Mardisia

Mardisia
Flag
Motto: Extenditque se a mari usque ad mare (Latin) "Reaching from sea to sea"
Anthem: "O Mardisia"
Capital	Mattawa
Largest city	Vacquier
Demonym(s)	Mardisian
Independence  from Erealand
Area
• Total	8,460,415 km2 (3,266,584 sq mi)
Population
• 2021 census	36,991,981
• Density	4.376/km2 (11.3/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Per capita	$291,144
HDI (2021)	0.936 very high
Currency	Mardisian dollar ($) (MAD)
Time zone	UTC−3.5 to −8
• Summer (DST)	UTC−2.5 to −7
Date format	yyyy-mm-dd (AD)
Driving side	right
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 8,460,415 km² (3,266,584 sq mi), making it the Olipus' second-largest country by total area. Mardisia's capital is Mattawa, and its three largest metropolitan areas are Vacquier, Montreal, and Vancouther.

Mardisia is a federal semi-presidential republic. Its head of government is the Prime Minister. 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 Ibravia 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 second-largest in Olipus, and is highly diversified. 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, 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.

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 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.

File:Old Supreme Court Building Singapore photographed February 1969 × July 1971.jpg

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 TBA, been led by Chief Justice Eric Harren.

The Supreme Court's members are appointed by the President, on the advice of the Attorney-General. 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.

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 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 1982 Constitution Act. 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, Central, Athameran, and Northern Mardisia. Provinces and territories have responsibility for social programs such as health care, education, and welfare, as well as administration of justice. 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 1934 Constitution Act, whereas territorial governments have powers delegated to them by the Mardisian National Assembly. The powers flowing from the 1934 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 its major participation within Erealandian military efforts in World War I and World War II. During the Cold War, Mardisia was a major contributor to AN forces.

The unified Mardisian Forces (MF) comprise the Mardisian Army, Mardisian Navy, and Mardisian Air Force. The nation employs a professional, volunteer force of approximately TBA active and TBA reserve personnel. In 2021, Mardisia's military expenditure totalled approximately TBA, or around 1.4 percent of the country's GDP.

See also

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