Post by sirrusanewtonvales on May 18, 2006 20:34:09 GMT -5
The Commonwealth of Sirrusa-Newton Vales
Comm'ostiia Sirr'uusia-Nuu'tohn Val'liasii
Short Name: Sirrusa-Newton Vales
Local Name: Sir'ria/Nuu'toh'nii (See below)
Official Languages: Sirrusian (Sirrun'jah), Newtonian (Nuu'tohno'jah), English
Others Languages: None. Communications in other languages is almost totally outlawed in official circles
Capitals: Surruton and Newton Vales City
Currency: Surrunew Dollar (SN$)
National Animal: Black Panther
National Anthem: Land of Beyond
Motto: Primoris Nostrum Populus , Secundus Nostrum Ago (First my Nation, Second my Life)
Government and Politics
Governor-General (Head of State): Donald Jah'aahn
Governor-Lieutenant (Head of Government): Mar'icii Paa'ihn
Executive
The Governor-Lieutenant plus 5 Senators and 5 Members of the Dal'fahar Con'tomi (Legislative Council) forming an Executice Council (ExeCo). The Governor-General is appointed by a direct vote with the citizens. He/she has no direct powers except the emergency powers he/she may enact when appropriate. These powers are known as the "Reserve Clause" and may be enacted on a 75% majority of the LegCo vote. Most of the time the Governor-General merely is a figurehead to represent the country but is often a useful source of advise for the Governor-Lieutantant.
Current Executive Departments and Heads
Office of Broadcasting and Culture: Michael Dawns (Sen)
Office of Domestic Affairs: Feo'diir Mans'ohh (Sen)
Office of Education: Bill Thompkins (LegCo)
Office of the ExeCo and Governmental Affairs: Graeme Nii (LegCo)
Office of Foreign Affairs: Donald Anderson (LegCo)
Office of Health and Environment: Thomas Hutchinson (Sen)
Office of Industry: Duu'hikiir Manwell (LegCo)
Office of Military Forces: Mary White (LegCo)
Office of Social Welfare and Services: Lisa Simmons (Sen)
Office of Transportation: Lesley Ann'daar-Smith (Sen)
Legislature
The Sirrusa-Newton Vales Parliament is Bicameral and consists of the following two houses:
The Senate (Se'nirii) of 375 seats, half appointed by the Governor-General, the other half elected by the members of the Legislative Council.
The Legislative Council or LegCo (Dal'fahar Con'tomi) of 750 seats, all elected by the Additional Member System of voting. Half of these are allocated via constituancy. The other half via the AMS party lists. A party must control 50% or over to have a majority. Due to the voting system this is often impossible without a coalition. The leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed the Governor-Lieutantant.
Judiciary
The Law Council (LawCo), a commitee of 25 specially appointed Senators, mostly ex-judges and lawyers from the lower courts, act as the court of last resort. They also review consitutional matters.
Other Courts include:
The Magistrates Court (Court of first instance for criminal cases).
The Court of Appeal and Civil Disputes (Deals with criminal appeals and civil cases).
The Legal Reviews Commitee (Deals with criminal appeals rejected by the Court of Appeal and Civil Disputes and with appeals for civil cases).
Political Parties
Grand Coalition of Independents (GCoI) - Mostly Centre (Varies with candidate)
Liberal Democrats (LD) - Centre Left
Socialist Union (SU) - Moderate Left
Peoples Concern (PC) - Extreme Left
Republican Society (RS) - Centre Right
Council of Freedom (CoF) - Moderate Right
National Coalition Front (NCF) - Extreme Right
Election Results
GCoI - 39%
LD - 26%
RS - 16%
SU - 9%
PC - 7%
NCF - 2%
CoF - 1%
The GCoI is currently Government in a coalition with the Liberal Democrats.
Administrative Subdivisions
The Commonwealth of Sirrusa-Newton Vales is divided into the two states. The two states are divided into 50 Counties, 20 in Sirrusa, 30 in Newton Vales. Each of those counties is divided into 5 Districts. The local government is based upon a two tier system of County and District councils.
Demographics
Ethinic Groups
30% Sirrusan
60% Newton Valian
10% Others
The Sirrusans and Newton Valians descended from ancient Dannistrians and hence have a genetic link to Dannistaan in the East Pacific.
Language
The official languages are Sirrusian (Sirrun'jah), Newtonian (Nuu'tohno'jah) and English. Sirrusian and Newtonian are actually the same in 95% of the vocabulary. The difference is in some linguistic tones, pronunciations and slang and local terms which may be mutually exclusive to each other. In addition there is some Creole dialects, especially near the border area between the two former nations. Both forms are derived from Dannistrian.
English, both American and British standards, was imposed on the island during British Colonial rule and is still required to be taught even up to University stage. This causes some problems as the Sirrusians are used to American English, having been administrated for a long time by them, and the Newton Valians are used to British English. Currently both are accepted standards.
The local name for the nation still causes some friction as the nation used to be divided in two. "Sir'ria" is used by the Sirrusians, "Nuu'toh'nii" by the Newton Valians.
Religion
The main religion is Halivonism, derived from the beliefs of the ancient tribes that the people of Sirrusa-Newton Vales were derived from. It is generally accepted that a warrior called "Halivon" emerged to lead the peoples to where they are settled now and he fought off numerous early enemies to the tribes. On his death they buried him in a cave in the mountains and then the tribes would split to form the two ethnic groups today. There is still some disagreement over his origins. It is accepted though that Halivon is not a God but rather someone given the authority by God, similar to the position of Jesus being a son of God. Halivon is however worshipped in a fashion similar to a deity, however.
Anglicanism is also a popular religion, stemming from British rule. However Halivonists are often at odds with Anglicans. This is due to the actions of the autocratic nature of British Colonial rule, which stated that those not following Anglicanism would be declared heretics and punished by death.
Economy
The economy was badly hit after the great void. Little land is unusable after the heavy use of nuclear and chemical weapons during the time of the Great Void. Most of the economy is highly dependent on imports and the sea. Oil and Gas are exported in small amounts. The defence sector is still quite large due to the two nations previous hostilities.
Geography
Sirrusa-Newton Vales consists of a small island with a large mountain range in the middle. The mountain ranges divides the island into roughly two halves. There is also a river that acts as a natural boundary between the two former nations. Away from the mountains, the islands terrain is mostly flat and uninteresting. Large amounts of it are uninhabitable due to radiation from the nuclear warheads used in the past.
Military
The military of Sirrusa-Newton Vales is rather modern due to the conflict before, during and after the Great Void. The two sides had issues with one and another and paranoia only served to increase the level of armament of the two nations to dizzying heights. The amount of spending on defence procurement is still very high and as a result the armed forces of Sirrusa-Newton Vales is well equipped.
The military consists of a single unified armed forces, the Sirrusa-Newton Vales Defence Forces. The force is split into four seperate areas of operation. These are detailed below (In order of seniority).
Sirrusa-Newton Vales Defence Forces Command Division
Is where the Joint Chiefs of Staff (J-CoS) and Joint Commanders-in-Chief (J-CnC) are assigned to, regardless of the division they are responsible for. This division integrates the two predecessors, the Sirrusian High Command and the Newton Valian Chiefs of Staff organisations.
Sirrusa-Newton Vales Defence Forces Naval Division
This division is responsible for the navy of the Sirrusa-Newton Vales Defence Forces. It also is where the marines of the Defence Forces are assigned. Predecessors are the Sirrusian Navy, the Newton Valian Marine Defence Force, the Sirrusian Marines and the Newton Valian Amphibious Commandos.
Sirrusa-Newton Vales Defence Forces Land Division
This division is responsible for the land forces of the Sirrusa-Newton Vales Defence Forces. Predecessors are the Sirrusian Army and the Newton Valian Army.
Sirrusa-Newton Vales Defence Forces Air Division
This division is responsible for the air force of the Sirrusa-Newton Vales Defence Forces. Predecessors are the Sirrusian Air Force and the Newton Valian Army Air Corps.
