Republic of Westmonkwick
the Republic of Westmonkwick | |
|---|---|
| Motto: “Justice, family work “Justice, family, work” | |
| Capital | Thorny Islet, Westmonkwick |
| Largest | Westmonkwick (city-state) |
| Ethnic groups (2021 census)census | 36.5% Mittelseax
25.25% Italian 21.7% Arab 17.3% other |
| Religion (2021)census | 49.5% of the population is non-religious
22.9% Christian 18.1% Muslim 5.26% Jewish 4.24% other |
| Demonym(s) | Westmonkwicker |
| Government | |
• Lord President of State | John Earl |
| Summayyah Mirza | |
| Legislature | Houses of Congress |
| Council of State | |
| House of Burghers | |
| Establishment | |
• Establishment of independent monarchy) | 655 CE |
• establishment of Republic | 2020 CE |
| Population | |
• Census | 415,480 |
| Driving side | right |
History
Westmonkwick became independent in 655 CE, under King Harold of Westmonkwick, following a victory against the invading Norsemen who had conquered MittelSeax. It became a centre of trade, thalassocratic imperialism and Christianity.
During the rule the half-Brythonic house of Mynnyd, the Lutheran Church of Westmonkwick, a standing Navy and (in the later stages) freedom of religion, at least theoretically, developed.
Changes in the 19th century included women’s suffrage, the establishment of a professional police force and the abolition of the slave trade.
After the Great War from 1914-1919, no property or educational qualifications were required for voting.
In the post (Russo Third Reich) War era, the police force became a paramilitary force (though community policing was also a major element), this was partly due to the militarisation of Society and partly due to rising crime rates. This time period also saw a police crackdown on male homosexuals.
In the 1960s, changing attitudes lead to the legalisation of homosexuality, the use of contraception by unmarried women and abortion.
The 1990s saw increased women’s rights and more liberalism generally.
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Politics and government Electoral politics Elections take place on a first past the post system. In addition to people voting in constituencies where they live, universities graduates can vote additionally in university constituencies and businesspeople can vote in constituencies where they own businesses. “One person one vote” is a key Social Democratic Party policy. Only two national political parties exist: The Social Democratic Labour Party and the Conservative Party. With the exception of the 1945 and 2004 elections, the Conservatives have won every election since 1880.
The Liberal Party used to be a major force but by 1995, the left of centre liberals had flocked to the SDLP whilst the classical liberal majority joined the Conservatives.
Whilst most groups tend to vote for the Conservatives, Afro-Caribbean voters, Bangladeshi voters, the poor and teachers in state schools tend to vote Social Democratic.
Structure of government There is a bicameral legislature called the Houses Of Congress. It contains : The Council of State and House of Burghers. They pass or repeal laws and decide certain major policy decisions.
There is also a directly elected Lord-Chancellor who is the head of the executive branch. They appoint the cabinet ministers, the chiefs of the armed forces and the Chief Constable.
There is a Lord-President but this is a ceremonial post with only theoretical powers.
It is a post given to retired Conservative Party politicians (who leave the party on appointment to maintain neutrality) by Council of State and can only be removed after impeachment by said Council.
Military Two years of military service is required for every young men physically, morally and psychologically fit to serve (except proven conscientious objectors).
For some people, this is at the age of eighteen but since the majority of young people go to university, the majority take a temporary deferments. Roughly 6.1% of conscripts serve as officers: normally people who, in addition to being psychologically and physically very strong, received good grades in their degrees.
The military is defence-oriented though this includes defence of citizens and assets overseas.
Legal system Westmonkwick Criminal law is based on three sources: The Westmonkwick Penal Code The Westmonkwick Constitution Precedent.
Criminal law is interpreted by the non-partisan judiciary and usually enforced by the Constabulary (though Customs and Excise, the Prison Service and the Armed forces also have a role).
Like the Armed forces, the Constabulary is composed of Other Ranks (Constables and Sergeants) and direct entry leadership (Inspectors and above) as well as Inspectors and above who commission from the ranks.
Constables pass a years’ training (nine months of which can be provided by the Military Corps during national service), they are required to have either Advanced Level Certificates (a high school qualification), or, have served in the Military Corps and have an Ordinary Certificate of Secondary Education or equivalent.
Promotion to Sergeant or specialise in detective work, riot control etcetera requires more training and, in the case of Sergeants, experience.
Direct-entry Inspectors pass a year and a half training course. Direct entry as an Inspector requires a degree.
Commercial law (and personal law for secular marriages) follows the Westmonkwick Civil Code and precedent.
Personal law includes Hindu personal law, Muslim personal law, Jewish personal law, Catholic personal law, Protestant personal law, Orthodox Christian personal law, Sikh personal law and Buddhist personal law. Human rights Despite being praised for their levels of racial diversity in universities, corporate boards and government posts and for the relatively low levels of crime against women,
Westmonkwick is controversial for police use of force, capital and corporal punishment, forced sterilisation of criminals and laws seen as sexist.
Police can use lethal force under the fleeing felon law. There was controversy in the 1980s over a number of black men shot whilst resisting arrest for crimes they never committed. Anti-racist policing became a big part of police training so they weren’t profiled in the first place but the fleeing felon law still stands and is still used against black men disproportionately to their numbers in the population.
Capital punishment is available for aggravated murder, aggravated rape, offences against national security and being an “extremely dangerous recidivist” (meaning a person who has been convicted twice or more of a serious violent, especially sexual offence, or an extremely serious drug offence, one of the convictions being for a crime committed in prison).
Judicial corporal punishment is used for a variety of imprisonable offences committed by adult males under the age of 55.
It’s criticised as “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment” but the government favour it as there is less potential for offenders to become institutionalised than a prison sentence and “it’s potentially more humane besides certainly being less drawn out.”
Muslim personal law, and laws regarding the marriage and driving ages, are often seen as sexist. Muslim personal law allows polygyny but not polyandry whilst the ages for marriage and driving are lower for women than for men.
The Muslim personal law is explained by the government as religious tolerance whilst the marriage and driving ages are based on the science of earlier average brain development amongst girls.
Sterilisation is used for habitual offenders under the Dangerous and Habitual Offenders Act (the same act that introduced the death penalty for “extremely dangerous recidivists”).
Culture Westmonkwick culture values education and work hard, those who have good jobs and work quietly at them are lauded whilst everyone else tends to be viewed with suspicion. There is a great deal of openness to the cultures of other ethnic and religious groups but also, sadly, a great deal of class snobbery. Male chivalry is strong amongst Westmonkwickers of all three main ethnic groups.
Economy The main industries are: the service sector, the knowledge economy and maritime shipping. 95.5% of trade is carried by sea.
Demographics Ethnically, demographics are the 36.5% Mittelseax, 25.25% Italian , 21.7% Arab and 17.3% other. Religiously, 49.5% of the population is non-religious, 22.9% is Christian, 18.1% Muslim, 5.26% Jewish and 4.24% is other. Most non-Arab Muslims are Bangladeshi but 9.25% are white. Most Jews are Ashkenazi. Christians are split more or less evenly between Catholics and Protestants. 51.9% of people have a university degree.