The Rhinelandes

The Empire of the Rhinelandes The Rhinelandes
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: "In der einheit stehen wir"
Anthem: God Save the Emperor
Location of the Rhinelandes (dark green) in LKE (major nations in light green)
Capital	Kaiserstadt
Official languages	English, German
Recognised national languages	English, German
Ethnic groups (2018)	86.5% White, 6.4% Black, 3.9% Asian, 5.2% Other
Demonym(s)	Imperial, Rhiner
Government	Federal, Parliamentary, Constitutional Monarchy
• Emperor	Wilhelm IV
• Crown Prince	Prince Frederick
• Chancellor	Lutz Kleiber
• Senate Speaker	Erna Leitner
• Bundestag President	Lennart Roth
• Lord Chief Justice	Irene Hagel
Federal, Parliamentaray, Constitutional Monarchy
• Acts of Confederation	5th October 1759
• The Imperial Declaration	14th June 1803
• Imperial Constitution enforced	15th February 1859
Population
• 2020 estimate	94,216,864
• 2018 census	92,167,179
HDI	0.914 very high
Currency	Frank ($)
Time zone	CRT (Central Rhinelandes Time)
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+18

The Empire of the Rhinelandess, commonly called the Empire or the Rhinelandes, is a country consisting of 16 states (principalities), a Federal District of the Capitol and several free imperial cities (self-governing autonomous cities). With an estimated population of over 94 million, the Rhinelandes is one of the most populous countries in the region. The capital, and largest city, of Kaiserstadt is located in the Federal District of the Capitol.

[brief history overview]

Ever since Confederation in 1759, the Empire has been a military, technological and industrial global power. A highly developed country, The Rhinelandes is one of the region's largest economies and is a hub for business and trade with the Kaiserstadt financial district being the national hub for business and trade.

Etymology

The name 'the Rhinelandes' comes from the geographical area over which the nation resides. The river Rhine runs through the entire country and has been a major resource for the nations that resided in the area prior to confederation. The river is also a centre for the local culture with the prior-confederation nations that residing along the path of the river having a similar culture to one another. Due to the significance of the river economically and culturally, upon confederation, the name of the Rhinelandes was chosen to show the equality of all the new states that made up the confederacy.

After the Imperial Declaration in 1803, the Confederacy became the Empire and from that point, the name of 'the Rhinelandes' fell out of favour with many of the citizenry. Later generations became more dedicated to the Rhinelandes imperial ambitions and the sense of Empire and Imperial prospects quickly dominated the lives of the people. By 1859, when the new Imperial Constitution came into effect, the formal classification of the Rhinelandes was changed from a confederacy to an Empire, which also reflected its more federal rather than confederate political structure. Since 1859, the common way to refer to the nation is as 'the Empire'.

The correct term for a citizen of the Rhinelandes is an "Imperial" or a "Rhiner".

Geography

The Empire of the Rhinelandes is bordered to the north by the Arcadian Empire. To the east and south, the Empire is bordered by minor states over which the Rhinelandes has varying influence.

The highest elevation in the Rhinelandes is Mount Wohlstand which is found in the Corelian Mountain Range in the North-western state of Corelia. Whilst the highest elevations can be found in the Corelian Mountain Range, the lowest can be found along the eastern coastline. The river Rhine, which has been a cultural and economic lifeline for the Empire, runs through most of the country; from the forests at the base of the Corelian Mountain Ranges where the source of the Rhine can be found, to the plains of the Midlands.

Climate and Environment

Bayden Canyon

Corelian Mountain Range

Lako National Park

Redwood Forest

Most of the Empire has a temperate climate, ranging from oceanic in the east to continental in west. The winters are typically cold with snow falling across the Empire, while summers range from warm and cool to hot. Due to prevailing winds from the east, which are then trapped by the Corelian Mountain Range, the eastern states have a lot of precipitation during the spring and autumn months. Average monthly temperatures in the Empire typically range from a low of -1.5°C in January to a highs of 32°C in July.

Politics and Government

Emperor Wilhelm IV

Chancellor Kleiber

The Rhinelandes is a federal, parliamentary, constitutional monarachy. The head of state is the Monarch, since 2004 it has been Emperor Wilhelm IV. The head of government is technically also the Emperor however this role is carried out on a day to day basis by the Federal Chancellor, since 2010 that has been Chancellor Lutz Kleiber of the Conservative Party.

Federal legislative power is vested in the Imperial Parliament consisting of the Senate and the Bundestag. Members of the Bundestag (lower house) are called Representatives, and are elected through direct elections using a first past the post system for individual constituencies. Members of the Senate are called Senators and are appointed via different mechanisms (see the Imperial Parliament). Since 1977, the Conservative, Democratic Social Democratic, Liberal, Green, Labour and Rhineland National Parties have always had members in the Bundestag.

The Monarch, currently Emperor Wilhelm IV, is the head of state and invested primarily with representative responsibilities and powers. The second-highest official in the order of precedence, outside of the Imperial Household, is the Crown Prince who is, by virtue of their office, Lord Speaker of the Senate. The third-highesst official in the order of precedence is the President of the Bundestag, who is elected by the memebers of the Bundestag and responsible for overseeing the daily sessions of the chamber and presiding over debates. The President of the Bundestag is required to be impartial and non-partisan and as such must resign any political party membership before assuming their role as President. The fourth-highest official and the head of government is the Federal Chancellor, who is appointed by the Monarch after being nominated by the party or coalition with the most seats in the Bundestag. The Chancellor, currently Lutz Kleiber, is the head of government and exercises executive power through their Cabinet.

Imperial Parliament

The Imperial Parliament is considered to be a balanced legislature with the Bundestag (lower house), which is elected, and the Senate (upper house), which is appointed, holding a balance of authority over the creation of legislation. Both the Bundestag and the Senate can create legislation. Should legislation pass one House, it must go to the other for approval before being sent to the Monarch for Imperial Assent or Veto. Should the second House ammend the legislation, the ammended legislation is then returned to the original House for approval. Should this ammended legislation be approved, the legislation is then sent to the Monarch. If not, this back and forth continues until the legislation is either approved or defeated. Should one House vote down a piece of legislation sent from the other House, that legislation may not be reintroduced until a new session of Parliament is convened.

Even though the Chancellor and their Government originates and are directly responsible to the Bundestag, they are also held responsible to the Senate. The Senate exercises this right through their ability to hold votes of no confidence in the Government. Both the Senate and the Bundestag may hold votes of no confidence in the Government. If the Government loses a vote of no confidence in either the Bundestag or Senate, a joint committee of the chambers is held; formally called the Confidence Committee. The Confidence Committee consists of all members of the Senate and Bundestag with the Lord Speaker of the Senate presiding. A vote of no confidence is then held within this joint committee with each Senators vote counting for 5 votes to balance the voting power of the Bundestag. If a government loses this vote, they are removed from office and either the Monarch appoints a new Chancellor or calls an early federal election.

Federal Government

The federal government is led by the Chancellor who is the leader of the largest party / coalition in the Bundestag. The Chancellor nominates Representatives to the Monarch for the Monarch to appoint them as Secretaries or Ministers of State who will then lead government departments and agencies. These appointees must be members of the Bundestag and as such are directly responsible to the Bundestag. Secretaries of State lead government departments with Ministers of State serve under Secretaries of State by leading intra-department bodies.

Within the Cabinet itself, there are 4 great offices of state:
- Secretary of State for the Interior
- Secretary of State for Foreign and Imperial Affairs
- Secretary of State for Finance
- Secretary of State for Defence

For urgent and important matters of State, the Chancellor may often only call upon these 4 officers of state for advice and consultation instead of summoning the entire cabinet which itself consists of over 25 secretaries of state. Weekly full cabinet meetings are required by the Constitution and are chaired by the Monarch at the Imperial Palace. Subcommittees of the Cabinet are not held at the Palace nor are they attended by the Monarch.

Government Formation and Coalitions

Due to the wide range of political parties and their varying strengths across the States of the Empire, it is extremely unlikely that any one party secures a majority in the Bundestag and form a government on their own. As a result, nearly every government in Imperial history has been a coalition one which means that after Federal Elections, there is often a period of 1-2 months where there are extensive negotiations between political parties which try to find compromises in order to form a coalition government. The leader of a coalition which can secure a majority in the Bundestag is then invited by the Monarch to form a Government. Because of this, groups have developed over the decades between political parties. On the right of the political spectrum, the usual coalition partners are the Conservatives and Democrats, with the Conservatives often being the largest party. The name given to the coalition when the Conservatives and Democrats are in government is the 'Grand Coalition'. On the left of the political spectrum, the usual coalition partners are the Social Democrats and Labour, with the SDP often being the largest party. The name given to the coalition when the SDP and Labour are in government is the 'Progressive Coalition'.

Judicial System

The Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority within the Empire under the Monarch.

Armed Forces

The Empire of the Rhinelandes does not possess nuclear weapons.

Foreign Relations

The Empire of the Rhinelandes is not a member of the World Assembly.

Federalism

Federalism in the Empire

Economy

Energy

The Empire of the Rhinelandes is a world leader in green energy. The Empire operates one of the largest wind farms in the region and is also home to 20 nuclear power plants which supply over 30% of the nation's energy demands.

Industry

State Highways of the Rhinelandes

Infrastructure

Major infrastructure projects are often funded by the imperial government, with state (principality) and free city governments often funding their own smaller to medium sized projects with imperial government grants. All state highways (which link state capitals) are funded and maintained by the Imperial Government whilst interstate highways (highways within a state) are funded and maintained by the governments of those principalities. Due to this funding scheme, the richer principalities often have higher quality roads and infrastructure whilst less well off principalities have fewer infrastructure projects and roads and have to use more imperial government grants.

Transport

Public Transport, including trains, metros, buses and trams, are all devolved matters and dealt with by the States (principalities) of the Empire. Although each principality, and free imperial city, is incharge of their own public transport, as of 2018 all principalities and free imperial cities offer some sort of free transportation. In most states and free-cities, public transport is free for the elderly and discounted for students, the disabled and members of the armed forces. In the Imperial Capital of Kaiserstadt, public transport is free for everyone and it is operated, funded and maintained by the Kaiserstadt District Council.

Demographics

Education

Children are required by law to remain in full time education until the age of 16. Public education is free for all students, however, there are numerous private schools, which do charge fees. All schools are required to follow a national curriculum but states and free imperial cities can also require their schools to teach an additional supplemental state/free-city curriculum.

Religion

Since 1978, the Empire does not maintain a state religion. This was cemented in 1984 by the 23rd Ammendment which was adopted to the Constitution and enshrines the seperation of Church and State.

Culture

Sports

The national sport is Football (Gridiron football).

The national sport of the Empire