Umbrellya

Republic of Umbrellya Trzecia Republika Umbrelosi (Parcan)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Sub Umbra Floreo (Latin: Under the shade I flourish)
Anthem: Dzwoń z Góry
Location of Umbrellya within Ventismar indicated with dark green, members of the VU are light blue. Location of Umbrellya within Ventismar indicated with dark green, members of the VU are light blue.
Capital	Czeskawa
Largest	Zloty
Official languages	Parcan
Recognised regional languages	Cogan, Kaelictian, Rezuan, Eikan, Bagnaggian, English, Stravfras, Rukonian
Ethnic groups (2018)	72% Parcan 8.0% Kaelictian 7.4% Rezuan 5.9% Cogan 3.4% Rukonian 3.3% Other
Demonym(s)	Umbrella
Government	Federal parliamentary republic
• Prime Minister	Aleksander Grestina
Legislature	States General
Established
• Umbrella Revolution	9 April 1828
• Treaty of Attabaum	12 September 1829
• Dictatorship collapses	30 May 1951
Area
• Total	352,945 km2 (136,273 sq mi)
Population
• 2015 estimate	91,183,161
• Density	258.4/km2 (669.3/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2018 estimate
• Total	$4,225,068,293,556
• Per capita	$46,373
HDI (2015)	0.917 very high (9th)
Currency	Matte (MTE)
Time zone	UTC+0 (Central Ventismarien Time CVT)
• Summer (DST)	Observed
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	the right
Calling code	+030
ISO 3166 code	UMB
Internet TLD	.umb

The Third Republic of Umbrellya (or "Trzecia Republika Umbrelosi" in Parcan, or "Správní Republika Umbrenat" in Kaelictian), is geographically situated in West-Central Ventismar. Physically, Umbrellya serves as the buffer-zone between West and East Ventismar. To the North, Umbrellya borders Eikangaard, to the East is Rezua, the South: North Rukonia and to the South-West: Ripuaria. Umbrellya's central location on the continent has historically made it a divider-block between the democratic and liberal West, and the traditionally autocratic and monarchic East.

Umbrellya joins a handful of other democratically-based nations and republics within the Western democratic realm. As such, Umbrellya has joined several organizations promoting or highlighting its democratic nature; most notably, the VU (Ventismarian Union).

History

Modern Era

Dictatorship

Secret police: Statza

Geography

Umbrellya is an averagely-sized country within Ventismar at approximately 352,945 km². To the North-East is the Bay of Mołombra where the city of Portcrau is located along. In between the provinces of Arapache and Mauriyaril lies the Ubaskan Sea where all traffic is controlled by the Stålporte and Northern straits to the West. Along Umbrellya's Western coast is the Nordismar Sea, shared by 4 other Ventismarian Union countries.

The longest mountain range in Umbrellya runs along the South, touching provinces like Luchańk, Kaelictia and Borzykowy. It's the largest above-sea natural barrier against foreign invasion.

Umbrellya borders 5 different countries: South Bagnaggia, the Republic of Eikangaard, Rezua, North Rukonia, and Ripuaria; the latter 2 also being in the VU.

Politics

Umbrellya is a representative democracy (or indirect democracy), with a prime minister as a head of state, whose current constitution dates from 1828 following the establishment of the First Parcan Republic. Umbrellya ranks in the top 20 percent of the most peaceful countries in the world, according to the Sunalayan Peace Index. The president appoints the cabinet according to the proposals of the prime minister, typically from the majority coalition in the Szecej Dom. The president is elected by popular vote every 4 years, 2 years if a majority government cannot be established. The current prime minister is Aleksander Grestina and the executive minister is Maor Candramaie.

Umbrelliet voters elect a bicameral parliament consisting of a 285-member lower house (Szecej Dom) and a 120-member Senate (Senat). The Szecej Dom is elected under proportional representation according to the d'Hondt method, a method similar to that used in many parliamentary political systems. The Senat, however, is elected under the first-past-the-post voting method, with one senator being returned from each of the 120 constituencies.

Szecej Dom is the lower house of the Umbrelliet parliament. Only candidates of political parties receiving at least 5% of the total national vote can be in the Szecej Dom. When sitting in joint session, members of the Szecej Dom and the Senat form the National Collective (the Zbiorowe Krajowe). The National Collective is formed on three situations: when a new prime minister takes the oath of office; when the prime minister is found guilty of an indictable offense under the Umbrelliet Criminal Code and is brought to the Federal Tribunal (Trybunał Federalnej); and when a prime minister is unable to continue exercising their duties due to medical concerns. To date, only the first and third instances have occurred.

Lastly, the judicial branch plays a crucial role in decision-making. Its major institutions include the Supreme Court of the Republic of Umbrellya (Sąd Najwyższy); the Grand Administrative Court of the Republic of Umbrellya (Wielki Sąd Administracyjny); the Constitutional Tribunal of the Republic of Umbrellya (Trybunał Konstytucyjny); and the Federal Tribunal of the Republic of Poland (Trybunał Federalnej). On the approval of the Senat, the Szecej Dom also appoints the morgattji or the Minister for Civil Rights Protection (Rzecznik Praw Obywatelskich) for a four-year term. The morgattji has the duty of exercising the observance and implementation of the rights and freedoms of Umbrelliet citizens.

The judicial branch is independent from the government and therefore court decisions are made my justices without government intervention, as is custom in common law. Court decisions are then passed on as precedent for future cases, in which future justices will base their decisions on.

Political Parties

The most popular political parties in Umbrellya fall within what is known as the Center Bubble of the political compass. Parties such as the Free Market Democrats (WRD) and the United Social Assembly (ZZS) generally fall within this bubble. The Conservative Party (KI), Cogan National Party (CPN) and the Christian Democrats (CD) are considered to border this bubble. However, parties such as the Sunrise Party (IWS) and the Assembly of Parcan Nationalists (ZNP) are considered to be beyond centrism in any form.

Rule of Law

Umbrellya uses a common law legal system allowing courts to act independently from the government to make court decisions pertaining to criminal law. However, since the Criminal Identities Act (1856) became law, the identities of everyone involved with a criminal case are concealed from public knowledge, except for the judge. Jury members, attorneys, the defendant, the accused, witnesses and those giving testimonies (except by experts) are kept anonymous. The only aspect that becomes public knowledge is a description of the crime, expert testimonies (if applicable), a description of the crime and the final decision made by a judge or jury.

Political scientists have described Umbrellya's criminal justice system as being one of the most peculiar and cruel systems in the Ventismarian Union and surrounding Ventismar. For one, a 'life sentence' is described in the Criminal Index of Umbrellya as a 40 year sentence; almost double that of typical life sentences. In addition, heinous crimes outlined in the CIU, like first-degree murder - for example, not only carry a life sentence, but a Labour for Life sentence. This punishment requires the convicted to be exercised through manual labour (i.e. on a federally sanctioned corrective farm or mine) 7 days a week for 12 hours a day until their sentence has been fulfilled. Only religious holidays such as Easter, Christmas and Yom Kippur, for example, have a 1 day exemption from work. This sentence was created following the 1934 Ludzie (The People) v. Czajmac court case in which the defendant, Sarborji Czajmac, sexually abused and killed three 5-year old girls as an elementary school teacher. Capital punishment was abolished 2 years prior but the court desired a stricter punishment than 40 years in prison. Thus, the Labour for Life sentence was first handed down and made legal precedence. Criminals deemed undesirable as highlighted by the Grievous Crimes Against Humanity Act (1889) can have their citizenship stripped of them indefinitely and later be banished from the country. The classic example of banishment is being left at sea. To date, only 214 guilty verdicts have had this sentence.

Legal Anomalies and Important Court Decisions (Alphabetical Laws)

Ambrja's Law (1837) Ludzie v. Dykjielic

A person is guilty of assault if, by means of intimidation, the victim reasonably suspects harm to come to them. The same person is guilty of battery if contact is made with the victim.

Dostia's Law (1828) Amendment 1

If 2 consecutive elections fail to deliver a legitimate leader for at least one executive term each election, a transitory council (oligarchy) will take place of the executive branch for 365 days or more. This council will only be instated if the Supreme Court of Umbrellya decides that another election is inappropriate. The council is comprised of 9 advisors that can pass bills (in the legislature), regulatory laws, and executive rulings. The council is not allowed to attend summits or other international events/meetings and may not send a delegate on its behalf. The transitionary council period is written into the constitution as a neutral body.

Florian's Law (1899) Ludzie v. Pracat

A person or group, by any means besides torture or murder of a human being, is entitled to retrieve a stolen item.

Sarborji's Law (1934) Ludzie v. Czajmac

Any person found guilty of murder in the first-degree, torture of another human being, grievous bodily harm with intent of kill, terrorism causing death, and treason are automatically sentenced to an LL (labour for life) sentence - the harshest criminal punishment in Umbrellya.

Tyga's Law (1979) Ludzie v. Clozheim

An ammendment to the Insider Trading felony found in the Umbrelliet Criminal Index. Information that is used strategically (not public information) to buy or sell stocks after being disclosed to someone without the speaker's consent does not constitute Insider Trading. A person is only guilty of Insider Trading after consensually receiving private information from the tippee and buying and selling securities as a result.

Duda v. Nonstak Corporation (1981)

The court found that businesses cannot terminate employment based on the will of the employer, as was employment law. Employers can only terminate an employee based on probable cause that an employee has acted illegally, violated company policy, or caused fiduciary or financial damages to the business.

Economy

Umbrellya's contemporary economy was born out of the dated and post-industrialized dictatorial economy, which ended in 1951. Before its current economy was developed, Umbrellya was predominately manufacturing-based and the service industry was just beginning to develop. In 1958, Umbrellya begrudgingly relied on Western Ventismarian countries for trade, and supported itself with an overwhelmingly farm- and mining-based economy.

By 1965, Umbrellya began to rapidly urbanize, and the services sector of the economy exploded with 15 years of growth. One of the primary drivers for this economic miracle is rooted in the Second Migration West, where over 3 million Umbrellas left rural provinces for the cities along the West and North coasts, as well as the capitol: Sokaczow.

Demographics

(Needs update; see summary for correct numbers) Umbrellya boasts one of the most ethnically diverse populations in Ventismar. Roughly 28% of Umbrellas identify as something other than the Parcan majority; with most categorizing as Kaelictian, Rezuan, and Cogan. Almost 95% of Umbrellas have Caucasian ancestry, with the remaining 8% originating from either Ziamban, Azaran or Ophionese descent.

The national Rukonian diaspora population reached 3 million in 2017, spreading over 9 provinces: Judapóst, Kaelictia, Luchańk, Krgyl, Zauclaw, Wilndconjiy, Evawojara, Borzykowy and Caliseneka.

Language

Umbrellya's nationally recognized language is Parcan, spoken as a first language by roughly 66 million Umbrellas. Almost every major city in Umbrellya has a Parcan-speaking majority, with Morningstar and Lekkowelm having Cogan and Kaelictian speaking majorities respectively. Parcan has 15 officially recognized dialects across the country. The Soka (Capitol dialect) is used predominately in Sokaczow (Umbrellya's capitol) and in the area surrounding that, making it one of the most important dialects to understand for travelers and businesses.

As of 2018, roughly 68% of Umbrellas claim to speak English, with numbers surging after the collapse of the Parcan Dominion (1933 - 1951).

The most-spoken dialects across the Parcan landscape include Metro Zloty (again, for business and travel purposes), Bendómemic, South Bay dialect, Clifrazi/Coastal dialect, and Pretamac.

Cogan is the second-most spoken language, with most of its speakers originating from provinces such as Mauriyaril and Arapache. Cogan is almost identical to Danish as Mauriyaril is the historical homeland for Cogani (Danes). Cogani has lost millions of speakers as a result of the Parcan Dictatorship's oppressive policies against regional minorities during the middle of the 20th century. The 2 most commonly-inherited Cogan dialects include Grenøbe and Dræsø which collectively share just over 6 million speakers.

Kaelictian, Sunalaya's Czech hub, hosts the third-most spoken language in the country, Kaelictian. Kaelictian originates from the Lekków Valley in between the Weitóma Mountain range surrounding Lower Kaelictia and Lekkowelm. In addition to Cogani native speakers, Kaelictian and Rezuan speakers were displaced during the dictatorship's regime.

Rezuan is the fourth-most spoken language in Umbrellya, with about 3 million native speakers. Umbrellya's long border with neighboring Rezua has historically meant an abundance of cross-border travel and language exposure in the region.

Religion

As of a 2018 national survey, Roman Catholicism remained Umbrellya's most practiced religion, with over 63 million followers. Atheism/agnosticism is the second-largest religion/irreligion with 15 million Umbrellas identifying under this category. Judaism and Hinduism are the next largest religious communities in Umbrellya, with 6 million and 3 million followers respectively. Umbrellas not identifying with any of the aforementioned religious groups either fall under other denominations of Christianity such as Protestantism and Rezuan Catholicism, or Islam.

Health

Umbrellya's healthcare system is based on an all-inclusive insurance system. State subsidised healthcare is available to all Umbrelliet citizens who are covered by this general health insurance program. However, it is not compulsory to be treated in a state-run hospital as a number of private medical complexes exist nationwide.

Hospitals in Umbrellya are organised according to the regional administrative structure, resultantly most towns have their own hospital. Larger and more specialized medical complexes tend only to be found in larger cities such as Bendomemich, Zloty, Sokaczow, Munstergo, Morningstar, and Portcrau.

Education

Education in Umbrellya starts at age 4 or 5 depending on province, with the introduction of junior kindergarten leading to primary education. It is compulsory for students to graduate from the 10th grade in Umbrellya. Corporal punishment of children has been banned in Umbrellya since 1978 with the introduction of the 'Youth Education and Safety Act (YES)'. In grades 9 and 10, students take a compulsory nation-wide examination to determine education levels in depth across the country. In the 12th grade, students wanting to get accepted into post-secondary institutions such as colleges and universities need to take one of 5 standardized tests targeting specific skills and knowledge - whichever applicable to the student. There are almost 360 post-secondary institutions, of which 70% are private institutions.

The most famous universities in Umbrellya are Wilfrid Blackwatch University, the University of Zloty, the University of Nalabasas, Broceim University and the University of Wildygo. These universities are home to approximately 150,000 students each year, with the educational calendar starting in September and ending in April.