Federal Republic of Velika

Federal Republic of Velika
2015 Post-Unification Flag
Motto: Our right, our freedom
Anthem: "Koszt wolności"
Capital	Vrány
Largest city	Tičín
Official languages	Velikan
Other languages	Velikan
Ethnic groups	84% Velikan   16% Others
Demonym(s)	Velikans
Government	Federal Republic
• President	Cyril Żołądź
Independence
Area
• Total	249,970 km2 (96,510 sq mi)
Population
• 2023 estimate	24,840,625
GDP (PPP)	2023 estimate
• Total	494.576 billion
• Per capita	$19,910
Gini (2023)	45.3 medium
HDI (2023)	0.847 very high
Currency	Velikan Grivna (VKG)
Time zone	UTC -3
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side	left
Internet TLD	.VEL

The Federal Republic of Velika (Velikan: Republika Federalna Veliki) is a nation located in Eastern Argis, its closest neighbors Poja to the east and Baltica to the south. To the north is the Mediargic Sea and to the west is the Keelpijp. Velika has a total land area of 87,500 km² (33,800 sq mi). The nation is subdivided into 3 states that each form their own regional governments and additionally send representatives to the Federal Senate. Velika has been the home of the Velikan people for many thousands of years, but in prior centuries has seen an influx of migration from it's neighbours. Velika is a Federal Republic, it formed in 2015 after an Act of Union between the three historic breakaway states of Nowa Velika, Slarovia and Karvia. These states were formed in the immediate aftermath of the successful 1805 Revolution, which abolished the old Velikan monarchy.

Geography

Being a country of relatively high altitude and split between two bodies of water, Velika experiences a wide range of Mediterranean and semi-arid geography, as the state is effectively split down the middle by a mountain range, with the highest elevation point being the mountain Góra Orła in the far north. A rain shadow effect occurs in this northern region, making it drier than the rest of the country. Along the coasts however the mountains provide a great number of large and small rivers which enable agriculture which have historically sustained its largest settlements.

Climate

The Velikan climate is largely a temperate continental one, however the far northern parts of the country experience a rain shadow effect from the mountains, leading to more arid and dry conditions.

History

Old Velika

For most of the history of Velika, it was a Kingdom under several dynasties stretching back over almost 1,000 years. This was a mostly stable period in Velika, however as the world advanced into the 18th century, pressure began to continiously mount against the traditionalist centre of power. Which sought to retain outdated structures such as feudal serfdom and did not possess any kind of growing parliamentary or representative body. This eventually culminated in the outbreak of the Vrány peasant's uprising in 1799, followed quickly by similar uprisings in the Slarovian and Karvian duchies. After 6 years of conflict the Royalist forces had been spread immensely thin and were exhausted by the constant fighting, resulting in many members of the aristocracy fleeing Velika for safer shores. The three primary rebellious factions did not have much common cause however and quickly formed breakaway states in the traditional ducal regions. This began the Republican Era.

The Three Republics

The period known as the Three Republics ran from 1805-2015. It was both a tumultuous time which saw the various breakaway states of Velika suffer from extreme hardships, strife and occasional warfare. During this time however the three republics did begin to rapidly industrialize, with Nowa Velika in the south quickly taking up a dominant position over the other two, due to it's access to much of the pre-revolutionary industries, best agricultural land and highest population concentration.

The states stabilized roughly around 1900, forming safe economies and having a generally improving standard of living up until the 1970's, when economic downturns brought Karvia and Slarovia to near-ruin. This resulted in the Velikan-Agreement of 1978, which promoted close economic cooperation and development between the three states. Eventually triggering a continuous series of closer and closer integration reforms and agreements which lead to calls for reunification starting in the first years of the 2000's, culminating in all three governments agreeing to hold referendums on the matter of unity. In 2015 all three countries voted overwhelmingly to reform into a single state again for the first time in over two centuries. The new Federation of Velika was formed.

Modern Day

The country would immediately launch into consolidating itself and promoting further the idea of a common Velikan identity. Under it's first President, Vladislav Kurada a great deal of work was undertaken to form the framework of the new national government, as well as ensuring that the regions damaged by economic deprivation were able to begin the process to returning to prosperity. As new opportunities opened up nationwide, Velika had been setting the foundations for a potential economic boom.

Politics

The Federation of Velika is a Federal Republic consisting of three states with a bicameral legislature headed under an elected President. It is a liberal representative democracy with a constitution, the Federal Charter, which acts as the country’s supreme legal document, which both sets out the rights of Velikan citizenry and establishes the framework of how the Federal government is bound to and the responsibilities is charged with.

National government

The national government is based in the city of Vrány and is comprised of three branches:

The Federal Assembly is made up of the House of Representatives and the Federal Senate. The House is primarily responsible for voting on bills, approving treaties, setting fiscal policy and has the power to impeach the incumbent president. This house is responsible for electing a new government to power and granting legitimacy to the President whilst simultaneously formally scrutinizing the Government through regular weekly committees arranged in order to ensure that the actions of the Executive is accountable to the elected body.

The senate is composed of an equal number of representatives from each member state of the federation, the Senate holds the government to account by scrutinising bills, represent equally the interests of the states and ensure constitutional compliance. Senators regularly review and amend bills before they reach Executive Assent, seeking agreement with the house on the final draft. While it is unable to prevent bills passing into law, except in certain limited circumstances, it can delay bills and force the house to reconsider their decisions. In this capacity, the Senate acts as a check on the more powerful house.

The Office of the President has the power to sign bills into law, has veto power over legislation and is responsible for appointing the cabinet and other officials, who administer and enforce federal laws and policies through their respective agencies. The president is elected based on the number of representatives elected to the House respective of their party affiliation, with a majority ensuring victory. The president serves 4 year terms and there is currently no limit on the number of terms a president can hold.

The Supreme Court of the Federation is the highest appellate court in the Federation. The court holds the power of judicial review: the ability to invalidate a statue for violating a provision of the constitution. It is also able to strike down presidential directives for violating either the Constitution or statutory law. It’s members are appointed by the President, however as agreed by the Federal Charter in 2015 the court comprises of ten members, a chief justice and nine supreme justices, who are equally divided to three justices from each member state.