Fetterman Government

Fetterman Government
June 29, 2019 –
President	Hillary Clinton
Chancellor	John Fetterman
Cabinet	First Fetterman cabinet Second Fetterman cabinet
Party	Social Democratic Party
Election	2020
Seat	Blair House
← Bill Nelson •

The Fetterman Government commenced on the eve of June 29, 2019 when John Fetterman, MC for Stern accepted an invitation from sitting President, Hillary Clinton, to form a government in the wake of the collapse in support for the preceding Nelson Government. John Fetterman of the Social Democratic Party led a government consisting of the Social Democratic Party, Southern Social Democrats (together known as the Union/SDU) and the Greens. At the 2020 general election, Fetterman was able to form a coalition government including the Union, Greens and the Farmers Federation.

U.S. political convention requires a sitting government to be capable of assuring passage of supply (budget) bills through the Congress. The Nelson Government collapsed after both the Greens and Southern Social Democrats indicated they were prepared to kill a budgetary bill after a drop in his favorability with the public and the 2019 Zanuck special election. The Fetterman Government was formed following the 2019 Social Democratic Party leadership contest where John Fetterman came out as the resounding pick of the party to lead it into 2020. The Government ended with the calling of an early election in January of 2020 after the Greens killed a bill to bolster U.S. foreign aid and defense spending in relation to Ukraine in early 2019 arguing it was the wrong place to put federal dollars. After a collapse in negotiations by early January, Fetterman declared on January 6, 2020 that there would be an election by the end of winter.

The February 22 election was the first U.S. general election held during winter, since the 1932 election amid the Great Depression.

President Hillary Clinton issued writs for the election of a new Congress on January 8, 2020.

Social Democratic leadership bid

After the 2019 Zanuck special election at which the SDP received a 27 point swing against it - the largest ever recorded swing against a sitting government in a midterm special election - sitting Chancellor Bill Nelson was pressured into resigning. A competitive leadership battle was expected with at least five 'major' contenders. SDP rules require a leadership nomination list to be opened on the weekday after a resignation. Nelson issued his resignation as Chairman of the SDP to the national secretariat of the Social Democratic Party on May 28, 2019. On May 29, six candidates announced themselves; Debbie Schultz (FL), Deb Haaland (AZ), Joe Kennedy III (MA), Kamala Harris (CA) and John Fetterman (PA). Punditry indicated the most likely outcome was Schultz or Harris, both members of the Nelson Government, obtaining strong support on the first ballot.

The first ballot, held June 10, saw Harris place first, with Fetterman second. The following day, Haaland withdrew endorsing Fetterman, Schultz withdrew endorsing Harris and Kennedy indicated a desire to remain in the fight for the second ballot. In accordance with SDP rules, the last placing candidate would automatically be removed. On June 17, the second ballot was held with Fetterman receiving an absolute majority of support, and Harris and Kennedy both lagging behind. SDP rules allow for a rank-and-file retention vote to take place if at least one-fifth of the Congressional caucus demands, Harris endorsed the election of John Fetterman, ending any speculation of a retention vote. Fetterman took office as Chancellor thereafter.

Ministry

Party		Officeholder	Portrait	Portfolio
	SDP	John Fetterman MC for Stern (PA)		Chancellor of the United States Junior Secretary for the Public Service Chairperson of the SDP
	SSD	Terri Sewell MC for King (AL)		Vice Chancellor of the United States Secretary of the Treasury Leader of the SSD
	SDP	Michelle Lujan-Grisham MC for Hanna (NM)		Secretary of Foreign Affairs Vice Chairperson of the Social Democratic Party
	SDP	Jack Reed MC for Drowne (RI)		Secretary of Defense
	SDP	Kamala Harris MC for Oakland (CA)		Attorney General
	SSD	Julian Castro MC at-Large (TX)		Secretary of Housing and Urban Development