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==Politics and government== | ==Politics and government== | ||
''Further Reading: [[Government of the United Republic]]; [[List of provinces and territories of Alstin]]'' | ''Further Reading: [[Government of the United Republic]]; [[List of provinces and territories of Alstin]]'' | ||
The United Republic is the world's oldest surviving federal republic. It is a representative democracy, "in which majority rule is tempered by minority rights protected by law". The government is regulated by a system of checks and balances defined by the Constitution of the United Republic, which serves as the country's supreme legal document. | The United Republic is the world's oldest surviving federal republic. It is a representative democracy, "in which majority rule is tempered by minority rights protected by law". The government is regulated by a system of checks and balances defined by the Constitution of the United Republic, which serves as the country's supreme legal document. | ||
In the Alstinian federalist system, citizens are usually subject to three levels of government: federal, provincial, and local. The local government's duties are commonly split between county and municipal governments. In almost all cases, executive and legislative officials are elected by a plurality vote of citizens by district. There is no proportional representation at the federal level, and it is rare at lower levels. | In the Alstinian federalist system, citizens are usually subject to three levels of government: federal, provincial, and local. The local government's duties are commonly split between county and municipal governments. In almost all cases, executive and legislative officials are elected by a plurality vote of citizens by district. There is no proportional representation at the federal level, and it is rare at lower levels. | ||
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-Legislative: The bicameral Parliament, made up of the Senate and the National Council, makes federal law, declares war, approves treaties, has the power of the purse, and has the power of impeachment, by which it can remove sitting members of the government. | -Legislative: The bicameral Parliament, made up of the Senate and the National Council, makes federal law, declares war, approves treaties, has the power of the purse, and has the power of impeachment, by which it can remove sitting members of the government. | ||
-Executive: The President is the commander-in-chief of the military, can veto legislative bills before they become law (subject to Parliamentary override), and appoints the members of the Cabinet (subject to Senate approval) and other officers, who administer and enforce federal laws and policies. | -Executive: The President is the commander-in-chief of the military, can veto legislative bills before they become law (subject to Parliamentary override), and appoints the members of the Cabinet (subject to Senate approval) and other officers, who administer and enforce federal laws and policies. | ||
-Judicial: The Supreme Court and lower federal courts, whose judges are appointed by the President with Senate approval, interpret laws and overturn those they find unconstitutional. | -Judicial: The Supreme Court and lower federal courts, whose judges are appointed by the President with Senate approval, interpret laws and overturn those they find unconstitutional. | ||
The National Council currently has 369 voting members and 4 non-voting delegates, with each of the former representing a parliamentary district for a two-year term, while each of the latter representing an incorporated overseas territory. Council seats are apportioned among the provinces by population every tenth year, with the constitutional minimum being that at least one council seat be allotted for each province. With the most recent census, five provinces plus the Capital District each had the least amount of councilors at three, while Cecelia, the most populous province, had twenty-four. | The National Council currently has 369 voting members and 4 non-voting delegates, with each of the former representing a parliamentary district for a two-year term, while each of the latter representing an incorporated overseas territory. Council seats are apportioned among the provinces by population every tenth year, with the constitutional minimum being that at least one council seat be allotted for each province. With the most recent census, five provinces plus the Capital District each had the least amount of councilors at three, while Cecelia, the most populous province, had twenty-four. | ||
The Senate has 44 members, with each province plus the Capital District having two senators, elected at-large to six-year terms; one third of Senate seats are up for election every other year. The President serves a four-year term and may be elected to the office no more than twice. The President is not elected by direct vote, but by an indirect electoral college system in which the determining votes are apportioned to the provinces and the Capital District. The Supreme Court, led by the Chief Magistrate of the United Republic, has nine members, who serve for life. | The Senate has 44 members, with each province plus the Capital District having two senators, elected at-large to six-year terms; one third of Senate seats are up for election every other year. The President serves a four-year term and may be elected to the office no more than twice. The President is not elected by direct vote, but by an indirect electoral college system in which the determining votes are apportioned to the provinces and the Capital District. The Supreme Court, led by the Chief Magistrate of the United Republic, has nine members, who serve for life. | ||
The provincial governments are structured in roughly similar fashion. The governor, or an official of equivalent nature, of each province is directly elected. Some provincial judges and cabinet officers are appointed by the governors of the respective provinces, while others are elected by popular vote. | The provincial governments are structured in roughly similar fashion. The governor, or an official of equivalent nature, of each province is directly elected. Some provincial judges and cabinet officers are appointed by the governors of the respective provinces, while others are elected by popular vote. | ||
The original text of the Constitution establishes the structure and responsibilities of the federal government and its relationship with the individual provinces. Article One protects the right to the "great writ" of habeas corpus. The Constitution has been amended 42 times; the first ten amendments, which make up the Bill of Rights, and the Fourteenth Amendment form the central basis of Alstinians' individual rights. All laws and governmental procedures are subject to judicial review and any law ruled by the courts to be in violation of the Constitution is voided. | The original text of the Constitution establishes the structure and responsibilities of the federal government and its relationship with the individual provinces. Article One protects the right to the "great writ" of habeas corpus. The Constitution has been amended 42 times; the first ten amendments, which make up the Bill of Rights, and the Fourteenth Amendment form the central basis of Alstinians' individual rights. All laws and governmental procedures are subject to judicial review and any law ruled by the courts to be in violation of the Constitution is voided. | ||
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===Military=== | ===Military=== | ||
''See Main Article: [[United Republic Armed Forces]]'' | ''See Main Article: [[United Republic Armed Forces]]'' | ||
The President holds the title of commander-in-chief of the United Republic Armed Forces (URAF) and appoints its leaders, the Minister of Defense and the Armed Forces Council. The Ministry of Defense administers the various branches of the armed forces, including the Army (URA), Marine Corps (URMC), Navy (URN), and Air Corps (URAC). Currently, the armed forces has approximately 1.3 million personnel on active duty, which, when combined with those personnel serving in both the Reserve Forces of the each of the service branches and the various provincial Home Guard units brings the total number of troops to about 2.1 million. In addition, the Department of Defense also employs about 815,000 civilians, not including contractors. | |||
Military service is voluntary, though conscription may occur in wartime through the Selective Service System. Alstinian forces can be rapidly deployed by the Air Corps' large fleet of transport aircraft, the Navy's thirteen active aircraft carriers, and Marine expeditionary units at sea with the Navy's Home, Orixtal, and Cathaic fleets. The military operates 69 bases and facilities abroad, and maintains deployments greater than 100 active duty personnel in seven foreign countries. | Military service is voluntary, though conscription may occur in wartime through the Selective Service System. Alstinian forces can be rapidly deployed by the Air Corps' large fleet of transport aircraft, the Navy's thirteen active aircraft carriers, and Marine expeditionary units at sea with the Navy's Home, Orixtal, and Cathaic fleets. The military operates 69 bases and facilities abroad, and maintains deployments greater than 100 active duty personnel in seven foreign countries. | ||
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==Economy== | ==Economy== | ||
''Main Article: [[Economy of Alstin]]'' | ''Main Article: [[Economy of Alstin]]'' | ||
The United Republic has a capitalist mixed economy, which is fueled by abundant natural resources and high productivity. With a nominal GDP of $5.53 trillion, the private sector is estimated to constitute 76% of the economy, with federal government activity accounting for 9.8% and provincial and local activity (including federal transfers) the remaining 14.2%. Unemployment is at 2.78%, in spite of the amount of employment regulations throughout the country. | The United Republic has a capitalist mixed economy, which is fueled by abundant natural resources and high productivity. With a nominal GDP of $5.53 trillion, the private sector is estimated to constitute 76% of the economy, with federal government activity accounting for 9.8% and provincial and local activity (including federal transfers) the remaining 14.2%. Unemployment is at 2.78%, in spite of the amount of employment regulations throughout the country. | ||