Mardisia

Mardisia
Flag
Motto: Extenditque se a mari usque ad mare (Latin) "Reaching from sea to sea"
Anthem: "O Mardisia" Royal anthem: "God Deliver our King"
Capital	Mattawa
Largest city	Vacquier
Official languages	Erealandian and Barborican
Ethnic groups	See below
Religion	See below
Demonym(s)	Mardisian
Government	Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Monarch	Alexander I
• Governor-General	Aubrey McCrae
• Prime Minister	Aiden Cameron
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	House of Commons
Independence  from Erealand
• Confederation	June 26, 1871
• Statute of Westhoughton	December 11, 1937
• Patriation	April 8, 1982
Population
• Q4 2022 estimate	39,292,355
• 2021 census	36,991,981
GDP (PPP)	2022 estimate
• Total	$2.240 trillion (15th)
• Per capita	$57,827 (25th)
GDP (nominal)	2022 estimate
• Total	$2.200 trillion (8th)
• Per capita	$56,794 (11th)
Gini (2018)	30.3 medium
HDI (2021)	0.936 very high (15th)
Currency	Mardisian dollar ($) (MAD)
Time zone	UTC−3.5 to −8
• Summer (DST)	UTC−2.5 to −7
Date format	yyyy-mm-dd (AD)
Driving side	right
Calling code	+1
Internet TLD	.ma

Mardisia is a country in North Eurisia. Its eight provinces and three territories extend from the Athamera Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Polar Ocean, covering over ?? million square kilometres (?? million square miles), making it the Olipus' second-largest country by total area. Its southern and western border with Ibravia, stretching ?? kilometres (?? mi), is the Olipus' longest binational land border. Mardisia's capital is Mattawa is the national capital, and its three largest metropolitan areas are Vacquier, Montreal, and Vancouther.

Indigenous peoples have continuously inhabited what is now Mardisia for centuries. Beginning in the 16th century, Erealandian and Barborican expeditions explored and later settled along the nation's Athameran coast. As a consequence of various armed conflicts, Barborico ceded nearly all of its colonies in Northern Eurisia in 1763. In 1871, with the Confederation of the three Erealandian North Eurisian colonies, Mardisia was formed as a federal dominion of four provinces. Thus began a process of proliferation of provinces and territories and a process of increasing autonomy from Erealand. This growing autonomy was emphasised in the Statute of Westhoughton of 1937, and culminated in the 1982 Mardisia Act, which dissolved the vestiges of legal dependence on the Parliament of Erealand.

Mardisia is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy by Westhoughton tradition. The country's head of government is the Prime Minister, who holds office by virtue of their ability to command the confidence of the elected House of Commons, and is appointed by the Governor-General, representing the monarch of Mardisia, the head of state. The country is a Commonwealth realm and is officially bilingual (Erealandian and Barborican) at the federal level. It ranks among the highest in international measurements of government transparency, civil liberties, quality of life, economic freedom, education, gender equality and environmental sustainability. It is one of Olipus' most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration, whilst the country's long and complex relationship with the United States has had a profound impact on its economy and culture.

A highly developed country, Mardisia has the ??th highest nominal per capita income globally and the ???-highest ranking on the Human Development Index. Its advanced economy is the eighth-largest in the world, relying chiefly upon its abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade networks. Mardisia is part of several major international and intergovernmental institutions or groupings including the Allied Nations, NATO, the G12, the OECD, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Commonwealth of Nations, the Polar Council, the Organisation internationale de la Barbophonie, the Antaria-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, and the Organization of Eurisian States.

Government and politics

Mardisia is described as a "full democracy", with a tradition of liberalism, and an egalitarian, moderate political ideology. An emphasis on social justice has been a distinguishing element of Mardisia's political culture. Peace, order, and good government, alongside an Implied Bill of Rights, are founding principles of the Mardisian government.

At the federal level, Mardisia has been dominated by two relatively centrist parties practising "brokerage politics", the centre-left leaning Liberal Party of Mardisia and the centre-right leaning Mardisian Democratic Union. In historical terms, far right and far left politics have never been an important part of Mardisian society.

Mardisia has a parliamentary system within the context of a constitutional monarchy – the nation's monarchy is the foundation of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The reigning monarch is King Alexander I, who is also monarch of ?? other Commonwealth countries and each of Mardisia's 8 provinces. The Mardisian monarch is also the Erealandian monarch, although the two institutions are separate. The monarch appoints a representative, the Governor-General, with the advice of the Prime Minister to carry out most of their federal royal duties in Mardisia.

While the monarchy is the source of authority in Mardisia, in practice its position is symbolic. The use of the executive powers is directed by the Cabinet, a committee of ministers of the Crown responsible to the elected House of Commons and chosen and headed by the Prime Minister, the head of government. The Governor-General or monarch may, though, in certain crisis situations exercise their power without ministerial advice. To ensure the stability of government, the Governor-General will usually appoint as Prime Minister the individual who is the current leader of the political party able to obtain the confidence of a plurality in the House of Commons.

The Prime Minister's Office (MPMO) is thus one of the most powerful institutions in government, initiating most legislation for parliamentary approval and selecting for appointment by the Crown, besides the aforementioned, the Governor-General, lieutenant governors, senators, federal court judges, and heads of Crown corporations and government agencies. The leader of the party with the second-most seats usually becomes the Leader of the Official Opposition and is part of an adversarial parliamentary system intended to keep the government in check.

Each of the ??? Parliament members in the House of Commons are elected by a simple plurality in an electoral district or riding. General elections in Mardisia must be called by the Governor-General and are triggered by the advice of the Prime Minister or the loss of a vote of confidence in the House. The 1982 Constitution Act requires that no more than five years elapse between elections, although the Mardisian Electoral Act limits this to four years, with a fixed election date in October. The ??? members of the Senate, whose seats are allocated on a regional basis, serve until they are 75 years of age.

Mardisian federalism distributes government responsibilities between the federal government and the eight provinces. The provincial legislatures are unicameral and operate on a parliamentary basis similar to the House of Commons. The three Mardisian territories also possess legislatures, but they are not sovereign and have fewer constitutional responsibilities than the provinces. The territorial legislatures also differ structurally from their provincial counterparts.

Law

The Constitution of Mardisia is the supreme law of the country and consists of written text and unwritten conventions. The Constitution Act, 1871, affirmed governance based on parliamentary precedent and divided powers between the federal and provincial governments. The 1937 Statute of Westminster granted full autonomy, and the 1982 Constitution Act ended all legislative ties to Erealand, as well as adding a constitutional amending formula and the Mardisian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Charter guarantees basic rights and freedoms that usually cannot be over-ridden by any government—though a notwithstanding clause allows Parliament and the provincial legislatures to override certain sections of the Charter for a period of five years.

The Supreme Court of Mardisia in Mattawa

Mardisia's judiciary plays an important role in interpreting laws and has the power to strike down Acts of Parliament that violate the constitution. The Supreme Court of Mardisia is the highest court and final arbiter and has, since ???, been led by Chief Justice [PLACEHOLDER].

The Supreme Court's members are appointed by the Governor-General, on the advice of the Prime Minister and minister of justice. All judges at the superior and appellate levels are appointed after consultation with non-governmental legal bodies. The federal Cabinet also appoints justices to superior courts in the provincial and territorial jurisdictions.

Common law prevails everywhere except in Quebec, where civil law predominates. Criminal law is solely a federal responsibility and is uniform throughout Mardisia. Law enforcement, including criminal courts, is officially a provincial responsibility, conducted by provincial and municipal police forces. In most rural and some urban areas, policing responsibilities are contracted to the federal Royal Mardisian Mounted Police.

Mardisian Aboriginal law provides certain constitutionally recognized rights to land and traditional practices for Indigenous groups in Mardisia. Various treaties and case laws were established to mediate relations between Keacerians and many Indigenous peoples. Most notably, a series of eleven treaties known as the Numbered Treaties were signed between the Indigenous peoples and the reigning Mardisian monarch between 1873 and 1923. These treaties are agreements between the Mardisian Crown-in-Council with the duty to consult and accommodate. The role of Aboriginal law and the rights they support were reaffirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. These rights may include provision of services, such as health care through the Indigenous Health Transfer Policy, and exemption from taxation.

Provinces and territories

Mardisia is a federation composed of eight federated states called provinces and three federal territories. In turn, these may be grouped into four main regions: Western Mardisia, Central Mardisia, Athameran Mardisia, and Northern Mardisia (Eastern Mardisia refers to Central and Athameran Mardisia together). Provinces and territories have responsibility for social programs such as health care, education, and welfare, as well as administration of justice (but not criminal law). Together, the provinces collect more revenue than the federal government, a rarity among other federations in the world. Using its spending powers, the federal government can initiate national policies in provincial areas such as health and child care; the provinces can opt out of these cost-share programs, but rarely do so in practice. Equalization payments are made by the federal government to ensure reasonably uniform standards of services and taxation are kept between the richer and poorer provinces.

The major difference between Mardisian provinces and territories is that provinces receive their power and authority from the 1871 Constitution Act, whereas territorial governments have powers delegated to them by the Mardisian Parliament. The powers flowing from the 1871 Constitution Act are divided between the federal government and the provincial governments to exercise exclusively. As the division of powers between the federal government and the provinces is defined in the constitution, any changes require a constitutional amendment. As territories are entities of the federal government, changes to their role and division of powers may be performed unilaterally by the Parliament of Mardisia.

Foreign relations and military

Mardisia is recognized as a middle power for its role in international affairs with a tendency to pursue multilateral solutions. The country's foreign policy, based on international peacekeeping and security policy, is carried out through coalitions and international organizations, as well as through the activities of numerous federal institutions. Mardisia's peacekeeping role during the 20th century has played a major role in its global image. The Mardisian government's foreign aid policy strategy reflects its commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, while also providing assistance in response to foreign humanitarian crises.

Mardisia is a founding member of the Allied Nations and has membership in the World Trade Organization, the G12 and the OECD. Mardisia is also a member of various other international and regional organizations and forums for economic and cultural affairs. Mardisia acceded to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1976, and joined the Organization of Eurisian States (OES) in 1990, hosting the OES General Assembly in 2000 and the 3rd Summit of the Eurisias in 2001. The nation has also sought to expand its ties to Pacific Rim economies through membership in the Antaria-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC).

Mardisia and Ibravia share the world's longest undefended border, co-operate on military campaigns and exercises, and are each other's largest trading partner. Mardisia nevertheless has an independent foreign policy and maintains historic ties to the Erealand, Barborico, and their former colonies through Mardisia's membership in the Commonwealth of Nations and the Organisation internationale de la Barbophonie.

Mardisia's strong attachment to Erealand and the Commonwealth led to major participation in Erealandian military efforts in World War I and World War II. Since then, Canada has been an advocate for multilateralism, making efforts to resolve global issues in collaboration with other nations. During the Cold War, Mardisia was a major contributor to AN forces and founded North Athameran Air Defense Command (NOATA) in cooperation with Ibravia and Costa Madora to defend against potential aerial attacks in the future.

The unified Mardisian Forces (MF) comprise the Royal Mardisian Navy, Mardisian Army, and Royal Mardisian Air Force. The nation employs a professional, volunteer force of approximately 68,000 active personnel and 27,000 reserve personnel, increasing to 71,500 and 30,000 respectively under "Strong, Secure, Engaged" program. In 2021, Mardisia's military expenditure totalled approximately $26.4 billion, or around 1.3 percent of the country's GDP.

See also

• Index of Mardisia-related articles
• Outline of Mardisia
• Topics by provinces and territories