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| The '''arts and literature of Urcea''' are reflective of key social characteristics of the people of [[Urcea]] and the history of its cultural development, being primarily inclusive of greater [[Latinic people|Latinic]] traditions while incorporating some elements of [[Gaelic people|Gaelic]] culture. Throughout its history, the written and visual arts of Urcea have been profoundly impacted by the role of the [[Catholic Church]] in Urcean society, with a preponderance of its great works containing or alluding to religious themes. [[Ómestaderoi]] living and concepts of the frontier - both the [[Urcean frontier]] and the historic discovery and expansion of the [[Latin Heroic Age]], and similarities between these eras - also feature prominent throughout literature, artwork, and in some cases architecture. The history of Urcea and its role in [[Levantia]] are also common themes.
| | {{Infobox executive government |
| | | background_color = |
| | | government_name = Stenzan Government |
| | | nativename = Stenzan Parliament<br/>Palemene |
| | | image = wip |
| | |image_size=220px| date_established = {{Start date|1790|df=y}} |
| | | state = [[Arcerion]] |
| | | address = Hall of the Stenzan Democratic Congress, [[Rakahanga]] |
| | | leader_title = President (Iakopo Hsin) <br/> Vice-President (Filemu Lung) <br/> First Secretary of the First Council (Jiaoping Xham) <br/> First Secretary of the Second Council (Fu'a Pinu) |
| | | appointed = |
| | | budget = |
| | | main_organ = [[Stenzan Democratic Congress]]<br/> First Council of the Stenzan Democratic Congress <br/> Second Council of the Stenzan Democratic Congress |
| | | ministries = Yep |
| | | responsible = Office of the President |
| | | url =government.st |
| | |Debt= }} |
| | The '''Stenzan Government''' is the main legislative body of the [[Australis|Australis]] nation of [[Stenza]]. Stenza is a {{wp|Federal state|Federal}} {{wp|presidential system|presidential}} {{wp|constitutional republic}}, with president [[Iakopo Hsin]] currently holding the office. The Stenzan president is aided by the '''Democratic Congress''', a legislative body that consists of both an upper and lower house. The houses are referred to as the '''First and Second Council of the Stenzan Democratic Congress''' respectively, with new laws having to pass through the second house before going through the first. The president still has to sign off on anything passing the houses, and reserves the constitutional right to veto bills and sign into effect emergency bills that are not approved by the congress. The Upper Council consists of 100 seats, while the lower has 200. |
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| ==Art==
| | Stenza's government is highly centralized, with most of the previous totalitarian systems still in place. Regional governments have little autonomy beyond purely regional matters, and the federal government is strongly present throughout the country thanks to regional offices. A system of ministries that in itself oversee secretariats handle the day to day affairs of Stenza's government, with the various ministers being part of the President's Cabinet, represented in the Second Council. |
| The history of Urcean visual art is part of Levantine painting history. [[Levantia|Levantine art]] was influenced by earlier [[Adonerum|Adonerii]] civilization and can in part be taken as a descendant thereof. However, Levantine painting does have important unique characteristics. Such painting can be grouped into 4 main "styles" or periods, and may contain the first examples of trompe-l'œil, pseudo-perspective, and pure landscape.
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| [[File:Rembrandt Christ in the Storm on the Lake of Galilee.jpg|150px|right|thumb|''The Storm on the Sea of Galilee'' (1633) is among the most famous and impressively executed paintings from the [[Urcea]]n Baroque period.]]
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| Panel painting became more common during the Levanesque period, under the heavy influence of [[Istroyan]] icons. Towards the middle of the 13th century, Medieval art and Gothic painting became more realistic, with the beginnings of interest in the depiction of volume and perspective in Urcea. From then on, the treatment of composition by the best painters also became much more free and innovative. Despite later adaptation of theme and subject, realistic painting has remained a popular form of painted art since the medieval period. Urcean art is centered around technical and realistic execution, retaining form while the content and how it is depicted has become more diverse.
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| ===Baroque===
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| Initially serving imperial, private, civic, and religious patronage, Urcean painting later found audiences in the aristocracy and the middle class. From the Middle Ages through the Renaissance painters worked for the church and a wealthy aristocracy. Beginning with the Baroque era, artists received private commissions from a more educated and prosperous middle class. These changes occurred in the contest of the [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] victory following the [[Great Confessional War]] and rejuvenation of Catholic art and architecture as the aesthetic component of the {{wp|Counter Reformation}}. Accordingly, the demand for art across most of Urcean society was greatly enhanced during this period, leading to additional developments over time.
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| ===Romanticism===
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| [[File:Thomas Cole - A View of the Two Lakes and Mountain House, Catskill Mountains, Morning (1844) - Google Art Project.jpg|150px|left|thumb|''A Traveler's View'' (1828) by [[Thomas Comhale]], Urcea's foremost Romantic painter, depicts the famous [[Ionian_Hotel_War#Velucian_Palace_and_beginning_of_the_rivalry|Velucian Palace hotel]].]]
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| Art in Urcea continued to develop out of purely theological and patronage-based systems. The idea of "art for art's sake" began to find expression in the work of the Romantic painters, the most famous of which was [[Thomas Comhale]], whose paintings of [[Ionian Plateau]] and scenes in the eastern [[The Valley (Urcea)|Urcean valley]] were embraced as a "uniquely Urcean artistic school" during the period of the [[Recess of the Julii]] and [[Aedanicad]]. During this period, ideas about subject in art began to diverge, with historical events and people giving way to a more freeform selection of abstract locations and objects painted in the Romantic style. As was the case elsewhere, Urcean Romanticism was characterized by its emphasis on emotion, idealization of nature, suspicion of science and industrialization, and glorification of the past with a strong preference for the medieval rather than the classical. Accordingly, art was used to depict these things in a positive and virtuous light, and in many cases idyllic landscapes were depicted almost as an unattainable dream while still grounding them in the idea of Urcea "as it was".
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| The Romantic art style remained popular in Urcea long after it had been supplanted elsewhere and it was valued as the "art of the common people and their inheritance in the land of Urcea", as Aedanicus VIII put it in 1863. Urcean Romanticism heavily featured both landscapes and historical scenes in addition to Biblical and pseudo-historical scenes, especially in the well known ''The Course of Empire'' series of paintings by Comhale which depict the rise and fall of a classic Latinic civilization. During the 19th century commercial galleries became established and continued to provide patronage in the 20th century.
| | == History == |
| ====Frontier romanticism==== | |
| [[File:A2C1D36A-DDA4-4D81-B69B-B8E41443EF76.jpg|150px|right|thumb|''The Civilizing Mission (1870)'' utilizes a pun in its title and depicts a [[Catholic Church]] and priests on the [[Urcean frontier]]; struggle and difficulty is implicit in the imagery of the work.]]
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| As the [[Urcean frontier]] became gradually settled in the 19th century, many of the Romantic period's landscape portraits also depicted scenes of the [[Urcean frontier]], extolling the virtues of [[Ómestaderoi]] living as part of a greater popularity of these themes and locations coinciding with the rise of Urcean frontier literature. Unlike the "valley romantics", frontier romantics tended to subvert the idealization of nature, instead depicting nature as something dangeorus and ultimately apart from man. This perspective, directly inspired by the troubles real Ómestaderoi faced in settling the area, tends to give the frontier romantics more of a grim tone and style, with more restrained use of color and an increased use of darkness within the work. Still, many of both the methods and background conceptions of the artists remained the same as elsewhere in Urcea, making it not purely a distinct style. Frontier romanticism became popular towards the end of the romantic period and was popular both in the frontier and beyond. Scholars have suggested Urcea's general decline towards the end of the [[Aedanicad]] and reign of [[Aedanicus VIII]] lead to frontier romanticism's popularity, as the grim and realistic view of the world replaced the idealized one as political and economic conditions worsened.
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| ===Skepticism===
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| [[File:IndustrialSkepArt.jpg|150px|right|thumb|''Progress, or the Grand Invention'' (1922) is typical and the most well known painting of the skeptical style.]]
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| In the early 20th century, Romantic and realistic scenes were replaced by artists with the "skeptical" style. This style is defined by semi-surreal scenes with otherwise identifiable objects which includes a hidden criticism of contemporary society that is intentionally not evidently apparent by a plain viewing of the art; common subjects also included easily identifiable historical figures in surreal and {{wp|anachronistic}} scenes. The Urcean skeptical style, which flourished between the [[First Great War]] and [[Second Great War]] was viewed by contemporaries as sophisticated and esoteric, while it was popularly and critically scorned as elitist and complex for its own sake. Due to the period in which it became popular, many of the famous skeptical works are veiled critiques at life in Urcea during the [[History of Urcea (1902-1955)|Restoration period]], focusing on social ills and the changes coming to the country as a result of a century of modernization.
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| ===Neo-Romanticism=== | | == Presidency and Elections == |
| Following Urcea's participation and victory in the [[Second Great War]], Romanticism reemerged as a popular art style, with both critical and popular demand for styles of art depicting the natural greatness of [[Urcea]]. Unlike the natural, historical, or Biblical themes common among the Romantics, Neo-Romanticism often emphasized patriotic themes and included more depictions of buildings and the nation's natural wonders, though appropriately patriotic historical events were included as well. This style's mass popularity occurred during the 1940s and early to mid 1950s.
| | The Office of the Stenzan President is Stenza's highest executive office. Stenza's president generally works with the Stenzan Democratic Congress, being allowed to sit in on sessions of both councils and discuss proposed bills while having final say in signing off bills already passed by both councils. The president has the constitutional power to veto proposed laws, acts and bills whenever they please to do so, and are able to sign executive orders and emergency bills into effect without consulting the parliament first. Stenzan presidents serve four year terms, with no set term limit. |
| ===Foundationalism===
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| Foundationalism emerged in the late 1950s and 1960s as a form of art popular in {{wp|high culture|high cultural circles}} as a rejection of both the earlier uncertain skeptical style as well as the exaggerated Neo-Romantic style. Characterized by an insistence on straight lines and right angles, as well as concrete or "solid" subjects the foundationalist style emphasized the immutable characteristics of objects without any particular embellishment, depicting the world as a connected series of "objects whose nature simply is" (in the words of Martin Marze, Foundationalist artist) rather than as a Romantic landscape or chance encounter of individuals. The style is named for ''The Foundation'' (1959), which depicted the [[Mountain of the Blessed Sacrament]] as a large block from which the rest of Levantia, depicted in jagged manner in only right angles, hangs from, a commentary on the colonial underpinnings of the very Levantine identity based on the spread of settlers from the southwest during the [[Latin Heroic Age]]. Rising out of a reaction to Neo-Romanticism, the style frequently included critical interpretations of both history and contemporary Urcean society and social institutions such as the [[Catholic Church]], leading to frequent condemnations from the office of the [[Censor (Urcea)|Censor]]. The blocky shape and lack of vibrant colors has lead to this style being referred to as "{{wp|Brutalism|brutalism}} in paint".
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| ===Factual surrealism===
| | The Stenzan Vice-President serves as a senior advisor to the president under normal circumstances, usually sitting in on council sessions so the president does not have to. The Vice-President is also formally the '''First Secretary of the Stenzan Democratic Congress''', senior to the first secretaries of either council. The Stenzan Vice-President automatically assumes the Presidential office should the Stenzan president become incapacitated, and the Stenzan President is allowed to delegate powers to the Vice-President as they see fit using executive orders for any length of time. |
| [[File:AssumptionArt.jpeg|150px|left|thumb|''Munificentissimus Deus'' (2006) depicts the {{wp|Assumption of Mary}} and is common of the factual surrealist style.]]
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| Factual surrealism is a style of art which depicts surreal abstractions of commonly accepted beliefs and orthodox teachings of the [[Catholic Church]], the preeminent social institution in Urcea. It depicts religious and historical scenes related to scripture or Urcean history, though many of the historical paintings are imbued with historic meaning. The factual surrealist style is intended, though with technical precision, to immerse the viewer in the "sense and glory" of the particular subject. Most artists of this style say they seek to capture the "perfect otherness" of the divine in their work.
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| This style emerged in the late 20th century, developing out of a revival of the skeptical style of depiction but replacing the esoteric and secret meaning with more traditional themes and readily apparent meanings. One of the most famous contemporary Urcean artists, Téodóir Ludovictor, described the style as "the appearance of the Skeptical with the soul of the Baroque". Factual surrealism is conceived by many art critics as a summation of Urcean art throughout history, blending the topics of the Baroque period, the color, lighting, and technical execution of the Romantic period, and the uncertain form of the skeptical period.
| | Both president and Democratic Congress members are elected every 4 years, with every party presenting its own Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates. Elections happen in September while the new government assumes power on January 1st. The latest elections were in 2027, with sitting president [[Iakopo Hsin]] winning a landslide victory at 71.2% of the total votes. He started his second term on January 1st, 2028. |
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| ==Architecture== | | == First and Second Council of the Stenzan Democratic Congress == |
| [[Urcea]] has a long history of distinct architectural styles and innovation within architecture. The first of the "great" Urcean architectural styles were established just after the end of the [[Great Confessional War]] at the height of the {{wp|Counter Reformation}}: the {{wp|Rococo}} style of architecture, best expressed perahaps in both [[Electorsbourg]] and [[The Hermitage (Cálfeld)|the Hermitage]]. The long period of Rococo ubiquity ended in the first decades of the 18th century, and its opulance was replaced by the more restrained {{wp|Palladianism|Palladian style}}. Developing from Palladianism is among the most popular and commonly used kind of architecture in Urcea, the so-called {{wp|Federal architecture|Caroline architecture}} and associated pseudo-Caroline and neo-Caroline designs, which used brick and significant symmetry in its design. This style emphasized a type of humility and virtue in foregoing particular arthictectural and material excess in favor of sacrifice for both God and the nation, as was typical of the national awakening undergone in [[Urcea]] in the 18th and 19th centuries. Many great structures from this period are still extant alongside the Rococo masterpieces due to rapid growth during the early industrial revolution in the mid-18th century. An offshoot of Neoclassical architecture, Caroline architecture typically uses plain surfaces with attenuated detail, usually isolated in panels, tablets, and friezes. It also had a flatter, smoother façade and rarely used pilasters. It was most influenced by the interpretation of the ancient architecture of [[Great Levantia]], which was growing in popularity in the mid-18th century due to increasing interest in archaeology. Many of Urcea's great architecutral achievements were inspired by or are those of [[Great Levantia]], such as the construction of arches, domes and similar structures. The subdued Caroline style was replaced during the [[Aedanicad]] with {{wp|Gothic Revival}} as well as a renewal of Rococo architecture, which was intended to show the new grandeur and strength of the nation by calling back to earlier architectural glories.
| | The '''First and Second Council of the Stenzan Democratic Congress''' serve as the Upper and Lower houses of Stenza's parliament respectively. The main difference between the two is the way its members are selected and their sizes, with the First Concils members being elected internally within their parties while the Second Councils members are elected publicly. |
| <gallery mode="packed">
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| File:Campania Caserta2 tango7174.jpg|Rococo artchitecture in Urcea is perhaps best exemplified by [[Electorsbourg]].
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| File:Nave - San Giorgio Maggiore - Venice 2016 (2).jpg|Following the excesses of Rococo, more subtle Palladian styles became common in public and civic use, such as seen here in the interior of Cálfeld's Cathedral Basilica of St. Anne.
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| File:Hamilton Hall (Salem).jpg|Palladianism evolved into the even further restrained style of Caroline architecture, as exemplified by Melisbal Guild Hall, emphasizing virtue and humility.
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| File:Palace Justice(1).jpg|Urcea's newfound cultural and political heights lead to the adoption of Gothic Revival styles, as seen at [[The Praetorium (Urceopolis)|Urceopolis's Praetorium]] after its 1863 renovation, replaced the more subdued Caroline style.
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| </gallery>
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| ==Literature==
| | The '''Second Council of the Stenzan Democratic Congress''' is the main day-to-day arm of the parliament, with daily sessions taking place to discuss government affairs within the republic. The Second Council is the first stop any bill has to go through, with the bill or decree being discussed in length until it is passes with over half of the 200 total votes. Stenza's varius ministers are members of the Second Council as well. Members of the Second Council are elected every election cycle through popular vote, with the parties presenting lists of candidates that can be chosen. |
| Urcean literature refers to the literature of [[Urcea]] as well as older literature written in the [[Lebhan language|Lebhan]] language. It may also refer to literature written by [[Urcean people|Urceans]] or Urcean emigres elsewhere, especially in [[Levantia]]. Urcean literature is considered to have begun in the 12th century when, in different regions of the Kingdom, the slowly standardizing Lebhan language started to be used in a literary manner. Urcean literature continued on past the adoption of [[Julian Ænglish]] as the national language.
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| The earliest literature which can be considered [[Urcean people|Urcean]] dates back to the centuries following the fall of [[Great Levantia]]. During this time, many iterative works of the Great Levantine period - especially [[Lebhan language]] treatments of stories of the [[Latin Heroic Age]] - were popular, as well as theological treatises dealing with the fall of Great Levantia. Much of Urcean literature through about 1700 focused on the nature of the divine and its relation to human life, and consequently some of the greatest works of {{wp|Christian devotional literature}}, including ''{{wp|The Imitation of Christ}}'' and ''{{wp|Dark Night of the Soul}}'' were written in [[Urcea]]. This focus on devotional literature set the foundation for later works in the Romantic period and specifically during the [[Aedanicad]], which is considered to be the golden age of Urcean literature. This period saw the increasing interest in establishing a uniquely Urcean literature style as opposed to the general cultural history and mores of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]], from which Urcea found itself increasingly estranged from during the [[Recess of the Julii]]. With the desire to produce uniquely Urcean literature and culture, a number of key new literary figures emerged, including novelists such as [[Téodóir Dostovenus]], who wrote extensively about human nature and the duality of man, especially in works such as ''[[The Brothers Kerkinius]]''. | | The Second Council is made up as follows: |
| | * [[Stenzan Liberal Front]] (SLF) - 142 seats (71.2% of votes) |
| | * [[Stenzan Labor Party]] (SLP) - 36 seats (17.9% of votes) |
| | * [[Polynesian Unity Front]] (PUF) - 12 seats (6.3% of votes) |
| | * [[Stenzan People's Party]] (SPP) - 9 seats (4.3% of votes) |
| | * [[Green Party]] (GP) - 1 seat (0.4% of votes) |
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| ===Levantine and Medieval literature===
| | The '''First Council of the Stenzan Democratic Congress''' is a the upper house of Stenza's parliament. Its members are elected from within the parties making up the parliament according to the amount of seats a party won, with internal guidelines existing to ensure reputation from across the country. Most members of the First Council also hold other offices either within or outside the government, such as secretaries of minesterial secretariats. This is possible due to the fact the First Council does not convene daily, with weekly sessions being augmented by impromptu sessions whenever special matters such as laws or bills need to be discussed. |
| ===Imperial and Renaissance literature===
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| ===Recess literature===
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| ====Frontier literature====
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| During the 19th century, an influential genre known as "Frontier literature" developed out of the experience of [[Ómestaderoi]] novelists, depicting stories both from lived experience as well as the imagined historical experience of life on the [[Urcean frontier]]. The foreground of plots in this genre explored human nature when isolated from the comforts of well-built societies and explored both the depths to which man can go as well as the furthest extents of deprivation that man can survive. In the background of these plots, the genre in many cases followed an often-copied procedural style of storytelling following the trail of the ''Via Antonina'', whose route and locations were well known to most contemporary Urceans. While many stories include the typical hallmarks of the journey, some authors would imbue additional meaning to the various locations along the way, drawing parallels to the {{wp|Stations of the Cross}}. Some authors would subvert the route entirely, taking their characters to locations out of order or even in reverse as a way of imparting significance to certain events to the reader.
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| ====The Great Novel====
| | The First Council is made up as follows: |
| During the [[Recess of the Julii]] period, the concept of the Great Novel was coined by scholars and critics. The Great Novel is a canonical novel that is thought to embody the essence of [[Urcea]], generally written by a [[Urcean people|Urcean]] and dealing in some way with the question of Urcea's national character. While the concept originated as a method of categorization, during the mid-19th century a preponderance of great works of Urcean literature were written, many of them attempting to become the quintessential Great Novel which truly explored the depths of Urcean identity and its relationship to the world through fiction.
| | * [[Stenzan Liberal Front]] (SLF) - 71 seats (71.2% of votes) |
| | * [[Stenzan Labor Party]] (SLP) - 18 seats (17.9% of votes) |
| | * [[Polynesian Unity Front]] (PUF) - 6 seats (6.3% of votes) |
| | * [[Stenzan People's Party]] (SPP) - 5 seats (4.3% of votes) |
| | * [[Green Party]] (GP) - 0 seat (0.4% of votes) |
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| ===Restoration literature=== | | == Ministries == |
| ===War literature===
| | Stenza's government is divided into various ministries that manage day to day affairs within the government, with each ministry having secretariats (sub-ministries) to handle more specific affairs. All Stenzan ministers combined make up the President's Cabinet, which meets with the President on a regular basis. Ministers are also part of the Second Council, while their secretaries may serve in the First Council. |
| ===Post-war literature===
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| ===Contemporary literature===
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| ===Regional & Vernacular literatures===
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| ====Caenish literature====
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| ====Gassavelian literature====
| | Stenza's ministries are: |
| ====Highlands literature====
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| ==Theater== | | {| class="wikitable" |
| Theater in Urcea is based in the [[Occidental]] tradition and did not take on a unique dramatic identity until the 17th century, coinciding with the rise of Urcean theater music. Its history prior to the 17th century is somewhat obscured in the historical record, though most histories have included theater as a "minor" form of entertainment; much of theater in Urcea until that time was largely similar to trends throughout the rest of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]]. When it was focused on, pre-17th century Urcean theater is typically presented as having represented many of the classics of antiquity, though considerable scholarly evidence in the 2020s suggested that the classic theatrical presentations of [[Great Levantia]] survived in greatly modified and adapted forms. Consequently, many early Urcean theatrical productions depicting events of the [[Great Interregnum]] and other events are now considered to be ahistorical, adapting earlier stories by placing them within the context of later historical events.
| | !Ministry |
| ===Plays=== | | !Secretariat |
| Spoken word plays are considered the primary form of theater entertainment in Urcea, both historically and presently. The emphasis on spoken word theater is a cultural tradition which originates as far back as [[Great Levantia]]. In Great Levantine society, plays were performed at religious festivals and other major events, and were often based on stories from mythology or history. This tradition continued on from its fall, and historians record that a play regarding the history of Great Levantia and its restoration was performed for [[Conchobar I, Emperor of the Levantines|Emperor Conchobar I]] upon his entrance to [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] and coronation as first Levantine Emperor in the 750s.
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| | | rowspan="4" |'''Ministry of General Affairs''' |
| | |Secretariat of the President's Office |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Parliamentary Affairs |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Information |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of General Government Affairs |
| | |- |
| | | rowspan="4" |'''Ministry of Internal Affairs''' |
| | |Secretariat of Domestic Policy |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Regional Governance |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Elections |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of the Internal Forces |
| | |- |
| | | rowspan="4" |'''Ministry of Foreign Affairs''' |
| | |Secretariat of Foreign Relations |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Immigration |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Trade |
| | |- |
| | |[[Stenzan Intelligence Community|Secretariat of Foreign Intelligence]] |
| | |- |
| | | rowspan="4" |'''Ministry of Defense''' |
| | |[[Stenzan Armed Forces]] |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Defense Policy |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Humanitarian Aid |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Veterans and Reserve Affairs |
| | |- |
| | | rowspan="4" |'''Ministry of Social Affairs''' |
| | |Secretariat of Employment Affairs |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Union affairs |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Social Welfare |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Labor Law |
| | |- |
| | | rowspan="5" |'''Ministry of Education, Culture and Science''' |
| | |Secretariat of Education |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Scientific Affairs |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Modern Culture |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Polynesian Affairs and Preservation |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Media |
| | |- |
| | | rowspan="3" |'''Ministry of Finance''' |
| | |Secretariat of Economic Policy |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Taxation |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Government Budgeting |
| | |- |
| | | rowspan="4" |'''Ministry of Justice''' |
| | |Secretariat of the Courts |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of the State Attorney |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Law Enforcement |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Emergency Management |
| | |- |
| | | rowspan="5" |'''Ministry of Health''' |
| | |Secretariat of Healthcare |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Healthcare Policy, Pharmaceuticals and Insurance (HPPI) |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Dietary Affairs |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Sports |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Emergency Services |
| | |- |
| | | rowspan="5" |'''Ministry of Education, Culture and Science''' |
| | |Secretariat of Education |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Scientific Affairs |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Modern Culture |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Polynesian Affairs and Preservation |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Media |
| | |- |
| | | rowspan="4" |'''Ministry of Industrial Affairs''' |
| | |Secretariat of Agriculture |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Fisheries |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Industry |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Oil, Gas and Resources (OGR) |
| | |- |
| | | rowspan="8" |'''Ministry of Infrastructure''' |
| | |Secretariat of Roads |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Railways |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Maritime Affairs |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Aviation Affairs |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Energy Affairs |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Water Affairs |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Public Works |
| | |- |
| | |Secretariat of Planning |
| | |- |
| | |} |
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| ===Musicals=== | | == Locations == |
| {{Wp|Musical theatre|Musical theater}} as the genre is presently understood was not historically present in Urcea and has limited popularity in contemporary culture. Unlike [[Ancient Istroya]]n theater, ancient [[Great Levantia|Great Levantine]] theater was primarily spoken word and did not include musical songs as part of the character performances. Music did likely appear in these ancient productions but only as a way to create mood and setting for the audience. While Urcea did develop a very strong [[Music in Urcea|musical tradition]], historians believe that medieval and renaissance era performers and their patrons had a different conception of "the arts", and generally regarded music as totally separate from staged theatrical performance. During the 17th and 18th centuries, plays would be influenced by [[#Opera|opera]] and occasionally feature a song sung by a main character, but these performances were not understood to be in the "sung voice" of characters and instead were presented as a character singing within a plot. The "lead song" of this era would often be a method for an actor to display their vocal range, and would almost always be popular songs of the day rather than anything directly related to the plot. Hybridization of plays and opera form were attempted but did not achieve widespread popularity. In contemporary society, musicals are considered to be the first step of a performer in finding their speciality and are usually performed by school aged children; musicals are thought to give performers the ability to determine if they have operatic capability while also giving them the ability to train on vernacular language plots used in plays.
| | Stenza's president resides in the '''Presidential House''', an old mansion in the outskirts of [[Rakahanga]]. The house, and its surrounding compound, is heavily defended and outfitted to act as a living quarters and operating office for both Stenza's President and Vice President. The Vice-President lives in a modern villa adjacent to the Presidential House, called the '''Vice-Presidential Home'''. |
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| ===Ballet===
| | The '''Stenzan Democratic Congress''' is housed in the seat of [[Corumm]]'s old Colonial government in Rakahanga, called the '''Hall of the Stenzan Democratic Congress''' This central building, surrounded by a modern park, houses the Second Council on its ground floor and the First Council on its upper floor, with various offices for councilmembers filling the rest of the building and the basement beneath it. |
| Ballet is popular among limited high society circles, especially [[The Dispossessed]], in and around [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]]. The form is not native to Urcea. It was introduced to the country in 1852 by a group of traveling dancers from [[Burgundie]]. These dancers were well-trained in the classical ballet tradition and were invited to perform in Urcea's major cities, where they attracted the attention of the country's social and political elite, eventually including a performance to [[Apostolic King of Urcea|King]] [[Aedanicus VIII]] in October 1852. As interest in ballet grew, some of these dancers decided to stay in Urcea and began teaching the art form to local students. Over time, ballet academies were established in the major cities and the art form became more widespread, although it remains primarily popular among the upper classes. Ballet is primarily informed in the large cities of [[The Valley (Urcea)|the Valley]] and in the city of [[Cana]] but is mostly unknown in the peripheral parts of the country.
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| ===Opera===
| | Stenza's ministries are housed in various building across the capital city, with its secretariats being housed in either the capital or other significant cities. Various minesterial sub-offices sprawl the country. |
| [[File:Staatsoper 'Open House' 20090524 auditory view from stage a.jpg|thumb|right|200px|View from the stage of the Aedanhouse in Urceopolis, Urcea's most prestigious opera house.]]
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| Urcea's operatic roots date back to the the high medieval period, when operatic-like performances were performed by traveling troupes who would visit cities and towns across the [[Holy Levantine Empire]], performing in local venues such as town squares and churches. Unlike the traveling bards of the day, these groups would often perform in the {{wp|Ecclesiastical Latin}} of the [[Catholic Church]], setting them apart by their avoidance of the vernacular. Opera as a formal theater style was first performed in the Duchy of [[Verecundia]] in [[1597]]. As cities grew and the wealth of the Empire increased in the recovery period of the devastation of the [[Great Confessional War]], dedicated opera houses began to be constructed in major cities. [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]]'s first opera house, the ''Palace of Sound'', was built in the mid 17th century.
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| Over time, opera in Urcea developed its own distinct character and became known for its grand, ornate productions featuring large casts and opulent costumes and sets. The country's strong Catholic heritage also influenced the development of opera in Urcea, with many operas featuring religious themes and subject matter. One of the most famous opera composers from Urcea is Josph Bestenach, who composed over 30 operas during his lifetime. His most famous work, "''The Saint's Triumph''", premiered in 1698 and remains one of the most performed operas in the country to this day.
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| Today, opera remains an important part of Urcean culture, with many cities and towns across the country boasting their own opera houses and regular performances. The [[Urceopolis_(City)#Via_Corona|Aedanhouse in Urceopolis]] is considered one of the finest opera houses in the world, and regularly features productions by both local and international opera companies.
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| Stenzan Government |
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| Established | 1790 (1790) |
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| State | Arcerion |
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| Leader | President (Iakopo Hsin)
Vice-President (Filemu Lung)
First Secretary of the First Council (Jiaoping Xham)
First Secretary of the Second Council (Fu'a Pinu) |
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| Main organ | Stenzan Democratic Congress
First Council of the Stenzan Democratic Congress
Second Council of the Stenzan Democratic Congress |
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| Ministries | Yep |
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| Responsible to | Office of the President |
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| Headquarters | Hall of the Stenzan Democratic Congress, Rakahanga |
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| Website | government.st |
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The Stenzan Government is the main legislative body of the Australis nation of Stenza. Stenza is a Federal presidential constitutional republic, with president Iakopo Hsin currently holding the office. The Stenzan president is aided by the Democratic Congress, a legislative body that consists of both an upper and lower house. The houses are referred to as the First and Second Council of the Stenzan Democratic Congress respectively, with new laws having to pass through the second house before going through the first. The president still has to sign off on anything passing the houses, and reserves the constitutional right to veto bills and sign into effect emergency bills that are not approved by the congress. The Upper Council consists of 100 seats, while the lower has 200.
Stenza's government is highly centralized, with most of the previous totalitarian systems still in place. Regional governments have little autonomy beyond purely regional matters, and the federal government is strongly present throughout the country thanks to regional offices. A system of ministries that in itself oversee secretariats handle the day to day affairs of Stenza's government, with the various ministers being part of the President's Cabinet, represented in the Second Council.
History
Presidency and Elections
The Office of the Stenzan President is Stenza's highest executive office. Stenza's president generally works with the Stenzan Democratic Congress, being allowed to sit in on sessions of both councils and discuss proposed bills while having final say in signing off bills already passed by both councils. The president has the constitutional power to veto proposed laws, acts and bills whenever they please to do so, and are able to sign executive orders and emergency bills into effect without consulting the parliament first. Stenzan presidents serve four year terms, with no set term limit.
The Stenzan Vice-President serves as a senior advisor to the president under normal circumstances, usually sitting in on council sessions so the president does not have to. The Vice-President is also formally the First Secretary of the Stenzan Democratic Congress, senior to the first secretaries of either council. The Stenzan Vice-President automatically assumes the Presidential office should the Stenzan president become incapacitated, and the Stenzan President is allowed to delegate powers to the Vice-President as they see fit using executive orders for any length of time.
Both president and Democratic Congress members are elected every 4 years, with every party presenting its own Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates. Elections happen in September while the new government assumes power on January 1st. The latest elections were in 2027, with sitting president Iakopo Hsin winning a landslide victory at 71.2% of the total votes. He started his second term on January 1st, 2028.
First and Second Council of the Stenzan Democratic Congress
The First and Second Council of the Stenzan Democratic Congress serve as the Upper and Lower houses of Stenza's parliament respectively. The main difference between the two is the way its members are selected and their sizes, with the First Concils members being elected internally within their parties while the Second Councils members are elected publicly.
The Second Council of the Stenzan Democratic Congress is the main day-to-day arm of the parliament, with daily sessions taking place to discuss government affairs within the republic. The Second Council is the first stop any bill has to go through, with the bill or decree being discussed in length until it is passes with over half of the 200 total votes. Stenza's varius ministers are members of the Second Council as well. Members of the Second Council are elected every election cycle through popular vote, with the parties presenting lists of candidates that can be chosen.
The Second Council is made up as follows:
The First Council of the Stenzan Democratic Congress is a the upper house of Stenza's parliament. Its members are elected from within the parties making up the parliament according to the amount of seats a party won, with internal guidelines existing to ensure reputation from across the country. Most members of the First Council also hold other offices either within or outside the government, such as secretaries of minesterial secretariats. This is possible due to the fact the First Council does not convene daily, with weekly sessions being augmented by impromptu sessions whenever special matters such as laws or bills need to be discussed.
The First Council is made up as follows:
Ministries
Stenza's government is divided into various ministries that manage day to day affairs within the government, with each ministry having secretariats (sub-ministries) to handle more specific affairs. All Stenzan ministers combined make up the President's Cabinet, which meets with the President on a regular basis. Ministers are also part of the Second Council, while their secretaries may serve in the First Council.
Stenza's ministries are:
| Ministry
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Secretariat
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| Ministry of General Affairs
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Secretariat of the President's Office
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| Secretariat of Parliamentary Affairs
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| Secretariat of Information
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| Secretariat of General Government Affairs
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| Ministry of Internal Affairs
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Secretariat of Domestic Policy
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| Secretariat of Regional Governance
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| Secretariat of Elections
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| Secretariat of the Internal Forces
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| Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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Secretariat of Foreign Relations
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| Secretariat of Immigration
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| Secretariat of Trade
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| Secretariat of Foreign Intelligence
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| Ministry of Defense
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Stenzan Armed Forces
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| Secretariat of Defense Policy
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| Secretariat of Humanitarian Aid
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| Secretariat of Veterans and Reserve Affairs
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| Ministry of Social Affairs
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Secretariat of Employment Affairs
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| Secretariat of Union affairs
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| Secretariat of Social Welfare
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| Secretariat of Labor Law
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| Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
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Secretariat of Education
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| Secretariat of Scientific Affairs
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| Secretariat of Modern Culture
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| Secretariat of Polynesian Affairs and Preservation
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| Secretariat of Media
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| Ministry of Finance
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Secretariat of Economic Policy
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| Secretariat of Taxation
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| Secretariat of Government Budgeting
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| Ministry of Justice
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Secretariat of the Courts
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| Secretariat of the State Attorney
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| Secretariat of Law Enforcement
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| Secretariat of Emergency Management
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| Ministry of Health
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Secretariat of Healthcare
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| Secretariat of Healthcare Policy, Pharmaceuticals and Insurance (HPPI)
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| Secretariat of Dietary Affairs
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| Secretariat of Sports
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| Secretariat of Emergency Services
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| Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
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Secretariat of Education
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| Secretariat of Scientific Affairs
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| Secretariat of Modern Culture
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| Secretariat of Polynesian Affairs and Preservation
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| Secretariat of Media
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| Ministry of Industrial Affairs
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Secretariat of Agriculture
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| Secretariat of Fisheries
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| Secretariat of Industry
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| Secretariat of Oil, Gas and Resources (OGR)
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| Ministry of Infrastructure
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Secretariat of Roads
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| Secretariat of Railways
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| Secretariat of Maritime Affairs
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| Secretariat of Aviation Affairs
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| Secretariat of Energy Affairs
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| Secretariat of Water Affairs
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| Secretariat of Public Works
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| Secretariat of Planning
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Locations
Stenza's president resides in the Presidential House, an old mansion in the outskirts of Rakahanga. The house, and its surrounding compound, is heavily defended and outfitted to act as a living quarters and operating office for both Stenza's President and Vice President. The Vice-President lives in a modern villa adjacent to the Presidential House, called the Vice-Presidential Home.
The Stenzan Democratic Congress is housed in the seat of Corumm's old Colonial government in Rakahanga, called the Hall of the Stenzan Democratic Congress This central building, surrounded by a modern park, houses the Second Council on its ground floor and the First Council on its upper floor, with various offices for councilmembers filling the rest of the building and the basement beneath it.
Stenza's ministries are housed in various building across the capital city, with its secretariats being housed in either the capital or other significant cities. Various minesterial sub-offices sprawl the country.
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