Grand Plutocracy
30-07-2007, 17:16
CGP National Fact Book
I History
II Government
II(A) Introduction
II(B) Executive
II(C) Parliament
II(D) Judiciary
II(E) Elections and Political Parties
II(F) Head of State
III People and Culture
IV National Territory
V Economy
VI Further Information
----------
I History
The Commonwealth of Grand Plutocracy was originally a British Crown Colony, first settled in April 1712. Over the course of the next two hundred years the first settlements prospered as an important trade centre in naval supplies, ship building, banking and fur hides in addition to the fishing industry.
By 1908, the first settlements had grown to a population of 4 million people, mainly of English, Scottish or Irish decent. With the turn of the twentieth century, the economy of the colony began to develop into book publishing and international banking as the port of Holtenprice expanded.
Until this time, the principle towns and cities of the region had administered themselves, but with the Regional Confederation of 1920, local business leaders and politicians called for the unification of the regional government in order to facilitate business. This proposal was negotiated between the Confederation Representatives and the British Government and, on 29th October 1924 the Dominion of Plutocria came into being, with its capital in Ilium Percote.
Plutocria became the independent nation of Grand Plutocracy on 1st September, 1956 as a Commonwealth of cities and towns in the former colony.
II Government
II(A) Introduction
The CGP is a bicameral parliamentary democracy with elections to both houses. The leader of the largest political party forms a government as Prime Minister, traditionally a member of the lower house of parliament with a president elected every second year from the upper house to act as Head of State.
II(B) Executive
The Executive branch of the Government is formed by the largest party in the lower house of parliament, the House of Commons.
The leader of the majority party will serve as Prime Minister and appoint a cabinet from his party colleagues, elected to the House of Commons, forming a cabinet which will drive the legislative programme. The most important offices of state are:
Prime Minister
Foreign Minister
Interior Minister
Finance Minister
Defence Minister
Education Minister
Health Minister
Trade and Industry Minister
Details of current ministers can be accessed by following the link "Government of the Commonwealth of Grand Plutocracy" below.
The executive must report to and is overseen by parliament.
II(C) Parliament
Parliament consists of a lower house, the House of Commons, and an upper house, the Senate.
Elections to the House of Commons occur once the house is dissolved by the Prime Minister. The decision to dissolve the house rests with the PM, but elections must take place at least once every five years.
Election to the House is by majority vote and each citizen has one vote to cast. Each member of the house, or more correctly Member of Parliament, represents a constituency of citizens, and there are currently 500 constituencies represented. Members of Parliament, if not members of the Executive, maybe appointed to sit on committees with responsibility to oversee the government.
The PM must attend the House once a week to answer questions from backbenchers once a week and provide evidence to the Executive Oversight Committee every quarter on the conduct of the government. Each government department has a committee to oversee its actions.
A Speaker of the house is elected from amongst backbench MPs and serves until he or she wishes to step down.
The Senate is an appointed House, also of 500 members. Senators are selected every eight years by a specially appointed Censor, elected by the citizens on a majority vote.
Senators are selected from prominent business people, academics and other leading figures. Senators are not party political, and there are no parties represented in the Senate.
Senators also oversee the government through a series of committees.
For a Bill, introduced by the Government or opposition, to become law, it must be voted onto the statute book by a majority vote in both houses after passing through the legislative process. The bill is formally signed onto the statute book by the Prime Minister and President.
The President acts as speaker of the Senate.
II(D) Judiciary
The judiciary is an independent entity.
Senior members of the judiciary, namely the High Court Judges, are appointed by the Solicitor General (a Government appointment) and confirmed by the Senate.
II(E) Elections and Political Parties
As mentioned, elections to the lower house must be held at least once every five years (from the date of the previous election) and are conducted by majority voting.
There are currently three major political parties within the House of Commons. These are:
The Governing Party: National Conservative Party
The Official Opposition: Liberal Alliance
Third Party: Social Democratic Party
The House of Commons is currently made up of the following parties:
National Conservative Party: 321 seats
Liberal Alliance: 112 seats
Social Democratic Party: 40 seats
Democratic Party: 20 seats
Green Party: 5 seats
Independents: 2 seats
Government Majority: 71
Figures as of last General Election, 12th November 2005. National Turnout 71.2%.
The ruling NCP has been in power for the last 12 years.
Participation in elections is not mandatory, and any citizen may join a political party.
II(F) Head of State
The Head of State, with the title of President, is elected from within the Senate every two years.
The President does not have any political or government duties apart from signing bills into law and representing the nation abroad or at home.
Presidents can not be re-elected for a period of four years once the term is over. Once they step down, they return to the senate.
If a President dies in office, a successor is elected by the Senate.
III People and Culture
In the last National Census, conducted in November 2004, the population identified their ethnic group as follows:
English: 45%
Scottish: 32%
Irish: 15%
French: 6%
African: 2%
Native: 0.8%
In terms of National Identity, 96% of the population see them selves as plutocratic, with 3% as either French, Irish or Native and 1% unknown.
Religious Devotion was given as:
Atheist: 84%
Agnostic: 10%
Catholic: 1%
Anglican: 3%
Other: 2%
Although freedom of religion is a constitutional right, the majority of the population chooses not to follow any religion.
The idea of national identity shared by the majority of the population is built upon shared values of commerce and enterprise as well as academic and scientific research.
While all forms of music are enjoyed by the population, TV is widely used as an informative or educational tool rather than one of mass entertainment. Theatre and reading (publishing being the nation's largest industry) are among the most popular pass times.
IV National Territory
The CGP territory includes the islands of Drammer, Hawke and Ilium Island on the coast and encompassing a part of the mainland.
The Capital city of Ilium Percote is located on Ilium Island. Other notable cities inculde:
Eboracum
Hewerden
Holtenprice
Camillius
The captial city, located on the southern part of Ilium Is. is the cultural and political heart of the nation, with the main financial centre in Holtenprice.
The climate is North Temperate, with a fertile coastal plain on the mainland rising to mountians in the west of the country.
Federal Regions
The CGP has six federal regions, each governing the local police and health policies, in addition to managing internal infrastructure.
Ilium Island
Drammer
Hawke
Vermed
Lankarn
Olleedston
Statistics
Official Nate: Commonwealth of Grand Plutcracy
National territory: 3,855,207 Sq. mi.
Population Density: 128 sq. mi. (as of July 2007)
Urbanisation: Urban/Rural: 84%/16%
Life Expectancy M/F: 81/83
Literacy Rate: 99.2%
V Further Information
For further information, please contact the CGP Office of National Statistics
info@ons.gov.cgp (http://http://www.nationstates.net/)
Copyright of Grand Plutocracy Stationary Office 2007
Published by the GPSO, 12 Aver St., Kleeper KL7 8OR
I History
II Government
II(A) Introduction
II(B) Executive
II(C) Parliament
II(D) Judiciary
II(E) Elections and Political Parties
II(F) Head of State
III People and Culture
IV National Territory
V Economy
VI Further Information
----------
I History
The Commonwealth of Grand Plutocracy was originally a British Crown Colony, first settled in April 1712. Over the course of the next two hundred years the first settlements prospered as an important trade centre in naval supplies, ship building, banking and fur hides in addition to the fishing industry.
By 1908, the first settlements had grown to a population of 4 million people, mainly of English, Scottish or Irish decent. With the turn of the twentieth century, the economy of the colony began to develop into book publishing and international banking as the port of Holtenprice expanded.
Until this time, the principle towns and cities of the region had administered themselves, but with the Regional Confederation of 1920, local business leaders and politicians called for the unification of the regional government in order to facilitate business. This proposal was negotiated between the Confederation Representatives and the British Government and, on 29th October 1924 the Dominion of Plutocria came into being, with its capital in Ilium Percote.
Plutocria became the independent nation of Grand Plutocracy on 1st September, 1956 as a Commonwealth of cities and towns in the former colony.
II Government
II(A) Introduction
The CGP is a bicameral parliamentary democracy with elections to both houses. The leader of the largest political party forms a government as Prime Minister, traditionally a member of the lower house of parliament with a president elected every second year from the upper house to act as Head of State.
II(B) Executive
The Executive branch of the Government is formed by the largest party in the lower house of parliament, the House of Commons.
The leader of the majority party will serve as Prime Minister and appoint a cabinet from his party colleagues, elected to the House of Commons, forming a cabinet which will drive the legislative programme. The most important offices of state are:
Prime Minister
Foreign Minister
Interior Minister
Finance Minister
Defence Minister
Education Minister
Health Minister
Trade and Industry Minister
Details of current ministers can be accessed by following the link "Government of the Commonwealth of Grand Plutocracy" below.
The executive must report to and is overseen by parliament.
II(C) Parliament
Parliament consists of a lower house, the House of Commons, and an upper house, the Senate.
Elections to the House of Commons occur once the house is dissolved by the Prime Minister. The decision to dissolve the house rests with the PM, but elections must take place at least once every five years.
Election to the House is by majority vote and each citizen has one vote to cast. Each member of the house, or more correctly Member of Parliament, represents a constituency of citizens, and there are currently 500 constituencies represented. Members of Parliament, if not members of the Executive, maybe appointed to sit on committees with responsibility to oversee the government.
The PM must attend the House once a week to answer questions from backbenchers once a week and provide evidence to the Executive Oversight Committee every quarter on the conduct of the government. Each government department has a committee to oversee its actions.
A Speaker of the house is elected from amongst backbench MPs and serves until he or she wishes to step down.
The Senate is an appointed House, also of 500 members. Senators are selected every eight years by a specially appointed Censor, elected by the citizens on a majority vote.
Senators are selected from prominent business people, academics and other leading figures. Senators are not party political, and there are no parties represented in the Senate.
Senators also oversee the government through a series of committees.
For a Bill, introduced by the Government or opposition, to become law, it must be voted onto the statute book by a majority vote in both houses after passing through the legislative process. The bill is formally signed onto the statute book by the Prime Minister and President.
The President acts as speaker of the Senate.
II(D) Judiciary
The judiciary is an independent entity.
Senior members of the judiciary, namely the High Court Judges, are appointed by the Solicitor General (a Government appointment) and confirmed by the Senate.
II(E) Elections and Political Parties
As mentioned, elections to the lower house must be held at least once every five years (from the date of the previous election) and are conducted by majority voting.
There are currently three major political parties within the House of Commons. These are:
The Governing Party: National Conservative Party
The Official Opposition: Liberal Alliance
Third Party: Social Democratic Party
The House of Commons is currently made up of the following parties:
National Conservative Party: 321 seats
Liberal Alliance: 112 seats
Social Democratic Party: 40 seats
Democratic Party: 20 seats
Green Party: 5 seats
Independents: 2 seats
Government Majority: 71
Figures as of last General Election, 12th November 2005. National Turnout 71.2%.
The ruling NCP has been in power for the last 12 years.
Participation in elections is not mandatory, and any citizen may join a political party.
II(F) Head of State
The Head of State, with the title of President, is elected from within the Senate every two years.
The President does not have any political or government duties apart from signing bills into law and representing the nation abroad or at home.
Presidents can not be re-elected for a period of four years once the term is over. Once they step down, they return to the senate.
If a President dies in office, a successor is elected by the Senate.
III People and Culture
In the last National Census, conducted in November 2004, the population identified their ethnic group as follows:
English: 45%
Scottish: 32%
Irish: 15%
French: 6%
African: 2%
Native: 0.8%
In terms of National Identity, 96% of the population see them selves as plutocratic, with 3% as either French, Irish or Native and 1% unknown.
Religious Devotion was given as:
Atheist: 84%
Agnostic: 10%
Catholic: 1%
Anglican: 3%
Other: 2%
Although freedom of religion is a constitutional right, the majority of the population chooses not to follow any religion.
The idea of national identity shared by the majority of the population is built upon shared values of commerce and enterprise as well as academic and scientific research.
While all forms of music are enjoyed by the population, TV is widely used as an informative or educational tool rather than one of mass entertainment. Theatre and reading (publishing being the nation's largest industry) are among the most popular pass times.
IV National Territory
The CGP territory includes the islands of Drammer, Hawke and Ilium Island on the coast and encompassing a part of the mainland.
The Capital city of Ilium Percote is located on Ilium Island. Other notable cities inculde:
Eboracum
Hewerden
Holtenprice
Camillius
The captial city, located on the southern part of Ilium Is. is the cultural and political heart of the nation, with the main financial centre in Holtenprice.
The climate is North Temperate, with a fertile coastal plain on the mainland rising to mountians in the west of the country.
Federal Regions
The CGP has six federal regions, each governing the local police and health policies, in addition to managing internal infrastructure.
Ilium Island
Drammer
Hawke
Vermed
Lankarn
Olleedston
Statistics
Official Nate: Commonwealth of Grand Plutcracy
National territory: 3,855,207 Sq. mi.
Population Density: 128 sq. mi. (as of July 2007)
Urbanisation: Urban/Rural: 84%/16%
Life Expectancy M/F: 81/83
Literacy Rate: 99.2%
V Further Information
For further information, please contact the CGP Office of National Statistics
info@ons.gov.cgp (http://http://www.nationstates.net/)
Copyright of Grand Plutocracy Stationary Office 2007
Published by the GPSO, 12 Aver St., Kleeper KL7 8OR