Sudemark

Kingdom of Sudmark Kongeriget Sudmark (Sodden)
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: Fred Och Välstånd ("Peace and Prosperity")
Anthem: Ehre und Ruhm Honor and Glory Royal anthem: Gud Frelse Kongen God Save the King
Location of Sudmark (dark green) – in Belisaria (dark grey)
Political Map of Sudmark Political Map of Sudmark
Capital and city	Soddenburg
Official language and national language	Sodden
Recognized languages	Ottonian
Ethnic groups (2018)	90% Sodden 8% Allamunnic 2% Other
Religion	90% Lutheran 7% Irreligion 2% Catholic 1% Other
Demonym(s)	Sodden
Government	Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• King	Alexander III
• Prime Minister	Marc Jakobsen
• Speaker of the Folketing	Karl Thomsen
Legislature	Folketing
Formation
• Nord-Keldi Confederation	550
• Annexation by Ottonian Empire	850
• Kingdom of Staalmark	1150
• Kingdom of Sudmark	1300
• Joining the Ottonian Federation	1870
• Independence from the Ottonian Federation	1922
Currency	Krone (kr) (OKR)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy (CE)
Driving side	left
Calling code	+636
ISO 3166 code	OS
Internet TLD	.os

Sudmark (Sodden: Kongeriget Sudmark), officially known as the Kingdom of Sudmark, is a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy of nearly 10 million people on the continent of Belisaria. It is bordered by Lyncanestria to the south and by Ottonia to the north, and shares a maritime border with Ghant. The official and national language is Sodden.

Celtics tribes have inhabited the area that is Sudmark today since ancient times. These tribes expanded northward in antiquity, coming into conflict with Allamunnae and Mords that inhabited the northern Belisarian coastal regions. By 400 BCE the inhabitants of present day Sudmark were collectively known as the Corvaik, and were closely related to the Corvaik further to the west. By 450 CE, Allamunnic Tribes from the west began to dominate Sudmark, which gave rise to the Nord-Keldi Federation in 550.

Sudmark was given its name by the Ottonian Empire following the former’s conquest by the latter around 850, the name meaning “Southern March.” Sudmark became a battleground between the Ottonian Empire to the north and the Holy Empire to the south, and changed hands several times in the subsequent centuries. It eventually became a part of the independent Kingdom of Onneria when the Ottonian Empire fell apart in 1150. Around 1250 Sudmark was conquered by vikings, and was brutally oppressed by the latter until the former was liberated by King Robert III of Low Ghant in 1300. Robert became Sudmark’s first king, though he failed to produce any heirs, resulting in Sudmark eventually passing to his sister Telara, the eventual Holy Audonian Empress. Sudmark was either in personal union with the Holy Empire or Low Ghant until 1450, at which point it became an independent kingdom for four hundred years.

In the late 19th century, the nascent Ottonian Federation compelled Sudmark to join as a result of war, though Sudmark was able to break away in 1942 as a result of the Royal Uprising. Sudmark has been an independent state ever since. Sudmark today enjoys a high standard of living, a welfare state, and expansive public services such as universal healthcare and free university education. Sudmark is a member of the Forum of Nations.

Politics and government

Main articles: Monarchy of Sudmark and Folketing

Sudmark is a unitary constitutional monarchy with a democratic parliamentary political system. The Monarch is the head of state and appoints the Prime Minister, who in turn nominates members of government.

The Folketing is the unicameral legislature of Sudmark, and is responsible for appointing and exercising control of the Government. Legislation may be initiated by the Government or by members of parliament. All bills passed must be presented before the Council of State, which consists of the Monarch, the heir, the Prime Minister and the cabinet ministers, to receive Royal Assent within thirty days in order to become law.

Sudmark is a representative democracy with universal suffrage. Membership of the Folketing is based on proportional representation of political parties. The Folketing consists of 160 members, elected by the people based on constituencies. Parliamentary elections are held at least every four years, although the Prime Minister can ask the Monarch to call for an election at anytime before the term has ended. With a successful vote of no confidence, the Folketing can force a single minister or the entire government to resign.

The Government of Sudmark functions as a cabinet government, in which executive authority is wielded by the Prime Minister and the cabinet ministers on behalf of the Monarch. The Cabinet is responsible for the function of the various ministries and for proposing bills, passing a budget, carrying out laws and directing foreign and national policy. The Prime Minister is a member of parliament who commands the greatest confidence of a majority of the Folketing, and is almost always the leader of the largest political party in the Folketing (or the leader of a coalition).

Law and criminal justice

Main article: Judiciary of Sudmark

Sudmark has a civil law system codified in the Constitution, with some institutions inherited from the Ottonian Empire. Sudmark never developed a case-law system nor comprehensive codes, and as a result the majority of its laws are customary.

The judicial system of Sudmark is divided between two courts, those with regular civil and criminal jurisdiction, and administrative courts with jurisdiction over litigation between individuals and government. Judicial independence from government and Parliament is ensured by the Constitution, with judges guided only by the law. The Supreme Court of Sudmark is the highest civil and criminal court in the country.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of Sudmark

Sudmark consists of sixteen counties led by directly elected councils, elected proportionally every four years. The counties generally reflect the historical boundaries, though changes have been made over the past century to create a stronger population balance between them. The areas of responsibility for the county councils are the national health service, social services and infrastructure development. The counties are allowed to levy taxes and the health service is partly financed by a national health care contribution.