational and competitive).

Social Welfare

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Infrastructure

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Energy

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Transportation

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Miscellaneous Laws

Weapons Laws

All weapons regulations are specified by the Constitution as being under the exclusive purview of the federal government. Constitutional protections for weapons are strong, guaranteeing an absolute right of all citizens of legal age to possess and carry in public practically any type of personal weapon. Special protections exist to safeguard firearms rights, including private ownership and carry. Less-than-lethal weapons with a primarily defensive purpose (such as pepper spray, collapsible batons, or tasers/stun guns) may be purchased, possessed, and carried in all locations, both public and private, without any licensure.

An AR-15 style rifle, a typical Kabalinian militia service weapon

Firearms laws in Kabalina are extremely lax, as the Constitution explicitly identifies firearms as a special category of weapons possessing additional protections. Any citizen of legal age has a stated right to possess any form of personal firearm, including handguns, semi-automatic rifles, and select-fire/fully-automatic machine guns. No restrictions may be placed on types of ammunition, nor on ammunition feeding device capacity. More so, the Constitution mandates that all citizens of legal age (male and female), as a condition of mandatory military training and continual militia readiness, must possess at least one firearm suitable for military service (currently, a semi-automatic or select-fire rifle in 5.56mm or 6.6mm utilizing STANAG magazines). If a suitable firearm is not already in a citizen's possession, rifles are issued (along with a lockable case) free of charge at age 16, upon entering mandatory training. Service weapons are not issued with ammunition. A suitable firearm must be maintained in possession of every citizen aged 16-40 as a condition of citizenship, and it is a serious criminal offense to refuse military training, fail to possess a suitable firearm, or lose citizenship due to such refusal or failure. Citizens may elect to store their service rifle at a local law enforcement armory. If a citizen has been convicted of an offense that prohibits him or her from possessing a firearm, he or she must pay an additional Prohibited Persons Income Tax. After reaching age 40, one may choose not to keep a suitable service weapon, and/or to return an issued weapon to the government. In 1968, Parliament passed the National Firearms Law, defining various types of firearms, and setting age restrictions for purchase and possession. The processes for acquiring a firearm and license to carry concealed are outlined in the Constitution, as are protections for possession and carrying of firearms, and explicit prohibition of any government registries of most firearms and license holders.

Licensure

A person under legal age may only receive a firearm from a parent or legal guardian; a License to Acquire Firearms (LAF) is necessary to purchase a firearm once an individual reaches the age of 16. LAFs are granted by local law enforcement departments, and all departments are mandated by the Constitution to make licenses readily available to all citizens of legal age who pass a criminal background check and pass a brief written test (short answer style) of gun safety, self-defense laws, and decision-making; if the test is failed, a three hour instructional course must be attended before one may attempt again. Exemptions to mental health privacy records are made with regard to all firearms license background checks, allowing authorities access to such information for background check purposes. The process for acquiring an LAF must be "clear, quick, and absolutely unobtrusive to prospective legal owners," a phrase that courts have determined means departments must complete the background check within one week, must make the application process clear and understandable to the general public, and may not place any requirements or restrictions on license acquisition beyond those set forth by the Constitution. A license is necessary only for acquisition of a firearm- no license is required for possession. Also, no license is needed by either party for parents to lawfully gift firearms to their children under the age of 16, or for any individual to lawfully take possession of firearms left by a deceased relative. Licenses must be renewed, free of charge, every year.

A License to Carry Concealed Firearms (LTCC) must be acquired to carry any firearm in a concealed manner; like the LAF, the process for acquiring an LTCC is set out by the Constitution, and licenses are issued by local law enforcement. The same protections and standards for issuing exist, meaning that LTCCs must be issued to all citizens of legal age upon completion of a background check and brief written test, and no additional obstacles or restrictions may be placed on the licensing process. In order to receive an LTCC, one must possess, physically furnish, and provide the identification number for a valid LAF. Licenses must be renewed, free of charge, every year. An LAF or LTCC may be renewed one month prior to its expiration, at the earliest. Additionally, no license is necessary to carry a concealed firearm in one's own place of business, home, or vehicle. Constitutional protection also extends to the open carrying of all firearms; no license is necessary to carry any firearm in an open, readily-visible manner. Because military training is mandatory for all citizens, no additional instruction or safety training is necessary for any license. An LTCC card is only valid when kept on one's person with an additional, government-issued picture ID card, and both cards must be carried at all times when carrying a concealed firearm. If one is denied a license, the licensing authority must provide the rejected applicant with the reason for denial.

Unlike some places, such as most areas of the United States, Kabalina allows permit holders to carry in any location, including private businesses (regardless of owners' opinions), educational facilities (including all primary, secondary, and university schools), and government buildings (including the Parliament Building, police stations, and state/local facilities). Under the Constitution, Parliament may declare any facility as having "No Firearms Carriage" (NFC) status, so long as a strong compelling national security risk is presented by allowance of unauthorized firearms. Currently, only nuclear power plants, secured areas of courthouse buildings, numerous secret facilities, secured areas of airports, and a few other locations possess such status. Any location bearing a "No Firearms Carriage" status must have controlled access measures (e.g., metal detectors to prevent unauthorized carry, or checkpoints to prevent access by unauthorized personnel) and on-site armed security. Proper signage identifying the location as having NFC status must be readily displayed in easily visible locations. Certain sensitive government buildings, such as the Parliament Building and law enforcement offices, may have weapons checks and may restrict concealed carry, while allowing open carry so long as visitors follow check-in procedures.

Carrying is prohibited in courthouses, while under the influence of any mind-altering substances (e.g., alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs), and at large public gatherings (as defined by law) such as sports arenas. Firearms may be carried at political protests not 'involving firearms,' but only by LTCC holders, and all firearms must be carried openly. Guidelines exist in federal law specifying what sorts of events constitute "large public gatherings" and "non-firearms protests." To qualify as a large public gathering or non-firearms protest, an event must have an armed police presence proportionate in size to the attendees. Events in closed areas, such as sports arenas, must also maintain controlled access measures and engage in weapons searches. If entering a gathering where firearms are prohibited, individuals lawfully carrying firearms may request that a law enforcement officer or venue operator temporarily hold onto their firearm(s) and valid LTCC during the prohibiting event. Most areas where large gatherings are often held have a closed off, police-operated area where firearms and LTCCs may be dropped off. Because LTCCs have a photograph and name of the license-holder printed on the card, a government-issued photo ID can be presented to ensure that firearms and LTCCs are properly returned. A similar process is in place with all courthouses.

A Kabalinian woman exercising her right to carry a firearm

The Constitution strictly states that there is to be no list or database of LAF or LTCC license holders. Instead, each printed license is given a unique identifying number, which may be entered by law enforcement or firearms sellers to confirm that the license is valid. Under this system, names and personal information of license holders are not listed anywhere or connected in any database, as identifying numbers on licenses are not linked to such information. In addition to this, a recent photograph and the licensee's full legal name are present on both the LAF and LTCC cards, preventing individuals from using another person's license with a valid identifying number. If a license holder becomes ineligible to possess a license or firearm, he or she must present his or her license to law enforcement for invalidation- refusal or failure to submit a license is a serious offense, punishable by a five year term in prison, substantial fines, and permanent ineligibility to receive a license or possess a firearm. As licenses must be renewed annually, most licenses are automatically invalidated when a person becomes ineligible, as most offenses that make one ineligible for a license/possession entail jail terms of more than one year, and a convicted ineligible possessor would be unable to renew his or her license after release. Once a person has been formally charged with any criminal offense (or issuance of a protective/restraining order or similar item by a judge), police may obtain a special "Firearms Warrant," allowing them to search the accused individual's home, business, vehicles, and other properties for firearms, which may be confiscated until the person is found not guilty, charges are otherwise dropped, or the order is rescinded; if a criminal conviction results in a prohibition of possession, law enforcement may permanently seize the firearms. If firearms are discovered, the individual must present a valid LAF, or documented proof that the firearms were otherwise legally obtained (such as being gifts from before the person turned 16, or were obtained with a previously valid LAF). This LAF would be confiscated, along with a LTCC if that is also possessed, and returned at the same time as the individual's firearms if he or she is cleared of wrong-doing.

While no databases or lists of guns or license holders may be maintained, law enforcement offices may store applications that are submitted with them for a time not exceeding five years. When an individual applies for a license, he/she must fill out a physical paper application form at the nearest local or state law enforcement office. The office that receives the application may place said application into safe storage, but may only maintain the original, physical license application document, with an 'Approved' or 'Disapproved' stamp printed near the bottom, along with a description of the grounds for denial if the application was disapproved. Only the original, physical document may be maintained, and it may not be copied, scanned, or digitally logged. Applications may not be sorted by any criteria other than date that a ruling was issued, and must be securely stored to prevent theft and unauthorized access by law enforcers and other personnel. Law enforcement may not browse or search through records that their offices maintain. Application documents may only be accessed by local, state, or federal law enforcement authorities in possession of a valid 'Firearms Warrant;' warrants must be issued for each individual and law enforcement may only seize application documents related to that individual. Because no database of application information or applicants may be established or maintained, law enforcement entities seeking applications documents must generally search through one to two year's worth of documents in order to locate any specific individual's application, a process designed to discourage abuse of the application storage system. Because of the cost associated with maintaining physical records, and the relatively low value of these records, many smaller offices simply choose to incinerate all physical applications after an approval or disapproval determination is made.

Currently, the list of offenses for which one may be rendered ineligible to possess a firearm is relatively strict, and a central registry of criminal offenses is jointly maintained by the state and federal governments. Automatic disqualifying factors include convictions of violent crimes, domestic violence (and/or being the subject of a protective order), drug-related offenses for which the person has served more than six months in detention (including offenses related to alcohol or tobacco, such as Driving While Impaired or Unlawful Sale to a Minor), Unlawful Distribution of Drugs (regardless of prison term), involuntary institutionalization via court order, known or suspected association with criminal or terrorist elements, or any firearms-related offenses. Repeated convictions for non-disqualifying misdemeanor crimes may also result in a denial depending on the crime. The person must also not be a fugitive from justice or be in the country illegally. A citizen may undergo a state rehabilitation program following release from detention, after which a petition may be submitted to restore firearms possession eligibility as a "Special Possessor," a status subjected to limited government oversight, including, in most cases, registration of all firearms possessed and registration of the person's identity as a "Special Possessor" with local law enforcement, along with ineligibility to obtain an LTCC.

Any offense which renders one ineligible to possess a firearm also renders him or her ineligible to receive an LAF or LTCC. No additional restrictions exist on acquiring an LAF, and any Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (or Lawful Non-Permenant Resident with PSG Pre-Check approval by the PSG's Firearms Division) may acquire an LAF. A few more offenses are taken into account when applying for an LTCC, namely that one must not have any criminal convictions for which the person has served more than one year in detention. In order to obtain an LTCC, one must be a Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (or Lawful Non-Permenant Resident/Temporary Visitor with PSG Pre-Check approval). Lawful Non-Permenant Residents or Visitors who are citizens of European Union or other "Exempted Status Countries" (including Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Switzerland) may undergo a PSG Pre-Check and acquire a Temporary License to Carry Concealed Firearms in order to bring firearms with them to carry while in Kabalina. It is important to note that while Pre-Check cleared individuals may bring firearms into the country and carry them while in country, it is still unlawful for Visitors to purchase or in any other way acquire firearms while in Kabalina, meaning that any firearms in their possession must be lawfully owned and acquired in their country of origin. Despite this, any individual may purchase firearms and have them shipped to his/her home country, so long as the firearms never enter the possession of the purchaser while on Kabalinian soil; allowance of the firearms out of Kabalina and into the purchaser's country are subject to the discretion of their relative customs enforcement. Visitors are not eligible to receive an LAF, but Lawful Non-Permenant Residents, such as students, may undergo Pre-Check and be granted an LAF. Open or concealed carrying of firearms by Visitors or Lawful Non-Permenant Residents is illegal without a valid LTCC. Anyone may rent firearms or purchase ammunition for use at a licensed shooting range.

While local law enforcement entities are responsible for issuing Citizen/Lawful Permanent Resident licenses, responsibility for Non-Permanent/Visitor licenses falls to the PSG and its Pre-Check system. The PSG Pre-Check system is relatively time-consuming, and has strict requirements for eligibility. For approval, one must have no criminal convictions beyond the level of what is considered in Kabalina to be "minor misdemeanor," meaning that one must not have at any point spent any time in detention as a result of a criminal conviction. Applications for Pre-Check clearance must be submitted at least one month and no more than two months prior to arrival. All other requirements for lawful possession of a firearm under Kabalinian law must also be met, and the Public Security Group reserves the right to deny approval to any application at its own discretion. Unlike Citizen/Lawful Permanent Resident LAFs and LTCCs, all licenses issued to Lawful Non-Permenant Residents or Visitors are fully registered with federal and applicable state authorities, including records of names and other personal information that are not maintained with Citizen/Lawful Permanent Resident licenses. A thorough database of Visitor/Non-Permenant Resident licenses is maintained by the PSG. Visitor and Non-Permenant Resident licenses are valid for the duration of the individual's stay (Visitors) or for a period of not more than one year of continuous residence (Non-Permenant Residents). Any Visitors or Non-Permenant Residents bringing firearms into Kabalina must register all firearms with the PSG's Firearms Division prior to passing through the Customs Area at point of entry. Non-Permeant Residents and Visitors are not permitted to sell, trade, or otherwise dispose of firearms in Kabalina; any lost, stolen, or destroyed firearms must be reported to the PSG, and all firearms brought into the country must be displayed to PSG immediately prior to departure, as they are expected to leave the country with their owner. With limited exceptions granted to legitimate sports shooters, collectors, and dealers, only one firearm may be brought into the country per licensee; this firearm may be a semi-automatic pistol, revolver, bolt-action rifle or, single/double shot or pump-action shotgun. No semi-automatic weapons besides pistols are permitted, nor are any select-fire weapons; no more than 3 magazines and 60 rounds of ammunition are permitted, and all ammunition and magazines must be registered along with firearms at entry.

Anyone employed in an occupation that involves carrying firearms (e.g., armed security guards, bodyguards, local, state, and federal law enforcement...) must acquire a License to Professionally Carry Firearms (LPC). An LPC does not automatically enable one to carry firearms or become eligible for an occupation, as additional, occupation-specific training regarding firearms is often necessary. For example, bodyguards must complete a full certification course that includes more firearms training, and law enforcement have additional training requirements. As such, an LPC is a minimum requirement to begin the employment process for these types of occupations. The LPC license only authorizes the possession and carriage of firearms during the course of one's occupation; non-occupation concealed carry still requires an LTCC, and purchase of firearms still requires an LAF. However, any citizen, lawful resident, or visitor may acquire an LPC, regardless of his or her occupation, and most employers will require prospective applicants to already have obtained an LPC. To apply for an LPC, one must first complete a training and testing process modeled off of that of the Czech Republic. A five hour instructional and informational course is offered for those in need, though all applicants may opt out to this. The first stage of acquiring licensure is a theoretical test, a written examination that assesses knowledge of firearms legislation, laws related to use of force, general firearms and safety knowledge, and basic first aid information. The second stage is a practical test, where evaluators assess candidates' abilities to safely handle, inspect, disassemble, and discharge firearms. A final safety and shooting test is conducted where applicants must fire a .22 Long Rifle caliber semi-automatic handgun at a range of 25 meters, hitting at least 7 of 10 rounds on a 300mmx300mm square target. A brief criminal background check is done by law enforcement, and if passed, the LPC is granted. The entire test and background check process takes place within 24 hours. Licenses must be renewed annually, and no application fee is charged for renewal or initial acquisition.

A license is also required to purchase ammunition. An Ammunition Purchase License (APL) requires a valid LAF to obtain, and may be applied for jointly when one initially applies for an LAF. Without a valid APL, one may only possess up to 50 rounds of ammunition per caliber, and ammunition must have been gifted to the individual by a legal LAF/APL license holder; an unlimited amount of ammunition may be purchased at shooting ranges, but must be entirely used at that range. Once one has obtained an APL, he/she may purchase, possess, store, and discharge an unlimited amount of ammunition, and no further restrictions on ammunition acquisition are applied. Possessing larger quantities of ammunition than legally stipulated without a valid APL is a serious offense, punishable by up to three years imprisonment and permanent ineligibility to possess firearms. Obtaining an APL is easy- one must simply go to the local law enforcement office, fill out an application, provide his/her LAF information, and wait while the validity of his/her LAF is verified. If the individual's LAF is confirmed as being valid, federal law requires that the APL must be issued. In total, the process usually takes less than 10 minutes. Once issued, an APL is valid for seventy (70) years from the date of issue. APLs may be issued to visitors/non-permenant residents at the discretion of the PSG.

Buying and Selling

A 9mm Browning Hi-Power, the most common handgun in Kabalina

No license is required to sell firearms privately, nor are LAF Validity Checks mandatory for such sales, although any individual may check the validity of a license number by contacting the Public Security Group's Firearms Division by phone, or through the Quick Check website. To sell firearms for profit, one must have a valid Firearm Dealer Business License (FDBL), which requires meeting all local/state/federal requirements for a normal business license, with the additional requirement of PSG Firearms Division approval. "For Profit" selling is decided on a case-by-case basis, but is usually defined as more than five sales per month, and/or a total monthly income of over $2,000 USD from such sales, with money attained being profit that this not spent on other firearms (for example, selling a firearm to fund purchasing another), or serving as liquidation of assets for non-business related affairs (such as selling part or all of a private gun collection). FDBLs must be renewed annually, and as a condition of licensure, all FDBL holders must conduct an LAF Validity Check prior to making a sale to any individual. "Unlawful Gifting or Sale" laws exist to punish both FDBL holders and private individuals who sell or gift a firearm to an individual whom the seller "had reasonable cause to believe was ineligible to possess a firearm." Court rulings have been somewhat vague as to the specifics of this definition, though rulings have determined that an individual may be charged if he or she fails to ask the purchaser to furnish an LAF, if the seller is aware that the purchaser does not possess a valid LAF or is otherwise ineligible to possess a firearm, or if an individual is partaking in the business of selling firearms for profit without a valid FDBL. Currently, it has not been determined whether or not non-FDBL sellers may be prosecuted for failing perform an LAF Validity Check. No license or check is required for a parent or legal guardian to gift firearms to his or her own children, so long as these children are under the age of 16, at which point the gifting becomes a standard non-FDBL transfer requiring a valid LAF. All sales must be conducted face to face, or through an FDBL dealer as a proxy; no firearms or ammunition may be directly mailed to one's home, as these may only be shipped to FDBL license holders. Ammunition and firearms purchased online must be shipped to a licensed FDBL dealer.

Regulated Weapons

A few types of weapons are categorized by the 1968 National Firearms Law as "Restricted Weapons." Weapons in this category may be lawfully owned by anyone possessing an LAF (required for possession as well as purchase, unlike with regular weapons), but additional restrictions may be placed on conditions for ownership. Restricted Weapons are NOT subject to a ban; anyone with a valid LAF may possess them, so long as they comply with Parliament's additional stipulations, which include registration of the firearms and one's identity and LAF license number with the PSG's Firearms Division within two weeks of purchase and notification of the PSG within one week of loss, theft, sale, or destruction of the item. Anyone wishing to obtain Restricted Weapons must complete additional written and range testing to ensure that they can safely operate these firearms, upon completion of which their physical LAF will receive a golden star, and "Restricted" permission will be added to their LAF number so that it appears when the number's validity is checked. Firearms classified as "Restricted" include hand-held explosives such as grenades, grenade launching devices, rocket launchers and their ammunition, belt-fed machine guns, non-belt-fed light, heavy, or medium machine guns as designated by the PSG, non-shotgun weapons with a bore diameter exceeding 15mm, armor-piercing, incendiary, or explosive ammunition, and firearms designed in a physical form that does not closely resemble a firearm, or is intended or has the effect of disguising that object's identity as a firearm. The background check for acquiring authorization for restricted weapons is more intensive than that for a regular LTCC or LAF, and law enforcement has a period of up to three weeks to complete a thorough background check, which includes a home inspection, interviews with family and character references, and extensive checks for criminal or terrorist ties domestically or abroad. A licensing fee of approximately $2,500 US must be paid for the first application for permission, and will not be refunded if the background check is failed or the license otherwise is denied; this fee is not charged for renewals, but will be charged again if one's license lapses beyond the renewal period. Renewal typically takes less than one week, and a 50-day grace period extends after the expiring date of a designated "Restricted Weapons" LAF, during which time one may continue to buy restricted weapons on the license while awaiting renewal. Licenses may be renewed up to 20 days prior to expiration. Upon renewing one's LAF, proof of completion of Restricted Weapons Authorization training must be provided for authorization to also be renewed, a process that usually entails simply showing a completion certificate. The 1968 law also places restrictions on how much ammunition one may possess for non-bullet weapons, such as explosives. In order to circumvent these limitations, one must acquire a license for prohibited weapons.

A fully-functional and armed Hind owned by a famous Kabalinian billionaire

Even with its lax weapons laws, there are a few items that are considered "Prohibited Weapons" in Kabalina. The naming is somewhat inaccurate, however, as these weapons are not actually prohibited to citizens. Instead, citizens (not nationals, residents, or visitors) wishing to obtain designated Prohibited weapons must obtain a Special Acquisitions License (SAL). The SAL is unique in that it is the only firearms license in Kabalina that is not automatic shall-issue to all who meet certain criteria. Unlike all other licenses, applicants for SAL licenses must undergo an interview process with the PSG's Firearms Division, which is responsible for issuing the licenses, and prospective applicants must present a clear and justifiable reason for desiring prohibited weapons. Substantial education, training, and testing requirements must be met to be eligible for an SAL, and the background check for this license includes detailed mental health and criminal background checks. Interviews will also be conducted with family, friends, work associates, and other individuals affiliated with the applicant, and law enforcement will investigate any potential avenues for disqualification from the SAL application process. In total, the process of obtaining an SAL takes two to three months on average. Upon being granted an SAL, one is issued a probationary license for the first year, during which time one may only purchase two "Prohibited" items. This probationary period ends after the first year, with the license requiring renewal every year. Renewal for an SAL is a little more involved than for other licenses, though the process still only takes around one month, during which time one may continue to use the license under a 50-day grace period. The renewal process may be earliest initiated 10 days prior to expiration. A substantial first-time application fee of approximately $50,000 USD must be paid prior to one's first-time application process beginning, and payment of the fee does not guarantee that one will pass the background checks or be awarded a license; this fee will not be refunded if the background check process is failed, or if the license is otherwise not granted. An annual renewal fee of $3,000 is necessary to maintain one's license. The SAL is also unique in that all licensees are registered with federal and state authorities, as are all of the items attached to one's SAL license, and permission must be obtained to purchase any SAL-exclusive item prior to the purchase being made. As mentioned above, an SAL allows unlimited possession of explosives and ammunition for explosives launchers. It also allows for possession of fully operable armored vehicles, such as tanks and AFVs, as well as the ammunition and weaponry on these vehicles. A few individuals have even been granted permission to own and privately operate Soviet-produced Hind attack helicopters, equipped with fully-operational rocket pods and machine guns. SAL licenses are usually sought by businesses (such as private security contractors operating in dangerous countries), hard-core collectors, and historical institutions (such as museums). With a valid SAL and proper permission from local, state, and federal authorities, there are few limits to what a Kabalinian citizen may own.

Storage and Liability

Federal laws exist regarding the storage of firearms in order to deter access by unauthorized individuals, such as criminals or children. Kabalina's federal Child Access Prevention law require that parents of children under the age of 16 store all firearms not in their immediate possession (on their body/within their reach) in a safe, locked case, or with a trigger lock device (so long as the weapon is stored in a location outside of plain sight). To facilitate this requirement, all firearms sold by licensed firearms dealers in Kabalina must include a trigger lock from the gun manufacturer, enabling cheap and easy capacity for any individual to fulfill the access prevention requirement. In addition to this, there is a zero percent VAT tax on safes, and one of Kabalina's few federal tax write-offs enables firearms owners to write off the full price of up to two safes per year (for a total of three times) from their federal tax obligations, making ownership, and thus legal compliance, easy for all gun owners. Individuals found violating CAP law face permanent revocation of their firearms licenses, potential ineligibility to possess firearms, sizable fines, and jail time up to one year.

A safe containing various firearms, including the the owner's customized militia service rifle

Parents with firearms are held legally responsible if their firearm is used by their child or another child to injure or kill his/herself or another person. While difficult to enforce, this provision has in the past resulted in negligent homicide convictions. Parents are also held criminally and civilly liable if their firearm is stolen by a child and used by that child to commit a crime; a famous example occurred when a father was successfully prosecuted for two counts of negligent homicide after his 14 year-old son used his handgun to murder two classmates. There are no firearms storage requirements for firearms owners who do not have children, allowing non-parents freedom from the legal obligation created purely for household children's safety, though gun owners without children still receive a trigger lock with each gun, and are encouraged by the government and by their fellow gun owners to purchase and write-off a safe in order to provide extra security against theft or access by other unauthorized household members or visitors. Gun owners are not held criminally or civilly liable if their firearms are stolen and used in crime, unless the crime was committed by their child, or another child using a gun stolen by their child. No inspections are conducted to ensure CAP compliance, nor will warrants be issued exclusively for purposes of CAP compliance confirmation unless special circumstances are present.

Further requirements for safe storage extend to owners of "Restricted" and "Prohibited" Weapons. Restricted license applicants must demonstrate that they possess proper store for that category of item, a requirement that courts have determined means one must possess a safe large enough to hold a one-man-portable belt-fed machine gun, one of the more common Restricted items. As storage of such an item requires a fairly large safe, many applicants simply elect to buy and write-off a large safe prior to applying for Restricted permission. As a condition of possession, all Restricted Weapons must be registered online immediately after acquisition, along with details (including a photograph) of how the applicant will store the item (such as in a safe, or openly visible with a necessary part removed and stored in a safe). Federal authorities may seek a Firearms Warrant if they believe that an individual is in violation of Restricted Weapon storage requirements; such a warrant allows authorities to search an individual's home, business, vehicles, or other properties solely for the purpose of locating firearms. Because the necessary conditions for granting a warrant are difficult to prove, Firearms Warrants are rarely issued for suspected Restricted storage violations.

Prohibited Weapons, however, are subject to a great deal of compliance enforcement. Holders of a Special Acquisition License (SAL) must allow unfettered access to all of their vehicles and real property, and must meet extensive and difficult storage requirements. As some Prohibited items are naturally very difficult to store due to their size (such as a fully-functional tank), substantial economic resources must be met to ensure compliant storage of all Prohibited items. Federal authorities may conduct snap inspections of all properties for purposes of verifying storage requirements have been met; snap inspections do not require a warrant, nor must the license-holder be informed ahead of time. Denying a snap inspection without verifiable and reasonable cause will result in immediate suspension of one's SAL. In order to purchase a Prohibited item, one must first acquire permission from law enforcement, a process that entails a detailed demonstration of how the item will be safely store to deter and prevent access by unauthorized individuals. Violators of Prohibited Weapons storage regulations face substantial criminal penalties, along with permanent revocation of all firearms licenses and permanent ineligibility to possess a firearm.

Via provisions of the 1968 National Firearms Law, firearms manufacturers are protected from criminal and civil liability for actions of end-users of their products, and may only be held liable for product related damages if those damages were resultant from manufacturing flaws, poor safety design, or other direct negligence. Sellers of firearms, including both FDBL license holders and non-license holders, are also immune to criminal and civil liability resultant from firearms they have sold, gifted, or otherwise transferred, so long as the seller complied with relevant firearms sale laws, and had no reason to believe that the individual obtaining the firearm was ineligible to possess a firearm, or was actively engaged in or seeking to become engaged in criminal activity. Both federal law and court precedent have clearly illustrated that businesses and individuals who produce an item for clearly legal usage should not be held criminally and civilly liable for misuse of their product by end-users, whether that product is a firearm, a hammer, or a microwave.

Use of Force Criteria

WIP The use of force to defend oneself or another is recognized as an essential right of all human beings by the constitution of Kabalina. Because the right to defend oneself is recognized as a basic right, unrestricted access to effective means of defense must also be a right. As such, the constitution also guarantees the right of citizens to have ready access to whatever tools are reasonably necessary for self-defense. Specific previsions exist in the constitution identifying the basic requirements for self-defense, including the establishment of no duty to retreat in any environment, and the principles of necessity and proportionality. Essentially, to argue self-defense, one must prove that the use of force was necessitated by the situation, and that the level of force used was proportionate to the threat faced. These principles are generally taken to apply to all self-defense, regardless of if a weapon was involved or not, and the principles do not distinguish between lethal or non-lethal force.

Necessity-

Proportionality-

While not granted the same denomination as in the United States, Kabalina does possess forms of both Castle Doctrine and Stand-Your-Ground doctrines. Necessity of self-defense is not subject to subsidiarity, meaning that a situation where lethal force is lawfully used in defense inherently cannot carry a duty to retreat. Essentially, if the average person placed in a situation would reasonably believe that the use of force was justified in that situation, then the person using that force would not be obligated to attempt to flee prior to the using of force. Either the use of force was reasonably needed, or it was not; there cannot be any expectation that the person first attempt to flee an attacker. This doctrine applies in any location where the defender is legally allowed to be, including both inside and outside of the home. When dealing with inside the home defense, greater leeway is granted for the use of force, as standard for necessity is lessened due to the nature of the environment where the usage occurred. For example, it can be reasonably inferred that someone attempting to aggressively enter an occupied dwelling is quite possibly intent on doing, or may easily be inclined to engage in, violence. Therefore, force (including lethal force) can often be used against home invaders. Certain other criteria are of course relevant: for example, there must still be the reasonable inference of a threat, meaning that shooting an unarmed, fleeing home invader in the back likely would not be justified. Additional factors, such as the confusion that can result from a violent home invasion, may also be taken into account when demonstrating necessity of self-defense.

Firearms Statistics

Total Licenses to Acquire Firearms Held

The total population of Kabalina was estimated at approximately 20,146,110 (January 2015). There are approximately 6,850,000 legal, privately owned guns in Kabalina (excluding militia service weapons), for a total of around 34 guns per 100 persons (.34 rate, or rank 8 per capita). Additionally, there are approximately 11,650,000 militia guns (both issued and in storage in police and military armories), for an overall total of approximately 18,500,000 legal guns, or 91 guns per 100 persons (.91 rate, or rank 2 per capita). There are approximately 1,000,000 guns in military and police possession, and an estimated 90,000 illegal guns in circulation (constituting ~1% of total privately possessed guns).

Firearms ownership in Kabalina is moderately centralized, with a relatively small number of Kabalinians owning a sizable percentage of firearms, and most owners possessing only a small number of guns. In total, 3,767,323 Kabalinians possess a License to Acquire Firearms (18.7% of total population). The number of LAFs being issued has continuously decreased since 2002, and guns are becoming concentrated in an increasingly smaller percentage of the population. 1,461,780 Kabalinians possess a License to Carry Concealed Firearms (38.8% of LAF holders; 7.2% of total population), though only a few hundred thousand reportedly carry a firearm with any degree of regularity.

Overall homicide and violent crime rates in Kabalina are extremely low, at some of the lowest levels in Europe and the world. Crime in general, and specifically homicide and gun related crimes, has continuously declined since 1990, and is currently at an all-time low. With a total murder rate of only .6 per 100k inhabitants, Kabalina is extremely safe. The rate of gun homicides is .12 per 100k inhabitants; the rate of gun suicides is 1.39 per 100k inhabitants; the rate of accidental deaths by firearms is quite low, at .04 gun per 100k inhabitants, due largely to safety training as a portion of all citizens' mandatory military training; the total gun death rate is 1.55 per 100k inhabitants. In total, there were 122 murders in Kabalina in 2014, with 31% involving firearms, for a total of 38 gun homicides in 2014.

Extensive social welfare, educational, and economic opportunity policies have helped to create a society with low levels of violent crime and fairly low levels of gun violence relative to the number of guns per capita. A significant number of citizens elect to store their militia service weapon at a local police armory, and thus only around 3,000,000 of the country's 11,650,000 militia firearms are actually privately maintained by the citizens to whom they were issued. While easy to obtain, the LAF has proven an effective access prevention measure, reducing the number of firearms loose in circulation, and thus the rate of gun related crime. Because of the country's long history with firearms, mandatory militia service, and low gun crime rates, there is very little public appetite for further gun control measures.

Age of Majority

Citizens are considered full adults at age 16, although a limited few rights are denied until age 18. The following are some of the age restrictions frequently inquired about:

Driving License: 16 (light vehicles not exceeding 45km/h); 18 (all others)

Vote in elections: 16

Marriage License: 13 (with parental permission); 16

Join the military: 15 (with parental permission); 16 (mandatory service)

Buy/own Non-Firearm Weapons: 13 (with parental permission); 15 (independent possession/purchasing)

License to Acquire Firearms: 16 (Can possess without license; only needed for independent purchasing)

License to Carry Concealed Firearms: 16 (No age limit on open carry)

Buy/own a long gun: 13 (possess with parental permission); 15 (independent possession); 16 (independent purchase)

Buy/own a handgun: 15 (all possession); 16 (independent purchase)

Buy/drink alcohol: 14 (light alcohol); 16 (all other alcohol)

Buy/use marijuana: 14 (possession/use); 16 (purchase)

Buy/use tobacco products: 16

Buy/use any other drugs: 16 (all possession/use; most purchase); 18 (purchase of designated "High Addiction Risk" drugs)

Run for public office: 16 (local/state elections); 18 (Parliament); 28 (Prime Minister); 35 (Executive Minister)

Sexual consent: 13

Work as a prostitute: 16

Purchase sexual services: 15

Pornography: 13 (participation in creation for non-profit content, including "sexting"); 16 (participation in creation of for-profit content)^

^ No laws exist regarding possession, viewing, sale, or purchase, as nudity and sexuality are regarded as normal things in Kabalinian life.

Prostitution Laws

Prostitution in Kabalina is completely legal, but somewhat regulated. Culturally, prostitution is treated as a legitimate profession, and participating in the industry in anyway is not thought of negatively by society at large. To be considered to be "working as a prostitute" (officially, "engaging in the business of prostitution"), one must operate as "a business or private individual actively seeking to engage in the economic activity of prostitution," with court rulings having clarified what does and does not constitute sufficient "economic activity."

In order to work as a prostitute, one must fulfill all of the following:

Be at least 16 years of age

Obtain and maintain a work permit from their regional government (cheap and extremely easy to do)

Undergo monthly disease testing (refusal to undergo testing will result in suspension of one's work permit; failed tests will result in suspension of one's permit until such time as one is free of disease; all testing is paid for by regional governments)

Obtain and maintain membership with a recognized and approved workers' union, agency, or other similar entity (required for reasons of safety, protection of rights, and professional standards)

Operating a brothel without a license is illegal, as are abusive or pimping practices. Brothels themselves are perfectly legal, so long as they and their owners are properly certified. Other entities, such as escort agencies, must also be properly certified, for protection of both workers and clients. Working independently requires only the mandatory work permit cited above. Many areas have local ordinances limiting prostitution and brothels to certain areas or prohibiting streetwalkers, but sizable red light districts are present throughout Kabalina's cities, and sex tourism is common and welcome in places with large districts, such as the capital city.

Prostitutes, brothels, and agencies pay standard individual and business taxes depending on their situation, and some regional governments levy a flat percentage tax on a per client basis. Workers who are employees of any entity must receive fair compensation and working conditions, are entitled to all the benefits that any other industry's workers would receive, and are subject to special legal protections against things such as abusive clients or management.

Currently, federal law mandates that one must be at least 15 years of age to purchase services. Engaging in the business of prostitution without proper licensure or in violation of the above listed terms is illegal, and punishable with everything from a large fine to jail time. Crimes of violence against prostitutes are subject to additional criminal penalties. Any sort of human trafficking or coerced prostitution is illegal, and crackdowns are strictly pursued.

Drug Laws

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Driving and Vehicle Regulations

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Refugee, Asylum, Immigration, Visa, and Residency Laws

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Refugee and Asylum Process

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Entry, Visas, and Residency

Because Kabalina is not part of the Schengen Area or any other free travel area, full border and customs controls are in place at all points of entry, both by air and by sea, and proper identity and entry documentation is required for any person to enter the country. Identification consists only of a valid passport; no other forms of identification will be accepted (even for domestic flights). For foreigners, the passport must be valid at the time of entry, and must not expire prior to the individual’s intended date of departure. Entry permission is automatically granted to citizens, lawful permanent residents, and citizens of the European Union or other “Exempted Status Countries”. As such, citizens of EU or ESC nations require only a passport, and no visa, to enter the country for stays of less than 180 days. The ESC list currently consists of: Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Finland, Iceland, and Switzerland. Following the United Kingdom's exit from the EU, is highly likley that it shall be added to the list as well. While no visa is required, EU/ESC citizens must complete entry permission paperwork prior to attempting to enter the country. This documentation may be filled out in person at any Kabalinian diplomatic mission, or simply online through the customs website; the entire process takes less than ten minutes.

For citizens of all other countries, both a valid passport and a visa granted by the Office of Foreign Relations are necessary for entry into Kabalina. It is important to note that customs officials may deny entry to any non-Kabalinian citizen (including Kabalinian lawful permanent residents), regardless of whether the individual has been granted a visa. The decision to allow an individual entry into Kabalina is made by the customs division processing said individual through the customs checkpoint. For citizens of non-ESC countries, visas must be obtained prior to entering Kabalina, however EU/ESC citizens may apply for and obtain visas after entering Kabalina lawfully.

The Kabalinian visa system is structured around providing general categories of visas with stipulations for individual’s visas, rather than an obtuse system of countless visa types. Visas are divided firstly into Visitor Visas and Political Visas. The vast majority of visas are Visitor Visas, which are issued for average people staying in Kabalina for any length of time.

Types of Political Visas include: special Military Visas for foreign military visitors in Kabalina on official business (such as joint training exercises); Government Visas (issued at the Prime Minister’s discretion to world leaders and the like); Diplomatic Visas for embassy employees, ambassadors, and others; Refugee Visas for political and other refugees granted entry to the county; and Transit Visas, which are temporary permits allowing non-EU/ESC citizens to enter Kabalina so long as their travel remains continuous (e.g., boarding a connecting flight beyond customs, or docking at a port and resting ashore).

Visitor Visas include only three types: Tourist for temporary visits of less than twenty days, Temporary Business for employed foreign individuals visiting the country on business (such visas are valid for one entry only), and Lawful Non-Permanent Residency Visas. Lawful Non-Permanent Residency Visas serve as the nearly all-encompassing visa type used to provide a wide variety of visas to all foreign nationals seeking to remain in Kabalina for a long-term period. These visas are divided based on stipulations, including primarily the following:

Educational: For students, professors, or other academic individuals entering Kabalina for purposes related to education, including extended exchange programs, university studies, and certain internships/non-gainful educational employment. These visas allow for limited paid employment for the sole purpose of self-sustanence.
Short-Term Residency: For stays of less than 24 months, but may be renewed on a case-by-case basis. These visas allow for gainful employment with certain restrictions.
Long-Term Residency: For stays of greater than 24 months, with a pre-stated exit date that may be extended by the issuing authority. These visas allow for gainful employment with very few restrictions, and are often obtained by individuals pursuing citizenship/permanent residency.

Immigration and Naturalization

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Criminal Extradition Laws

Kabalina has a long standing policy of not extraditing any of its nationals to other countries, regardless of the crime being purported to have been committed. Instead, the government of Kabalina may choose to charge its nationals in domestic criminal courts for offenses committed abroad; under this system, the criminal offense is treated by law as if it had happened on Kabalinian soil. As such, the criminal penalties of Kabalinian law apply, and the legal process is carried out by criminal courts in the usual Kabalinian fashion. All proposed trials of nationals for crimes committed abroad are subject to veto by the federal government of Kabalina, as national sovereignty protects the nation's right to decide whether to domestically charge its own nationals on its own soil. Additionally, Kabalina will only try cases where the crime was committed in the territory of a nation with which Kabalina has a current, valid criminal extradition treaty. Currently, Kabalina maintains treaties with most of the American continents, much of Europe (including all of the EU except for Italy), and many other countries across the globe, with the notable exceptions of Russia and China.

In order for criminal charges to be brought against nationals, or for non-nationals to face extradition, the acts committed must have been a crime in both Kabalina and the other state at the time of commission, and the offense must be punishable in both nations by at least one year in prison. Additionally, for extradition of non-nationals, criminal penalties in the country seeking extradition for the offense must be relatively similar to those in Kabalina. As a general principle, Kabalina will not try any cases or extradite any non-nationals for any non-violent weapons offenses, regardless of whether or not the act was a crime in both states. Kabalina also does not charge nationals or extradite non-nationals for non-violent sexual or pornography-related offenses, regardless of whether or not the act was a crime in both states. Regardless, due to Kabalina's relatively lax laws regarding firearms and sexual conduct, a large number of the crimes committed abroad by Kabalinian citizens and others are in fact not criminal activities in Kabalina. Unlike Kabalinian nationals, non-nationals must seek special exemption to avoid extradition and be charged domestically. These situations are decided on a case-by-case basis, with government policy and court precedent usually dictating final results.

Countries in blue with which Kabalina has some form of extradition treaty

Extradition will only be engaged in with countries with which Kabalina has an active criminal extradition treaty. Protections in law exist to guarantee safety from persecution for political, religious, or similar reasons. Absolutely no individuals, regardless of whether or not they are Kabalinian nationals, will be extradited if there is any likelihood of criminal prosecution on any of these grounds. Kabalina also will not extradite any individual who could potentially face the death penalty, life imprisonment, torture, inhumane or degrading treatment, or excessive imprisonment in proportion to the crime allegedly committed. Persons certified as mentally ill will not be extradited. As Kabalinian law prohibits double-jeopardy (trying someone multiple times for the same offense after they have been declared not guilty), the country will not extradite any individuals already having been found not guilty of the offense by a Kabalinian court or a court in the country requesting extradition. Kabalina does not extradite to non-democratic or military governments. All potential extradition subjects must be guaranteed a fair and efficient trial free of prejudice, and the case must be made clearly that any trial held in the country seeking extradition would be just as fair and impartial as a trial in Kabalina. Habeas corpus and trial by jury are generally required conditions for extradition.

Formal requests for extradition must be initiated by diplomatic officials from the country desiring extradition, and directly presented by that country's respective diplomatic officials from the Federal Republic of Kabalina. The federal government of Kabalina shall require a warrant seeking the arrest of the individual(s), issued or approved by a judicial authority, and accompanied by reports from prosecutors and/or law enforcement detailing the alleged offense(s), potential punishments to be sought, definitions of the laws pertaining to the offense, and credible evidence implicating the individual sought for extradition. All documents must be authenticated by relevant officials of both governments, and final determination of whether or not to extradite remains the prerogative of the federal government of Kabalina.

Fugitives who have escaped after having been sentenced will be returned with utmost haste to their country of imprisonment, so long as they meet all relevant conditions for extradition. Because Kabalinian law prohibits trails in absentia, individuals who have been found guilty in a trial where they were not present are not eligible for extradition, though they may be tried domestically in Kabalinian courts.

Regulations on Business

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Page Explanations

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"Renowned For"

A variety of interesting, unique facts frequently appear on the home page. Bellow are explanations and elaborations on these items, hopefully clarifying instances where home page info may be vague or inaccurate.

Unlimited-speed roads: Three major highways in Kabalina maintain few or no posted speed limitations. These include the Plains Highway that covers the vast expanse of Tydelig, portions of the Capital Highway through Ilyse and Amalia, and the Lidan Way that connects Lida, Ilyse, and Tydelig. Normal roads and highways maintain posted speed limits, usually 40 km/h (25 mph) in residential areas, 56 km/h (35 mph) in built-up areas, 96 km/h (60 mph) on most highways, and 128 km/h (80 mph) on certain designated highways. Speeding fines and repeat offense penalties are quite substantial, and traffic stops for speed and other driving offenses are extremely common. The Kabalinian government has recently begun funding initiatives for self-driving vehicles, with the aim of becoming a global leader in this technology.

Absence of drug laws: Kabalina maintains extremely lenient drug laws. Age limits exist for purchase, consumption, and possession, and an elaborate regulation system encompasses the distribution, sale, and growth (of commercial quantities) of drugs. Once an individual reaches the age of 18, he or she may possess, purchase, or consume any/all forms of drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, heroine, and "prescription" drugs. See above descriptions of drug laws for more details. All in all, there essentially is an absence of drug laws when it comes to personal use by consenting adults.

Devotion to social welfare: An extensive social welfare system is crucial to what makes Kabalina a great country. Equality of opportunity and helping those in need are crucial tenants of Kabalinian philosophy and culture, and this fact is reflected in the government's sizable welfare expenditures.

Punitive income tax rates: "Punitive" is a relative term. While average tax rates in Kabalina are fairly high, citizens receive a great many direct benefits for their dollars, including unlimited access to universal healthcare with world-class standards for care, and cost-free education at all levels of schooling, including allowances for housing, books, and other basic living expenses. Though the home page lists an "average income tax rate" in the mid-50% range, this is not entirely accurate. Rather, this number represents the approximate average total tax burden for citizens, including local, state, and federal taxes of all types. A progressive income tax system has long been in place in Kabalina, with a minimum rate of 30% and a maximum rate of 70%. For comparison, the average tax burden for a citizen in Sweden is between 49% and 59%.

Frequent executions: The death penalty was outlawed in Kabalina in 1969 for all offenses besides treason, assassination of a federal Parliamentarian, judge, or important executive, espionage, genocide, certain terrorism offenses, murder of a Kabalinian national in a foreign country, murder by use of a weapon of mass destruction, or "Suppression of Civil or Political Liberties by any member of government prior to the revolution." No one has been executed since 1969. However, executions were commonplace prior to 1968, as the oppressive, corrupt, fascist regime routinely cracked down on insurrections and protests by using violent means and stiff criminal penalties. Perhaps this older era of Kabalinian history is what "frequent executions" refers to.

Smutty television: No laws exist regarding possession, viewing, sale, or purchase of pornography or nude/sexual material, as nudity and sexuality are regarded as normal things in Kabalinian life. As such, full nudity and graphic sexual content are relatively commonplace in film and television. Unlike some other countries, Kabalina does not baby its youth by pretending that sex is evil and nudity is shameful.

Irreverence towards religion: The population of Kabalina has long been dominated by skeptics and free-thinkers. Most Kabalinians are proud of the fact that Kabalina possesses one of the world's largest irreligious populations, and the Constitution guarantees a strong separation of religion and government, while not construing this to grant special exemptions or privileges to religions, as is done in some other nations.

Rum-swilling pirates: The traditional "Pirates of the Cabal" Fair is held every year in the port city of Haven, where the centuries old free-spirited sea-fairing traditions of Kabalina, including consumption of copious amounts of alcohol, are celebrated by devoted reenactors and fun-loving visitors alike.

Museums and concert halls: Promotion of culture and the arts is a growing government priority, and citizens happily contribute large donations to these initiatives. A large number of museums and concert halls have been erected thanks to this joint public-private funding.

National health service: Healthcare has long been one of the top priorities of Kabalinian government at all levels, and massive public funding through high tax rates, combined with a strong educational and training system, have created the world-class Kabalinian National Health Service, which rates among the top healthcare services in the world. The KNHS is highly advanced and hyper efficient, striving to provide ultra quality medical service to all citizens.

Multi-spousal wedding ceremonies: The government of Kabalina will issue a marriage license to any group of humans who meet certain eligibility requirements. Licenses are issued regardless of sexual orientation, and any individual may possess up to ten separate marriage licenses at one time. The government does not concern itself with the private affairs of its citizens, and allows private entities to refuse to conduct wedding ceremonies for any reason that they desire.

Keen interest in outer space: Kabalina recently began construction of it's first independent manned space craft, in cooperation with the European Space Agency. The vessel, roughly the size and capability of a Soyuz, is expected to launch in the coming years with a seven-person crew from various nations. The craft will augment existing space vessels transporting crew and supplies to the International Space Station.

"Statistics"

WIP A number of statistics and figures are visible throughout the nation's page. Below are explanations and elaborations on these items, hopefully clarifying instances where the nation's page info may be vague or inaccurate.

Murder Rate and Crime: Antiquated police procedure in event of an untimely death by non-natural causes is to treat the investigation of the death as a homicide until evidence shows otherwise (this includes suicides, homicides, and accidents, including traffic collisions). Because of this, Kabalina's "People" statistics display an unusually high murder rate that is in fact a completely inaccurate depiction of the real percentage of citizens murdered; the "Analysis" tab also inaccurately displays information due to the same reason. In reality, Kabalina is an exceptionally safe nation, with a murder rate of approximately .7 per 100,000 inhabitants and a violent crime rate roughly equivalent to that of Sweden. While accident rates are somewhat high, and general non-crime safety is a little lower than ideal, these are the consequences of having strong civil liberties protections that allow citizens more freedom to engage in dangerous activities. Nonetheless, crime and murder are rare.

Corruption:

Wealth Distribution: