Schultaria Prime
17-09-2006, 22:48
Schultaria Prime
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/emschultz/NewFlag2.jpg
Background
Once a loose collection of independent colonial city states under the conglomeration of a dozen international corporations, the nation of Schultaria Prime claimed status as an independent nation following the ratification of the Declaration of Popular Sovereignty Accords in SDC 0. Since earning its independence in a brief, but violent, popular revolution, the government has been organized along the lines of a heavily centralized, popularly elected, federal bureaucracy and a series of progressive legislative acts to provide basic welfare to the majority of the population. Over the last century, the nation’s development has been marked with tremendous advances in the fields of pure science, engineering, and education leading to a series of economic booms and tremendous advances in physical wealth. With its forces and economy largely absent from participation in any major armed conflict, the nation has devoted the majority of its time to developing a highly sophisticated, technically advanced, society devoted to steady economic growth, low unemployment, and marginal inflation.
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island between the Indian Ocean and the Mozambique Channel, east of Mozambique
Map References:
The political map of Schultaria Prime (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/emschultz/Politico5.jpg)
The physical map of Schultaria Prime (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/emschultz/terrain4.jpg)
Area:
Total: 587,040 sq km
Land: 581,540 sq km
Water 5,500 sq km
Area (Comparative): Exact dimensions of Madagascar, or slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land Boundaries: Not Applicable
Coastline: 4,828 km
Maritime Claims:
Territorial Sea: 20 km
Contiguous Zone: 33.5 km
Exclusive Economic Zone: 330 km
Continental Shelf: Not Specified
Climate: Predominantly tropical along the coasts with temperate and subtropical zones in the central portion of the country; cooler, semiarid regions located in the northeastern portion of the nation.
Terrain: Vast central plains, along with low altitude mountainous terrain along the northern and eastern portions of the nation
Elevation Extremes:
Lowest Point: Indian Ocean: 0 m
Highest Point: Telmacas Orronien: 4,624 m
Natural Resources: Bauxite, Iron, Coal, Copper, Molybdenum, Quartz, Silicon, Hydroelectric / Geothermal Power
Land Use:
Arable Land: 1.03%
Permanent Crops: 5.07%
Other: 93.9%
Irrigated Land: 29,484 sq km
Natural Hazards: Typhoon, tsunami, and earthquake activity on the eastern coastline; systemic monsoon rains and flooding along the northern half of the country; infrequent precipitation conditions in the Central Plains region during the summer months
Environmental Issues: Soil erosion from extensive open pit mining, deforestation and agricultural expansion; destruction of natural aquifers and freshwater springs due to expansive residential and industrial demand for open property; fragmentation of natural habitats due to increased urban growth; growing concerns surrounding limited arable land to feed an already hyper-urbanized and increasingly dense population base; alarmingly rapid decreases in indigenous non-renewable natural resources due to a growing culture of temporary consumerism and lagging growth in civil recycling programs.
*Note: As of August 11, some 4,230 square kilometers, or 15% landmass, of Permanent Crops were destroyed in a series of severe prairie fires lasting approximately eight days. In the losses, some 2.785 metric Gigatons of miscellaneous material including foodstuffs and building materials were either heavily damaged or completely vaporized. The amount of hazardous chemicals released into the soil and atmospheric environs has yet to be fully surveyed by independent environmental agencies, but permanent cleanup for expected damages are estimated to take a minimum period of five to eight years.
Environment (International Agreements): As of this time, the United Socialist States of Schultaria Prime has not been offered nor has made any commitments to any international environmental treaties
People
Population: 5,935,000,000 (Recent Estimate [Dec. 01])
Age Structure:
0-14 years 24.75% (male 752,817,656; female 716,094,843)
15-64 years 53.95% (male 1,689,019,393; female 1,512,913,106)
65 years and older 21.3% (male 584,039,610; female 680,115,390)
Median Age
Total: 42.125 years
Male: 41.75 years
Female: 42.5 years
Population Growth Rate: 1.47% (Recent estimate: Down from 1.60% a year earlier)
Sex Ratio:
Under 15 years: 1.025 male(s) / female
15-64 years: 1.055 male(s) / female
65 years and older: .924 male(s) / female
Life Expectancy (at birth):
Total Population: 99
Male: 97
Female: 101
Nationality:
Noun: Schultarian(s)
Adjective: Schultarian
Ethnic Groups: White: 42.15%, Black: 41.75%, Turkish: 6.75%, Arab: 3.2%, Asian: 2.5%, Other / Non-Defined: 3.65%
Religions: Christian (Episcopalian): 39%, Buddhist / Taoist: 21%, Jewish: 14%, Muslim: 14%, Buddhist / Shinto: 7%, Christian (Roman Catholic): 3%, Other / Non-Defined / None: 2%
Languages: English, Schultarian Alphabetic, Schultarian Symbolic [Aliem and Thol'keahm Dialects] (Official languages of State, Higher Education, and Commerce), Greek, Arabic, Russian (Widely spoken in Tarannu and Edgen), Latin, Kiswahili
Literacy:
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write at a level suitable for everyday comprehension in English and Schultarian Alphabetic (~10,000 words)
Total Population: 99.9845%
Male: 99.9845%
Female: 99.9845%
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write at a level suitable for everyday comprehension in Schultarian Symbolic (Aliem Dialect: ~1,500 words and phrases)
Total Population: 85.165%
Male: 83.225%
Female: 87.105%
[b]Government
Country Name:
Conventional Long Form: The United Socialist States of Schultaria Prime
Conventional Short Form: Schultaria Prime
Abbreviation: USSSP
Local Long Form (Approximate Symbolic Translation): A strong, all encompassing, nation that exists amongst humanity on the planet; a state that is within grasp of its citizens, while at the same time possessing an explosively industrious temperament. And I state, it is wholly great yet with room to improve its existence.
Local Short Form (Approximate Symbolic Translation): The strong all encompassing nation created by Merle Schultz of whom we bear his last name.
Government Type: Constitution-Based Socialist Republic with Pure Referendum Democracy in Limited Institutions of Government (Concerning Issues of Constitutional Reform, Electorate Referendum, and Formal Declaration of War)
Capital: Schultaria Prime, Schultaria Prime
Administrative Divisions: 2 States and 2 Protectorates; Coastal State Protectorate, Protectorate of Schultaria, State of Prime, State of Tarann
Dependant Areas: Protectorate of Islandia Schultaria
Independence: 31 July SDC 0 (From the United Sooltaria Conglomerate)
National Holiday:
Independence Day, 31 July (SDC 0)
Constitution (Memorial) Day, 19 September (SDC 0)
First Contact Day, 12 May (SDC 92)
Constitution: Effective 19 September SDC 0 by Popular Vote
Legal System: Based on the Schultarian Codes of Philosophical Precedent and Logical Conduct (Konductus Thalogim) coupled with English Common Law on the Federal Level; Precedent Law and Schultarian Codes of Debate Conflict are also used to extensive practice in cases of non-federal statutes and intellectual disputes; all legislative acts are subject to judicial review; does not currently accept international law jurisdiction outside of defined, nation to nation, diplomatic treaties
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive Branch:
Primary Chief of State:
Central Director Elliot SCHULTZ [No Party] (Since 1 Jan SDC 90 – Present [Currently SDC 117])
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/emschultz/Elliotsmall.jpg
*Note: The Central Director is both Primary Chief of State and Head of Government
Subordinate Chiefs of State:
Director Joan COVEY [DiAL] (Since 1 Jan SDC 105)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/emschultz/Coveysmall.jpg
Director Sarnow HAARVEKORD [No Party] (Since 1 Jan SDC 115)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/emschultz/haarvekordsmall.jpg
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by popular vote of the three Directors with Assembly Approval, can only be removed through popular referendum or consent by the Central and Subordinate Directors
Elections: Central and Subordinate Directors elected by popular vote for a five year term with no restriction on term limits; election last held 15 Oct SDC 114 (next to be held 15 Oct SDC 119); individual to garner the largest amount of the popular vote appointed as Central Director with the individuals arriving in second and third place acquiring positions as subordinate Directors
Former Leaders (Central Directorate):
1. Merle SCHULTZ (SDC 0 - 15)
2. Tamir OTKABON (SDC 15 - 25)
3. Kedjem COVEY (SDC 25 - 28)* [Darvon SALNER] (SDC 28 - 30)
Note: Died of natural causes May 16, SDC 28, appointed SALNER as inheritor of the third Directorship to maintain continuity
4. Darvon SALNER (SDC 30 - 35)
5. Jocelyn CERANSKE (SDC 35 - 55)
6. Michael SCHULTZ (SDC 55 - 75)
7. Harlen DAMIEN (SDC 75 - 90)
8. Elliot SCHULTZ (SDC 90 - Present)
Legislative Branch:
Unicameral National Assembly (400 seats divided on equal population districts; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve twelve-year terms; one quarter of the Assembly available for election every three years)
Head of Assembly: Chairwoman Jenna KARLOW [DiAL] (1 Jan SDC 109)
Elections (National Assembly): Last held 15 Oct SDC 114 (next to be held 15 Oct SDC 117)
Election Results (National Assembly – Percent of Vote / Seats by Party): DiAL (73.75% / 295 seats), NIL (17% / 68 seats), PC (5% / 20 seats), SoK (4% / 16 seats), SoI / Conservative (.25% / 1 seat)
Judicial Branch: Constitutional Court (Twelve justices appointed equally by the legislative and executive branches for life terms on condition of good conduct); Three Levels of Standard Civil and Criminal Courts (National, State, Municipal)
Political Parties and Leaders:
Democracy in Action League or DiAL [Director Joan COVEY]
National Independence League or NIL [Assemblywoman Aeoife NOROGENINNA]
People’s Choice Party or PC [Jacen ERGOMEIER]
Socialistia Kollabraci (Socialist Party) or SoK [Assemblyman Gregor NALKEN]
Sooltar Indaata (Conservative Party) or SoI [Porter ALTUNIS]
Political Pressure Groups: Not Applicable
International Organization Participation: NATO (Council Member [Pending Reapplication]), Primex (Regional Founder),TAPRES (Founding Member and Scientific / Financial Contributor)
Flag Description: Silver lettering on a black background representing the primary Schultarian Symbolic description of the nation at large
Economy
Economic Overview: Having discarded a majority of free market policies used by former Schultarian oligarchic predecessors, the economy of Schultaria Prime has rebuilt itself under the centralized management of the Schultarian government. In less than a century, the nation has transformed from an import dependent, industrially minimized, transfer port to one of the preeminent centers of technological advancement and advanced civil engineering virtually independent of foreign capital in all but the most ambitious financial enterprises. By law, every business above fifty employees or twenty five million merlons in net annual profit formed in Schultaria Prime must contain a minimum majority ownership of 54% by the government through the state monopoly known as Designwerks. In the twenty five years under Central Director Schultz’s administration, these policies were further expanded when Designwerks, the preeminent amalgamation of Schultaria Prime’s state industries, was given broader authority in the fields of heavy industry and civilian infrastructure contracting.
Though this enforcement Schultaria has built an industrial and business culture stressing an overall high quality of heavy industry and high technology, as shown by considerable improvements in the efficiency of manufacturing capital and quality of Schultarian goods over the last four decades, but it has also led to suppressed capital expansion in several critical sectors, notably biotechnology and agriculture. However, through heavy regulation and extensive laws concerning quality control and worker’s rights, the economy has been kept in moderate growth and continually expanding over the last fifty years. Until natural events interceded, Schultaria Prime also boasted a quite robust Agricultural sector which most analysts considered to be one of the more efficient areas of the economy. Capable of providing slightly over 100% of all nutritional and liquid energy needs (via ethanol) with less than .7% of the national labor force, the nation’s agricultural reserves allowed for more investment to be placed in industrial and high technology sectors of the marketplace as expensive agricultural imports of staple foods were of minimal government concern. However, with the loss of nearly 15% of the nation’s staple foodstuffs and the landmass associated with its production, economic indicators predict a period of slightly higher inflation and reduced trade surpluses for a period ranging anywhere from seven to twelve years.
Schultaria Prime’s GDP also accounts for slightly over 27.2% of Primex’s Gross Regional Product, and is a member of a trio of nations, including with Lindim and the Protectorate of Islandia Schultaria, whose domestic revenues currently exceed a quarter quadrillion USD annually. Presently, the Gross Domestic Product is the second largest of the four-member region, and its currency is the third strongest backed by a healthy and relatively stable exchange rate due to vast sources of material assets held in public trust by the government of Schultaria Prime.
GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $226,254,000,000,000
GDP (Real Growth Rate): 2.45%
GDP (Per Capita): $38,000
GDP (Composition by Sector):
Agriculture: .85%
Services: 31.70%
Industry: 57.45%
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices): 2.35%
Labor Force: 2,077,250,000
Labor Force (By Occupation):
Agriculture (Farming, Forestry, and Fishing): .67%
Government (*Note: Excludes Designwerks Positions): 12%
Professional and Technical (*Note: Non-Industrial Applications): 19.2%
Sales, Office, Managerial, and Clerical: 23.13%
Bulk Manufacturing, Transportation, Materials Extraction, and Processing: 45%
Unemployment Rate: 3.00%
Budget:
Revenues: $218,764,100,000,000
Expenditures: $216,576,459,000,000
Budget Allocation: General Welfare / Economic Development 60%, State Funded Primary through Post Secondary Education 15%, Socialized Medicine 10%, Defense 6%, Debt Reduction / Savings 8%, International Investments 1%
Current Account Balance: + $2,187,641,000,000
Public Debt: Not Applicable
Agriculture Products: Cereal Grains (Wheat, Corn, Rye, and Barley), Potatoes, Tropical Fruits, Vegetables, Flax, Ethanol; Beef, Poultry, Eggs, Dairy Products; Fish, Shellfish, Kale
Industries: Significant industrial power on the global scene and leading industrial producer in the Primex region; highly diversified and advanced civilian sector in the production of electronics, machine tools, organic (non petroleum) chemicals, structural materials (ferrous and non ferrous metals), aerospace (predominantly orbital space vehicles), nuclear materials (fission fuel sources and power devices), consumer goods, food processing, merchant shipping, and mining / civil recycling
Industrial Production (Growth Rate): 2.71%
Electricity (Production): 101.039 Trillion kWh
Electricity (Consumption): 90.535 Trillion kWh
Electricity (Exports): 9.098 Trillion kWh
Electricity (Imports): Not Applicable
Electricity (Reserves): 1.406 Trillion kWh
Exports: $26.358 Trillion
Exports (Commodities): Industrial Supplies and Machinery, Building Materials, Electronic Goods and Component Parts, Agricultural Machinery, Power Generation Devices and Fuel Sources (Radioactive Components), Pre-Fabricated and Custom Civilian Contracting Services
Exports (Partners): Sharina: 15.25%, Lindim: 11.85%, Aztec National League: 9.5%, Greenmanbry: 9.25%, Sarzonia: 7.25%, Hamptonshire: 7%, Vastivan Alaska: 5.6%, Automagfreek: 4.25%, Manhattan Prime: 3%, Other / Sundry: 27.05%
Imports: $26.164 Trillion
Imports (Commodities): Agricultural Products (Consumable Goods), Non-ferrous Building Materials, Radioactive Fuel Sources, Transportation Equipment and Components, Hydrocarbon Chemicals, Medical Equipment and Medicines, Conventional Shipping and Aircraft Equipment and Components
Imports (Partners): Lindim: 14%, Aztec National League: 12.95%, Sharina: 11.7%, Hamptonshire: 10.95%, Greenmanbry: 5.95%, Vastivan Alaska: 5.7%, Sarzonia: 3.4%, Manhattan Prime: 2.6%, Other / Sundry: 32.75%
Economic Aid (Donor): $2,187,641,000,000
Reserves (Foreign Exchange / Precious Metals): $87,505,640,000,000
Currency: Schultarian merlon (Sm)
Exchange Rates: .55 merlons per USD, 1.818 USD per merlon
Fiscal Year: Calendar Year; Begins 1 Jan and Ends 30 Dec
Communications
Telephones (Main Lines in Use): 5,222,800,000
Telephones (Mobile Cellular): 4,926,050,000
Telephone System:
General Assessment: Extremely large, highly advanced, multipurpose communications system with adequate and regular maintenance; majority of the system is connected through fiber optic and quantum packet cable along with a significant satellite relay system for remote areas; cellular systems have grown in popularity due to increasing investment in high density, low maintenance, wireless infrastructure
International: Country Code – 29; 308 ocean cable systems in use; 584 satellite relays and earth based stations are also in active service
Radio Broadcast Stations:
AM: 8,162
FM: 9,479
Shortwave: 148
Television Broadcast Stations: Nearly 1,900 individual broadcast stations with over 87% owned and operated by Hifex, the media conglomerate directly operated through Designwerks; in addition, some 14,000 satellite and cable stations are also available for public consumption
Internet Country Code: .usp
Internet Hosts: 1,510
Internet Users: 5,837,072,500
Transportation
General Assessment: Well maintained, highly efficient, network of passenger rail hubs and complex multi-lane highway systems; high allocation of public funds for maintenance along with stringent engineering safety requirements offers physically safe transportation with fatality rates far reduced in comparison to other nations of similar technological and commercial development; in urban areas, public transportation systems are plentiful, well maintained, and generally kept to a high degree of efficiency; acquiring and maintaining an operators license in the Nation of Schultaria Prime may be difficult for foreign motorists as international licenses do not comply with Schultarian safety requirements and require additional training to be certified with relevant traffic codes
Railways:
Total: 62,197 km
Broad Gauge: 62,197 km 1.600-m gauge (29,756 km electrified; 12,576 km maglev)
Highways:
Total: 675,345 km
Paved: 675,345 km (Including 95,761 km of expressways and roads larger than 6 lanes in width)
Unpaved: 0 km
Waterways: 1,970 km
Pipelines: Ethanol (Liquid): 32,570 km
Ports and Harbors: Edgen, Tarannu, Schultaria Prime, Heerllu, Myrle
Merchant Marine: 2,975 Ships
Airports: 530
Airports (Total / Paved Runways):
Total: 530
Over 3,000 m: 50
2,500 to 3,000 m: 98
1,500 to 2,500 m: 326
900 to 1,500 m: 47
Under 900 m: 9
Heliports: 248
Military
Military Branches: Schultaria Kamor Collabraci (SKC) [Schultarian Defense Forces]: Comprising SKC Grovon (Army and Army Reserves), SKC Otkron (Special Forces), SKC Navem (Navy and Naval Reserves), SKC Keiteal (Air Force and Air Corps Reserves)
Military Manpower (Military Age and Obligation): 18 years of age for voluntary military service; passing grades on civil service and emotional pressure stress tests are required
Military Manpower (Availability):
Males age 15 – 49: 1,534,197,500
Fit for military Service: 997,228,375
Reaching Available Voluntary Military Age (18 years - Annually): 53,415,144
Military Expenditures (Dollar Figure): $13,125,846,000,000
Military Expenditures (Percent of GDP): 6%
Transnational Issues
Disputes (International): Growing concerns of immigration and possible overpopulation of the Schultarian mainland, coupled with recent wars on the African interior, has put tremendous financial strain on the Schultarian welfare program with the influx of several million refugees (most notably from the former Zarbian colonial empire in Central Africa); disputes over various international treaties, most notably with Schultaria Prime’s involvement in the New Alliance Treaty Organization (NATO) and various regional powers have led to numerous small conflicts and troop deployments abroad; overlapping maritime claims are in conflict with the operating powers of Mozambique; recent passage and approval of the “Free Trade for Free Nations” Act by the Schultarian National Assembly threatens to damage economic ties with overtly militaristic or personally threatening international entities, including nations with exclusive copyright clauses to internationally manufacture Schultarian consumer goods
Illicit Drugs: Narcotic drugs are considered legal under Schultarian law, but distributed under intense regulation by state authorities; most legal narcotics are modified versions of existing mind altering substances (LSD, Methamphetamines, Cocaine, PCP); distribution occurs though a long and highly complex set of bureaucratic processes, though concerns about corruption of this system have illuminated notable cases of substance abuse in recent months
Immigration Policy: Three major citizenship classes: full, naturalized, and dual are open to a majority of the nation's immigrant population from nations with formalized treaties, known regions of humanitarian distress, or informally friendly diplomatic relations; refugees and applicants that have not committed felonious offenses as per Schultarian law are allowed to pursue full citizenship status in a minimum of 5 years or residency.
Education and Culture
Full-Time Post Secondary Enrollment (Foreign and National Students: Current Term): 584,597,500
Major Universities (University, Location, Annual Federal Funding):
University of Schultaria Prime - Schultaria Prime (Schultaria Prime, $1.987 Trillion)
University of Schultaria Prime - Edgen (Edgen, $1.588 Trillion)
University of Schultaria Prime - Colloi (Colloi, $1.504 Trillion)
University of Schultaria Prime - Tarannu (Tarannu, $1.285 Trillion)
University of Schultaria Prime - Myrle (Myrle, $1.155 Trillion)
University of Schultaria Prime - Dolec (Dolec, $975.59 Billion)
University of Schultaria Prime - Heerllu (Heerllu, $861.79 Billion)
Institut Da'vaantica Teh'daa'saa Komprativ Skientia - (Grosh'tex, $738.95 Billion)
Institut Da'vaantica Komparativ Ekono-Saepia - (Myrle, $517.83 Billion)
Dowver-McKittridge University - (Edgen, $397.66 Billion)
Major Museums, Libraries, and Collections of Visual / Theater Arts
Grand Central Archives of the Federal Government (Schultaria Prime)
Federal Hall of Perpetuity, History, and Forgotten Pasts (Schultaria Prime)
Museum of Naval Trade / Garvontoi Maritime Research Library (Edgen)
Hokmi-Wergen Museum of Mines and Mountain Culture (Dolec)
The Haarvekord Museum of Natural History and Schultarian Culture (Heerllu)
The Alkamedy Center for the Musical Arts (Myrle)
Downshore International Center for the Preservation of Visual and Linguistic Culture (Tarannu)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/emschultz/NewFlag2.jpg
Background
Once a loose collection of independent colonial city states under the conglomeration of a dozen international corporations, the nation of Schultaria Prime claimed status as an independent nation following the ratification of the Declaration of Popular Sovereignty Accords in SDC 0. Since earning its independence in a brief, but violent, popular revolution, the government has been organized along the lines of a heavily centralized, popularly elected, federal bureaucracy and a series of progressive legislative acts to provide basic welfare to the majority of the population. Over the last century, the nation’s development has been marked with tremendous advances in the fields of pure science, engineering, and education leading to a series of economic booms and tremendous advances in physical wealth. With its forces and economy largely absent from participation in any major armed conflict, the nation has devoted the majority of its time to developing a highly sophisticated, technically advanced, society devoted to steady economic growth, low unemployment, and marginal inflation.
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island between the Indian Ocean and the Mozambique Channel, east of Mozambique
Map References:
The political map of Schultaria Prime (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/emschultz/Politico5.jpg)
The physical map of Schultaria Prime (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/emschultz/terrain4.jpg)
Area:
Total: 587,040 sq km
Land: 581,540 sq km
Water 5,500 sq km
Area (Comparative): Exact dimensions of Madagascar, or slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land Boundaries: Not Applicable
Coastline: 4,828 km
Maritime Claims:
Territorial Sea: 20 km
Contiguous Zone: 33.5 km
Exclusive Economic Zone: 330 km
Continental Shelf: Not Specified
Climate: Predominantly tropical along the coasts with temperate and subtropical zones in the central portion of the country; cooler, semiarid regions located in the northeastern portion of the nation.
Terrain: Vast central plains, along with low altitude mountainous terrain along the northern and eastern portions of the nation
Elevation Extremes:
Lowest Point: Indian Ocean: 0 m
Highest Point: Telmacas Orronien: 4,624 m
Natural Resources: Bauxite, Iron, Coal, Copper, Molybdenum, Quartz, Silicon, Hydroelectric / Geothermal Power
Land Use:
Arable Land: 1.03%
Permanent Crops: 5.07%
Other: 93.9%
Irrigated Land: 29,484 sq km
Natural Hazards: Typhoon, tsunami, and earthquake activity on the eastern coastline; systemic monsoon rains and flooding along the northern half of the country; infrequent precipitation conditions in the Central Plains region during the summer months
Environmental Issues: Soil erosion from extensive open pit mining, deforestation and agricultural expansion; destruction of natural aquifers and freshwater springs due to expansive residential and industrial demand for open property; fragmentation of natural habitats due to increased urban growth; growing concerns surrounding limited arable land to feed an already hyper-urbanized and increasingly dense population base; alarmingly rapid decreases in indigenous non-renewable natural resources due to a growing culture of temporary consumerism and lagging growth in civil recycling programs.
*Note: As of August 11, some 4,230 square kilometers, or 15% landmass, of Permanent Crops were destroyed in a series of severe prairie fires lasting approximately eight days. In the losses, some 2.785 metric Gigatons of miscellaneous material including foodstuffs and building materials were either heavily damaged or completely vaporized. The amount of hazardous chemicals released into the soil and atmospheric environs has yet to be fully surveyed by independent environmental agencies, but permanent cleanup for expected damages are estimated to take a minimum period of five to eight years.
Environment (International Agreements): As of this time, the United Socialist States of Schultaria Prime has not been offered nor has made any commitments to any international environmental treaties
People
Population: 5,935,000,000 (Recent Estimate [Dec. 01])
Age Structure:
0-14 years 24.75% (male 752,817,656; female 716,094,843)
15-64 years 53.95% (male 1,689,019,393; female 1,512,913,106)
65 years and older 21.3% (male 584,039,610; female 680,115,390)
Median Age
Total: 42.125 years
Male: 41.75 years
Female: 42.5 years
Population Growth Rate: 1.47% (Recent estimate: Down from 1.60% a year earlier)
Sex Ratio:
Under 15 years: 1.025 male(s) / female
15-64 years: 1.055 male(s) / female
65 years and older: .924 male(s) / female
Life Expectancy (at birth):
Total Population: 99
Male: 97
Female: 101
Nationality:
Noun: Schultarian(s)
Adjective: Schultarian
Ethnic Groups: White: 42.15%, Black: 41.75%, Turkish: 6.75%, Arab: 3.2%, Asian: 2.5%, Other / Non-Defined: 3.65%
Religions: Christian (Episcopalian): 39%, Buddhist / Taoist: 21%, Jewish: 14%, Muslim: 14%, Buddhist / Shinto: 7%, Christian (Roman Catholic): 3%, Other / Non-Defined / None: 2%
Languages: English, Schultarian Alphabetic, Schultarian Symbolic [Aliem and Thol'keahm Dialects] (Official languages of State, Higher Education, and Commerce), Greek, Arabic, Russian (Widely spoken in Tarannu and Edgen), Latin, Kiswahili
Literacy:
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write at a level suitable for everyday comprehension in English and Schultarian Alphabetic (~10,000 words)
Total Population: 99.9845%
Male: 99.9845%
Female: 99.9845%
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write at a level suitable for everyday comprehension in Schultarian Symbolic (Aliem Dialect: ~1,500 words and phrases)
Total Population: 85.165%
Male: 83.225%
Female: 87.105%
[b]Government
Country Name:
Conventional Long Form: The United Socialist States of Schultaria Prime
Conventional Short Form: Schultaria Prime
Abbreviation: USSSP
Local Long Form (Approximate Symbolic Translation): A strong, all encompassing, nation that exists amongst humanity on the planet; a state that is within grasp of its citizens, while at the same time possessing an explosively industrious temperament. And I state, it is wholly great yet with room to improve its existence.
Local Short Form (Approximate Symbolic Translation): The strong all encompassing nation created by Merle Schultz of whom we bear his last name.
Government Type: Constitution-Based Socialist Republic with Pure Referendum Democracy in Limited Institutions of Government (Concerning Issues of Constitutional Reform, Electorate Referendum, and Formal Declaration of War)
Capital: Schultaria Prime, Schultaria Prime
Administrative Divisions: 2 States and 2 Protectorates; Coastal State Protectorate, Protectorate of Schultaria, State of Prime, State of Tarann
Dependant Areas: Protectorate of Islandia Schultaria
Independence: 31 July SDC 0 (From the United Sooltaria Conglomerate)
National Holiday:
Independence Day, 31 July (SDC 0)
Constitution (Memorial) Day, 19 September (SDC 0)
First Contact Day, 12 May (SDC 92)
Constitution: Effective 19 September SDC 0 by Popular Vote
Legal System: Based on the Schultarian Codes of Philosophical Precedent and Logical Conduct (Konductus Thalogim) coupled with English Common Law on the Federal Level; Precedent Law and Schultarian Codes of Debate Conflict are also used to extensive practice in cases of non-federal statutes and intellectual disputes; all legislative acts are subject to judicial review; does not currently accept international law jurisdiction outside of defined, nation to nation, diplomatic treaties
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive Branch:
Primary Chief of State:
Central Director Elliot SCHULTZ [No Party] (Since 1 Jan SDC 90 – Present [Currently SDC 117])
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/emschultz/Elliotsmall.jpg
*Note: The Central Director is both Primary Chief of State and Head of Government
Subordinate Chiefs of State:
Director Joan COVEY [DiAL] (Since 1 Jan SDC 105)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/emschultz/Coveysmall.jpg
Director Sarnow HAARVEKORD [No Party] (Since 1 Jan SDC 115)
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Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by popular vote of the three Directors with Assembly Approval, can only be removed through popular referendum or consent by the Central and Subordinate Directors
Elections: Central and Subordinate Directors elected by popular vote for a five year term with no restriction on term limits; election last held 15 Oct SDC 114 (next to be held 15 Oct SDC 119); individual to garner the largest amount of the popular vote appointed as Central Director with the individuals arriving in second and third place acquiring positions as subordinate Directors
Former Leaders (Central Directorate):
1. Merle SCHULTZ (SDC 0 - 15)
2. Tamir OTKABON (SDC 15 - 25)
3. Kedjem COVEY (SDC 25 - 28)* [Darvon SALNER] (SDC 28 - 30)
Note: Died of natural causes May 16, SDC 28, appointed SALNER as inheritor of the third Directorship to maintain continuity
4. Darvon SALNER (SDC 30 - 35)
5. Jocelyn CERANSKE (SDC 35 - 55)
6. Michael SCHULTZ (SDC 55 - 75)
7. Harlen DAMIEN (SDC 75 - 90)
8. Elliot SCHULTZ (SDC 90 - Present)
Legislative Branch:
Unicameral National Assembly (400 seats divided on equal population districts; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve twelve-year terms; one quarter of the Assembly available for election every three years)
Head of Assembly: Chairwoman Jenna KARLOW [DiAL] (1 Jan SDC 109)
Elections (National Assembly): Last held 15 Oct SDC 114 (next to be held 15 Oct SDC 117)
Election Results (National Assembly – Percent of Vote / Seats by Party): DiAL (73.75% / 295 seats), NIL (17% / 68 seats), PC (5% / 20 seats), SoK (4% / 16 seats), SoI / Conservative (.25% / 1 seat)
Judicial Branch: Constitutional Court (Twelve justices appointed equally by the legislative and executive branches for life terms on condition of good conduct); Three Levels of Standard Civil and Criminal Courts (National, State, Municipal)
Political Parties and Leaders:
Democracy in Action League or DiAL [Director Joan COVEY]
National Independence League or NIL [Assemblywoman Aeoife NOROGENINNA]
People’s Choice Party or PC [Jacen ERGOMEIER]
Socialistia Kollabraci (Socialist Party) or SoK [Assemblyman Gregor NALKEN]
Sooltar Indaata (Conservative Party) or SoI [Porter ALTUNIS]
Political Pressure Groups: Not Applicable
International Organization Participation: NATO (Council Member [Pending Reapplication]), Primex (Regional Founder),TAPRES (Founding Member and Scientific / Financial Contributor)
Flag Description: Silver lettering on a black background representing the primary Schultarian Symbolic description of the nation at large
Economy
Economic Overview: Having discarded a majority of free market policies used by former Schultarian oligarchic predecessors, the economy of Schultaria Prime has rebuilt itself under the centralized management of the Schultarian government. In less than a century, the nation has transformed from an import dependent, industrially minimized, transfer port to one of the preeminent centers of technological advancement and advanced civil engineering virtually independent of foreign capital in all but the most ambitious financial enterprises. By law, every business above fifty employees or twenty five million merlons in net annual profit formed in Schultaria Prime must contain a minimum majority ownership of 54% by the government through the state monopoly known as Designwerks. In the twenty five years under Central Director Schultz’s administration, these policies were further expanded when Designwerks, the preeminent amalgamation of Schultaria Prime’s state industries, was given broader authority in the fields of heavy industry and civilian infrastructure contracting.
Though this enforcement Schultaria has built an industrial and business culture stressing an overall high quality of heavy industry and high technology, as shown by considerable improvements in the efficiency of manufacturing capital and quality of Schultarian goods over the last four decades, but it has also led to suppressed capital expansion in several critical sectors, notably biotechnology and agriculture. However, through heavy regulation and extensive laws concerning quality control and worker’s rights, the economy has been kept in moderate growth and continually expanding over the last fifty years. Until natural events interceded, Schultaria Prime also boasted a quite robust Agricultural sector which most analysts considered to be one of the more efficient areas of the economy. Capable of providing slightly over 100% of all nutritional and liquid energy needs (via ethanol) with less than .7% of the national labor force, the nation’s agricultural reserves allowed for more investment to be placed in industrial and high technology sectors of the marketplace as expensive agricultural imports of staple foods were of minimal government concern. However, with the loss of nearly 15% of the nation’s staple foodstuffs and the landmass associated with its production, economic indicators predict a period of slightly higher inflation and reduced trade surpluses for a period ranging anywhere from seven to twelve years.
Schultaria Prime’s GDP also accounts for slightly over 27.2% of Primex’s Gross Regional Product, and is a member of a trio of nations, including with Lindim and the Protectorate of Islandia Schultaria, whose domestic revenues currently exceed a quarter quadrillion USD annually. Presently, the Gross Domestic Product is the second largest of the four-member region, and its currency is the third strongest backed by a healthy and relatively stable exchange rate due to vast sources of material assets held in public trust by the government of Schultaria Prime.
GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $226,254,000,000,000
GDP (Real Growth Rate): 2.45%
GDP (Per Capita): $38,000
GDP (Composition by Sector):
Agriculture: .85%
Services: 31.70%
Industry: 57.45%
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices): 2.35%
Labor Force: 2,077,250,000
Labor Force (By Occupation):
Agriculture (Farming, Forestry, and Fishing): .67%
Government (*Note: Excludes Designwerks Positions): 12%
Professional and Technical (*Note: Non-Industrial Applications): 19.2%
Sales, Office, Managerial, and Clerical: 23.13%
Bulk Manufacturing, Transportation, Materials Extraction, and Processing: 45%
Unemployment Rate: 3.00%
Budget:
Revenues: $218,764,100,000,000
Expenditures: $216,576,459,000,000
Budget Allocation: General Welfare / Economic Development 60%, State Funded Primary through Post Secondary Education 15%, Socialized Medicine 10%, Defense 6%, Debt Reduction / Savings 8%, International Investments 1%
Current Account Balance: + $2,187,641,000,000
Public Debt: Not Applicable
Agriculture Products: Cereal Grains (Wheat, Corn, Rye, and Barley), Potatoes, Tropical Fruits, Vegetables, Flax, Ethanol; Beef, Poultry, Eggs, Dairy Products; Fish, Shellfish, Kale
Industries: Significant industrial power on the global scene and leading industrial producer in the Primex region; highly diversified and advanced civilian sector in the production of electronics, machine tools, organic (non petroleum) chemicals, structural materials (ferrous and non ferrous metals), aerospace (predominantly orbital space vehicles), nuclear materials (fission fuel sources and power devices), consumer goods, food processing, merchant shipping, and mining / civil recycling
Industrial Production (Growth Rate): 2.71%
Electricity (Production): 101.039 Trillion kWh
Electricity (Consumption): 90.535 Trillion kWh
Electricity (Exports): 9.098 Trillion kWh
Electricity (Imports): Not Applicable
Electricity (Reserves): 1.406 Trillion kWh
Exports: $26.358 Trillion
Exports (Commodities): Industrial Supplies and Machinery, Building Materials, Electronic Goods and Component Parts, Agricultural Machinery, Power Generation Devices and Fuel Sources (Radioactive Components), Pre-Fabricated and Custom Civilian Contracting Services
Exports (Partners): Sharina: 15.25%, Lindim: 11.85%, Aztec National League: 9.5%, Greenmanbry: 9.25%, Sarzonia: 7.25%, Hamptonshire: 7%, Vastivan Alaska: 5.6%, Automagfreek: 4.25%, Manhattan Prime: 3%, Other / Sundry: 27.05%
Imports: $26.164 Trillion
Imports (Commodities): Agricultural Products (Consumable Goods), Non-ferrous Building Materials, Radioactive Fuel Sources, Transportation Equipment and Components, Hydrocarbon Chemicals, Medical Equipment and Medicines, Conventional Shipping and Aircraft Equipment and Components
Imports (Partners): Lindim: 14%, Aztec National League: 12.95%, Sharina: 11.7%, Hamptonshire: 10.95%, Greenmanbry: 5.95%, Vastivan Alaska: 5.7%, Sarzonia: 3.4%, Manhattan Prime: 2.6%, Other / Sundry: 32.75%
Economic Aid (Donor): $2,187,641,000,000
Reserves (Foreign Exchange / Precious Metals): $87,505,640,000,000
Currency: Schultarian merlon (Sm)
Exchange Rates: .55 merlons per USD, 1.818 USD per merlon
Fiscal Year: Calendar Year; Begins 1 Jan and Ends 30 Dec
Communications
Telephones (Main Lines in Use): 5,222,800,000
Telephones (Mobile Cellular): 4,926,050,000
Telephone System:
General Assessment: Extremely large, highly advanced, multipurpose communications system with adequate and regular maintenance; majority of the system is connected through fiber optic and quantum packet cable along with a significant satellite relay system for remote areas; cellular systems have grown in popularity due to increasing investment in high density, low maintenance, wireless infrastructure
International: Country Code – 29; 308 ocean cable systems in use; 584 satellite relays and earth based stations are also in active service
Radio Broadcast Stations:
AM: 8,162
FM: 9,479
Shortwave: 148
Television Broadcast Stations: Nearly 1,900 individual broadcast stations with over 87% owned and operated by Hifex, the media conglomerate directly operated through Designwerks; in addition, some 14,000 satellite and cable stations are also available for public consumption
Internet Country Code: .usp
Internet Hosts: 1,510
Internet Users: 5,837,072,500
Transportation
General Assessment: Well maintained, highly efficient, network of passenger rail hubs and complex multi-lane highway systems; high allocation of public funds for maintenance along with stringent engineering safety requirements offers physically safe transportation with fatality rates far reduced in comparison to other nations of similar technological and commercial development; in urban areas, public transportation systems are plentiful, well maintained, and generally kept to a high degree of efficiency; acquiring and maintaining an operators license in the Nation of Schultaria Prime may be difficult for foreign motorists as international licenses do not comply with Schultarian safety requirements and require additional training to be certified with relevant traffic codes
Railways:
Total: 62,197 km
Broad Gauge: 62,197 km 1.600-m gauge (29,756 km electrified; 12,576 km maglev)
Highways:
Total: 675,345 km
Paved: 675,345 km (Including 95,761 km of expressways and roads larger than 6 lanes in width)
Unpaved: 0 km
Waterways: 1,970 km
Pipelines: Ethanol (Liquid): 32,570 km
Ports and Harbors: Edgen, Tarannu, Schultaria Prime, Heerllu, Myrle
Merchant Marine: 2,975 Ships
Airports: 530
Airports (Total / Paved Runways):
Total: 530
Over 3,000 m: 50
2,500 to 3,000 m: 98
1,500 to 2,500 m: 326
900 to 1,500 m: 47
Under 900 m: 9
Heliports: 248
Military
Military Branches: Schultaria Kamor Collabraci (SKC) [Schultarian Defense Forces]: Comprising SKC Grovon (Army and Army Reserves), SKC Otkron (Special Forces), SKC Navem (Navy and Naval Reserves), SKC Keiteal (Air Force and Air Corps Reserves)
Military Manpower (Military Age and Obligation): 18 years of age for voluntary military service; passing grades on civil service and emotional pressure stress tests are required
Military Manpower (Availability):
Males age 15 – 49: 1,534,197,500
Fit for military Service: 997,228,375
Reaching Available Voluntary Military Age (18 years - Annually): 53,415,144
Military Expenditures (Dollar Figure): $13,125,846,000,000
Military Expenditures (Percent of GDP): 6%
Transnational Issues
Disputes (International): Growing concerns of immigration and possible overpopulation of the Schultarian mainland, coupled with recent wars on the African interior, has put tremendous financial strain on the Schultarian welfare program with the influx of several million refugees (most notably from the former Zarbian colonial empire in Central Africa); disputes over various international treaties, most notably with Schultaria Prime’s involvement in the New Alliance Treaty Organization (NATO) and various regional powers have led to numerous small conflicts and troop deployments abroad; overlapping maritime claims are in conflict with the operating powers of Mozambique; recent passage and approval of the “Free Trade for Free Nations” Act by the Schultarian National Assembly threatens to damage economic ties with overtly militaristic or personally threatening international entities, including nations with exclusive copyright clauses to internationally manufacture Schultarian consumer goods
Illicit Drugs: Narcotic drugs are considered legal under Schultarian law, but distributed under intense regulation by state authorities; most legal narcotics are modified versions of existing mind altering substances (LSD, Methamphetamines, Cocaine, PCP); distribution occurs though a long and highly complex set of bureaucratic processes, though concerns about corruption of this system have illuminated notable cases of substance abuse in recent months
Immigration Policy: Three major citizenship classes: full, naturalized, and dual are open to a majority of the nation's immigrant population from nations with formalized treaties, known regions of humanitarian distress, or informally friendly diplomatic relations; refugees and applicants that have not committed felonious offenses as per Schultarian law are allowed to pursue full citizenship status in a minimum of 5 years or residency.
Education and Culture
Full-Time Post Secondary Enrollment (Foreign and National Students: Current Term): 584,597,500
Major Universities (University, Location, Annual Federal Funding):
University of Schultaria Prime - Schultaria Prime (Schultaria Prime, $1.987 Trillion)
University of Schultaria Prime - Edgen (Edgen, $1.588 Trillion)
University of Schultaria Prime - Colloi (Colloi, $1.504 Trillion)
University of Schultaria Prime - Tarannu (Tarannu, $1.285 Trillion)
University of Schultaria Prime - Myrle (Myrle, $1.155 Trillion)
University of Schultaria Prime - Dolec (Dolec, $975.59 Billion)
University of Schultaria Prime - Heerllu (Heerllu, $861.79 Billion)
Institut Da'vaantica Teh'daa'saa Komprativ Skientia - (Grosh'tex, $738.95 Billion)
Institut Da'vaantica Komparativ Ekono-Saepia - (Myrle, $517.83 Billion)
Dowver-McKittridge University - (Edgen, $397.66 Billion)
Major Museums, Libraries, and Collections of Visual / Theater Arts
Grand Central Archives of the Federal Government (Schultaria Prime)
Federal Hall of Perpetuity, History, and Forgotten Pasts (Schultaria Prime)
Museum of Naval Trade / Garvontoi Maritime Research Library (Edgen)
Hokmi-Wergen Museum of Mines and Mountain Culture (Dolec)
The Haarvekord Museum of Natural History and Schultarian Culture (Heerllu)
The Alkamedy Center for the Musical Arts (Myrle)
Downshore International Center for the Preservation of Visual and Linguistic Culture (Tarannu)