Social Democratic Confederation

Social Democratic Confederation
Flag
Motto: Until the Final Victory
Anthem: Hymn of 1817
Map of Social Democratic Confederation Map of Social Democratic Confederation
Capital	Tarentum
Official languages	Tarentine
Government	Unitary presidential constitutional republic
• President	Radomir Aemilianus
Legislature	Senate
Population
• Estimate	22,610,000 (2021)
• 2006 census	22,500,000
GDP (PPP)	2006 estimate
• Per capita	35,000
Currency	Confederate Dnari (CFD)
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	left

The Social Democratic Confederation (S.D.C. or SDC) is a country in Occidental Europa on Eurth. It has a population of 22.5 million people. The national capital is Tarentum.

Geography

Neighbours: Adaptus (N), Suverina (E+S) Amnalos Sea (SW), Great Anglia (W), Ram Sea (NW).

Administrative division are 62 provinces:

1. Abelra
2. Abydon
3. Achada
4. Acirria
5. Antim
6. Antioch
7. Argens
8. Ashegon
9. Ashur
10. Belacta
11. Bylbous
12. Byzanphal
13. Campus Getae
14. Campus Corme
15. Croton
16. Cordon
17. Dobreax
18. Eirda
19. Eliphai
20. Efesus
21. Faerros
22. Gidelum
23. Graz't
24. Heliosa
25. Heraklei
26. Hieraconpoli
27. Hispater
28. Hyderbad
29. Iudum
30. Ivavum
31. Kish
32. Knossos
33. Laghah
34. Luteria
35. Lyss
36. Misenas
37. Neipoli
38. Nineven
39. Niphae
40. Onthroc
41. Ozer
42. Pagaradon
43. Pazae
44. Persalos
45. Phaerlos
46. Phaus
47. Phel-Ramad
48. Phri
49. Porson
50. Ravenna
51. Reda
52. Saedon
53. Samaron
54. Shura
55. Sra
56. Sua
57. Tarentum
58. Temopos
59. Thermon
60. Tirea
61. Vaie
62. Yurok

Major cities: Tarentum (capitol), Croton (sister city to Cuyr), Cuyr (sister city to Croton), Ivavum (Confederate scilicon valley), Campus Getae (strategic northern port), Hyderbad (westernmost major city), Thermon (secessionist loony-bin, central SDC), Phaerlos (Paniscism's Mecca of sorts).

History

(History tied into the Aroman Empire. What happens next? Preceeded by an Aristocratic Confederation.)

In 1879, during the great upheaval against the Tarent Empire (coming soon to a history thread near you), all the old city-states Tarentum had conquered two millennia ago were resurrected in the form of provinces, each of which have votes by population in the Senate, and were allowed to write their own provincial constitutions (something similar to the state-federal system in the US). There are also two territories under Confederate jurisdiction, which lack the population needed to have provincial votes in the Senate, so each territory only gets a big old fashioned group vote.

Ongoing: 2021 Anglian War.

Politics

Form of Government: "Grass-roots" (popular) Democracy

Government Type: Federalist, with popular inititive and referendum

Separation of Powers: Executive, Legislative, Judiciary, Syndicary

Executive

President Radomir Aemilianus.

The Confederacy is lead by the President, who is directly elected by universal sufferage to a four year term. Head of State is President Radomir Aemilianus who also serves as the Head of Government. The President presides over several agencies and administrations which enfore legislation and ensure rights of citizens are protected. The chief executive has many responsibilities. The President appoints personnel — including ambassadors, executive staff, and members of various boards and commissions — to more than 3,000 positions; oversees the many components of the executive branch of government; and proposes legislation to The Senate — including the yearly federal budget. The President also directs foreign policy, commands the armed forces, negotiates and signs treaties, and serves as a symbol of the nation and a head of state with ceremonial duties.

There are 12 departments of the executive branch. The heads of these departments, called secretaries, make up the Cabinet, a body that advises the President on matters of policy and government administration. There are also more than 140 executive agencies. The difference between departments and executive agencies is both historical and functional. Departments, many of which were created in the 19th century, are authorized by The Senate; their chiefs sit in the Cabinet, and they often deal with large policy issues. Executive agencies, on the other hand, are usually designed to carry out specific tasks. Most executive agencies are contained within departments, as one part of a larger organization. However, a few executive agencies, such as the National Security Agency (NSA), are independant of any Department.

1. Department of Agriculture
2. Department of Commerce
3. Department of Defense
4. Department of Education
5. Department of Energy
6. Department of Foregin Affairs
7. Department of Health
8. Department of Justice
9. Department of Labor
10. Department of State
11. Department of Transportation
12. Department of the Treasury
13. Office of Management and Budget
14. Office of Administration
15. Office of Environmental Quality
16. Office of Science and Technology
17. Office of Economic Progress

Legislative

House of the Senate.

The Senate is the unicameral legislative body of the Confederacy. The Senate is made up of representatives, with two Senators from each of 62 provinces, elected every two years. The framers of SDC intended that the Senatorial districts, which are substantially smaller units of representation than a province, would assure that all interests in the nation would be adequately represented. Thus these units reflect the geographic, social, and economic diversity of the Confederate peoples. Senators work on various committees which oversee the function and policy of government in domestic and foreign arenas. The people's role in the Senate is one of the fundamental principals of SDC. Initiatives are on of the most popular ways in which the proletariat involves itself in the function of it's government. One type of initiative, the popular initiative, is submitted to the Senate after a petition of one-third the population had been signed. Once submitted to the Senate, the proposition is debated, usually at great length, and voted on. Constitutionally, the Senate may not adjorn the Senatorial Session with a popular initiative that has not been voted on. The President may not veto a popular bill, and must sign it if passed by the Senate. If a significantly popular bill is disapproved by the Senate, the people may sign another petition of one-half the population demanding the downed bill be put to a referendum. A bill referendum is then voted on by the populace during the next national election, in which the referendum is placed on all ballots and voted on by the people. When a bill referendum is approved by the people, it is enacted in the next Senatorial Session and put into law. Initiatives and referendum have almost limitless bounds, Presidents can be impeached, wars ended, laws overturned, and treaties nullified by the people directly in this manner. The National Mass Organizations can have major effects on the process. Constantly organizing local meetings and delegations, the people within the NMO's are usually the greatest force behind popular initiatives. The national organizations, being entirely bottom-up and able to mobilize large numbers of people, have typically been the most effective way in which initiatives are put before the Senate.

The Senate is the legislative branch of the government. The Constitution assigns "all legislative power" to the Senate. The Senate is composed of 124 members, two each from the 62 provinces, who serve six-year terms. The internal organization of the Senate is based on a system of committees and subcommittees. All representatives serve on several committees, and these committees consider all legislation before it is presented to the Senate as a whole. The committees work to transform ideas into detailed, complex bills. Among the most important powers of the people in their government is their right to initiative and referendum.

Initiatives in the Confederation is the procedure for the indoctrination of certain laws or legislative action (such as a Senatorial investigation) by popular demand. If the petition contains the minimum number of valid signatures as prescribed by law, the government must submit the proposed law directly to the Senate for a vote. If the bill is approved by the Senate, it is enacted into law. If it fails the Senate, it is sumbitted directly to the electorate for approval. If a majority of the population votes in favor, the bill is enacted into law.

If one-third of the population signs referendum for certain legislation, the bill is offered to the population for approval. If the law is re-approved by a majority of the population, if law remains enacted. If it fails a popular vote, the law is repealed.

Judiciary

Confederate Supreme Court in Tarentum.

Judicial authority in The Confederation is vested in a supreme court, a high court, a court of criminal appeal, a central criminal court, circuit courts, and district courts. The supreme court is the court of final appeal and may also determine the constitutionality of bills and laws. Judges are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the government. The judiciary is divided along 4 levels: Confederate Supreme Court, Provincial Supreme Courts, District Courts, Local/City Courts.

Syndicative

The Market Committee is the Syndicative branch of the Confederate government. It is headed by a Chairman and 15 other members of the Committee. These individuals are responisble for enforcing market discipline among corporations, setting limits to production, regulating the money supply and setting the base wage. The Committee's most important function is to ensure industrial democracy for the workers. Market Committee members are appointed by the President, with Senatorial approval. The Chairman is internally elected to lead the Committee by it's members. Committee Members are accountable to the people via the Senate, which holds the power to dismiss and instate politicians on the Committee.

Foreign relations

In addition to authority as head of the many executive departments and agencies, the president also has primary responsibility for making foreign policy. The Constitution established the president as commander of the armed forces and gave the president the authority to make treaties — with the Advice and Consent — of The Senate. As a result, both The Senate and the courts have generally supported energetic presidential action in the area of foreign policy. The president has the power to recognize new governments, to attend summit meetings with the heads of other nations, and to make executive agreements with foreign governments. Executive agreements have the force of law, but unlike treaties, they do not require Senatorial approval.

Military

Soldiers reinforcing border bridges during the 2021 Anglian War.

In 2003 over 95 percent of new enlistees in the Army were high school graduates. Some joined the Army to take advantage of college scholarships funded in part by the Army after their term of service, but many others joined to serve their country for longer periods. Recruiting offices throughout the country help persuade young people to consider a career in the military. After enlistment, new soldiers are sent to basic soldier training, which is called boot camp because new recruits were once known as boots. After basic training, soldiers train in their military occupational specialty (MOS) and are assigned to a unit. Enlistment generally lasts from between three to six years, after which soldiers can reenlist or leave the Army. When not at war soldiers spend most of their time preparing for war. From the moment a soldier enters the service, constant attention is paid to physical fitness. Physical training (PT) is the foundation for preparing soldiers for the stresses likely to be encountered in battle. Physical training includes running, group exercises, and sports and other physical fitness events.

At their home military bases, soldiers spend most days training for wartime missions. This regime includes training on combat skills in classrooms, in nearby training grounds, and at special sites where combat equipment is stored. Training exercises may last a few days or several weeks. Units routinely go to other military bases or the combat training centers in Croton, Ivavium, or Treir to practice combat skills in different settings. Soldiers concentrate on proficiency at operating their weapons and on coordinating their efforts with the squad, platoon, and company. In addition to field training, officers and enlisted soldiers spend considerable time in the classroom. Enlisted soldiers attend a series of schools as they move up the ranks. Immediately after their commission, officers attend a training course in their branch of the Army. They take an advanced course in their branch specialty five years later. During deployments, whether for training or actual fighting, soldiers usually live in tents or in their vehicles. In the field they usually eat prepackaged rations called meals ready to eat (MRE). The Army also has contracted with private companies to provide hot meals to soldiers who are in the field or deployed to foreign countries. Most units also have cooks who make one or two hot meals a day. To assist with meal cleanup, some junior soldiers (privates or specialists) are occasionally assigned to pot scrubbing and other time-consuming chores. Most soldiers dislike this assignment, which is sometimes called the kitchen patrol, or KP duty. At permanent bases civilian employees do this work.

Economy

The economic theory of SDC is "...based on the principles of Federalism, on free combination from below upwards, putting the right of self-determination of every member above everything else and recognising only the organic agreement of all on the basis of like interests and common convictions." The most notable difference in the Confederate economy from those of other nations is the aspect of Industrial Democracy. Industrial Democracy means the right of workers to elect their CEOs and other upper-managment within their respective companies. Each business has it's own 'constitution' that explains the rights of workers within speicifc business, as well as a national worker's rights bill, which is enforced by the Market Committee.

Economic activity

GDP by economic activity

  Primary sector (4%)

  Secondary sector (67%)

  Tertiary sector (25%)

Limits on production are set by the Market Committee. These limits are meant to prevent the market from flooding, there-by preventing supply from increasing and a respective drop in demand, having an overall effect of maintaining prices and wages, ensuring there is always enough, and never too much.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing account for less than 4 percent of the GDP. Our chief agricultural areas are located on the low, fertile coastal plains and basins. Corn and wheat are the principal food crops. Other major crops include sweet potatoes, citrus fruits, sugarcane, watermelons, pineapples, bananas, peanuts, mushrooms, tea, asparagus, and soybeans. Pigs, chickens, ducks, cattle, and goats are among the livestock raised. Approximately 55 percent of the land is forested. The main timbers are oak, cedar, hemlock, bamboo, and rattan. Onshore and deep-sea fishing yield about 80 percent of the total catch; the remainder comes from along the coast and from cultivated ponds. Mackerel and tuna are the leading marine species caught.

Manufacturing employs about one-third of the nation's workers and accounts for 67 percent of annual GDP. In 2006 the total value added by manufacturing was $21 trillion. Value added is the price of finished goods minus the cost of the materials used to make them. Manufacturing is a key component in the Confederate economy. Almost everything is manufactured here, among the most produced goods are automobiles, heavy machinery, Military gear and equipment, canned and processed foods, chemicals, petrochemicals, electrical and electronic machinery, basic metals, paper products, and nonmetallic mineral products.

Services account for about 25 percent of the GDP. The most important services are finance, insurance, and business services. Next in importance are wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels, followed by government services.

Energy

Nuclear power station outside Tarentum.

More than 80 percent of the nation's energy production is created domestically. Most power is supplied by nuclear power, which is followed by electromagnetic wave emmission and solar power, and hydro-electric plants. Petrol is used only in vehicles, but strict transport laws keep pollution from automobiles at a low.

Transport

The Confederation has a well-developed road and rail network. The majority of railroads and highways are concentrated along the western coast, plains, and basins of the nation, where the most people live. The principal ports are Croton, Appollinia, Larrissa, and Suao. Bruti International Airport near Tarentum is The Confederation's largest airport, and southern Croton (Province) also has an international airport at Barius City.

Media

In the early 1990s Confederation had more than 175 radio stations. The three major television networks are Tarent Television Enterprise (TTE), Confederate Television Company (CTC), and Confederate Television System (CTS). The Confederation also has a noncommercial station, Public Television. Cable television offers additional programming. There are more than 200 newspapers and more than 410 magazines published in The Confederacy.

Trade

In 2006 the national exports totaled $9.6 trillion; imports cost $8.8 trillion. Exports consistently exceed imports, giving The Confederation one of the region's largest trade surpluses. The major exports are machinery, electrical and electronic products, automoblies, and agriculture based machinery. The largest export trading partner is Suverina, followed by Tagmatium, Orioni, Akiiryu, Ide Jima, and Deltannia. More than 20 percent of exports are agricultural and industrial raw materials. Miiros supplies the majority of imports, followed closely by Orioni.

Major export include: Bauxite (for production of aluminum); Chromite (for production of Chrome); Cinnabar (for production of mercury); Copper; Gold; Hematite (for low-cost jewlery); Iron; Magnetite; Silver and other Mineral Ores; Oak; Cedar; Hemlock; Bamboo; Rattan and other trees for lumber. Industrial Machinery includes: Appliances; Auto; Clothing; Electronics; Fuel Processing; Processed Food (Manufacturing Equipment). Foods include: Apples; Bananas; Beats; Beef-based Products; Black-Eyed Peas; Broccoli; Brussels sprouts; Cabbage; Cantolopes; Carrots; Cauliflower; Corn; Celery; Cherries; Cucumbers; Eggplants; Garlic; Lima Beans; Melons; Mustards; Onions; Oranges; Peanuts; Potatoes; Pumpkins; Radishes; Rhubarb; Squash; Spinach; Wheat.

Currency

The Confederation's basic unit of currency is the Dnari (1 Confederate Dnari = NS$1.66 July 17, 2006). The bank of issue is the Bank of Tarentum. While The Confederation has permitted private banking since the 1990s, most banks remain government owned or controlled.

Employment

Workers in a corporation elect upper-management (ie CEO) and retain the power to demand change in the company through petitions and initiatives. Right to strike protected by law. Workers keep portion of profits from the goods they produce as shareholders have been stripped of right to profits. Sophisticated Wage-Profit Complex ensures wages are fair and responisble for all workers and management. Economic fields are diversified and competition is a factor in business.

Shareholding has been outlawed in the Confederation. All profits from a given business are shared fairly (but not evenly) with it's workers and managers. As a result, Confederates enjoy one of the highest average incomes in the region, as well as having one of the most productive and economically stable systems. Profits are shared through a complex system of mathematical functions and settings, called the PSW system.

• "P" stands for 'position'. In every syndicalized business, each rank is assigned a certain numerical value, ranging 1 - 10. The entry-level position earns a '1', while the most important positions earn a '10' (if workers consent). There can be hundreds of ranks and posisitons in a business, so the interval between ranks is often less than one (1, 1.12, 1.24...).
• "S" stands for serive. S points are recorded by the Market Committtee for each worker. For every year a worker is epmloyed in national businesses, he earns part of a point (1st year, 1; 2nd year, 1.3...). This aspect of the wage system ensures that those who have worked the longest, who may not be upper-managers, are given a higher and fairer wage.
• Finally, "W" represents the base wage. This is a number set by the Market Committee, which is meant to raise or lower wages with respect to decisions made by the Committee (deflation, for example).

Each of these factors is miltiplied together to calculate a worker's hourly pay. For example; one who is a mid-level manager, who has worked 20 years for a company, while the base wage is 2.5, would calculate his wage by taking his position rate (2.45) and multiplying it by his serivice rate (5) and the base rate (2.5).

Demographics

(Ethnic groups. Language. Religion. Health. Education.)

Ethnic groups

Ethnicities: (Too many to mention) Domestic: 64% Foreigner: 36%

Language

Tarentine language (Latinized English).

Religion

Religions: No state religion, all religions tolerated

Education

State education is required from grades 1 through 8. While in state schools, children are taught basic skills (math, reading, wiriting, history). After graduation, children choose their carreers, from there they are inducted into colleges that focus on training and preparing students for their coming jobs with that company. Education is free for all, and anyone may continue their education for as long as they like.