User:Gadbob/sandbox4

Gadbob/sandbox4
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Capital and largest city	Kamuul
Official languages	Maayataan, K'iche'
Recognised regional languages	Ch'ol, Kaqchikel, Mam, Tzeltal, Tzotzil
Government	merchant republic(?)
• B'abatab (HoS)	Ah-waan Ekab
• Nok'in (HoG)	Hun Batz Kiwal
Legislature	Hunah Council
• Upper house	Ho' Tah
• Lower house	Hunah
Driving side	left

Geography

The country is mostly desert, with over 90% of Yuuban’s population situated along the Lakama’ River. The rocky Lakama’ valley guides the river, from the Chahel canyon in the western highlands to the sea through the delta, going through periods of seasonal flooding in the basins. Outside the highlands, particularly in the south, is the Shifting Sea, a large plain of dunes that stands out of one the country's defining features. Throughout the country are a few oasis’ and the high desert is lush with shrubbery and cacti. In the alpine line few ranges and plateau's have trees, the denses concentrations of forest being inbetween river valleys.

The highest peak in Yuuban is Chaab Mountain, snow-capped in the far west of the country at 3,973m tall. Lakama triburary rivers wind through the ancient mountain valley's, one of them constituting the Chahel canyon. The river calms down once it reaches the northern plains, running through basins surrounded by small mountains and plateaus. The seasonally flooding river was central to ancient Maya civilization, as the rich dark soil left by the river produced high yields. Even today, Yuuban has constructed complex desert irrigation systems along the river, expanding their greening efforts. Further land modification came with the contruction of several dams, which have decreased the Lakam river's flow and seasonal flooding in the lowland coastal plain.

Politics

Yuuban is a republic, originally formed by an aristocratic merchant class, the Polum. Collectively known as the Ho’ Tah(Five Houses), Polum families derived from merchant guilds, first ruling in councils over Kuchkabalab at the edge of the Lakama Delta. This long-standing nobility formed their republic after the first Tulla empire, centered on the control of sea and land trade routes.

In 1927, the republic had substantially reformed. The Ho’ Tah now shared power with an assembly of popularly elected representatives, the Hunah council. More reform was pushed by unrest and movements, as the power of the Ho’ Tah was progressively limited in government; now to the status of judge-priest. They act passively in state government, while the Hunah is the main law making, deliberative body.

Head of state is the B’abatab, elected by the Ho’ Tah to serve until resignation or passing. Officially the Ho’ Tah elect the B’abatab, but have continued with a tradition of cycling through every house. The Hunah council elect the head of government, the Nok’in, who more directly administers the government and forms an executive council.

Parties

Political parties are heavily regulated in Yuuban. Calpullist/Socialist parties, as well as symbolism and endorsement are considered illegal.

Social conservatives in the populist right-wing Chakmul party are currently ruling with a small margin of 112 seats. The Tz’un party has 99 seats, a liberal faction concerned with self-rule and the expansion of private property. The third major party is the Keeh Party at 70 seats. While the Tz’un wish for a federated government, the Keeh favor an ever more libertarian, minarchist state. Finally, the fourth major party is the nationalist Tukuch with 51 seats. Traditionalists much like the Chakmul party, however are also reformist. They wish to uplift the ‘culture of the masses’, are against free trade and want to minimize or drop the Ho’ Tah government. Contrarily, the Chakmul want to maintain the structural status quo and free trade.

The Tukuch are considered an outlier party, though they have significant influence and popularity. The Yax party, holding 25 seats, is focused around environmental issues, endorsing municipal autarky.

Economy

Yuuban runs a free market economy