Lachenburg
16-05-2007, 01:45
[FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"]The Grand Duchy of Lachenburg
Grand-Duché de Lachenbourg
Großherzogtum Lachenburg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Flag_of_the_Repubblica_Cisalpina.svg/125px-Flag_of_the_Repubblica_Cisalpina.svg.png http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Bologna-Stemma.png/88px-Bologna-Stemma.png
"Marteau d'argent ouvre porte de fer" (French)
"Money is the hammer which opens the iron door"
I. Introduction:
The Grand Duchy of Lachenburg (French: Grand-Duché de Lachenbourg, German: Großherzogtum Lachenburg), is a moderately large, and mountainous realm mostly isolated from the outside world. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, intelligent population of nearly five billion people co-exsist in a state of relative harmony, content to go about their daily business uninterrupted by the machinations of outside forces.
Since its foundation as a nation-state in the late 10th Century AD, Lachenburg has retained its status as a Grand Duchy, a Grand Duke retaining the position of 'Head of State' in amongst the court. In recent times, the Duchy, ruled to varying degrees of Absolutism by its long line of Dukes and Duchesses, has adopted more egalitarian standards in conjunction with the rest of the international community, establishing the provisions of a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy within the past century and a half. A historically neutral party in international affairs, Lachenburg is unaffiliated with the majority of current world-wide political, economic, and military blocs; however, its recent entrance and participation with the Community for Common Economic and Strategic Development illustrates a renewed political consensus, on the part of the current regime, in favour further economic, political, and military integration with the outside world.
Once the cultural cross-roads of countless cultures throughout history, the Grand Duchy has borrowed a myriad of unique customs and traditions from its large German, Italian and French communities. Although a secular state, Lachenburg is predominately Lutheran in its religious orientation, reflecting its sizable Germanic majority.
II. Basic Statistics:
Area:
Total: 17,609,438 km²
Land: 17,609,438 km²
Water: 0 km²
Area-comparative: Roughly twice the size of the United States.
Coastline: 11,000 km
Climate: Modified continental with mild winters, cool summers.
Terrain: Mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to mountainous in the north.
Elevation Extremes:
Highest Point: Torscharte ~ 3104 m
Lowest Point: Wienburg River ~ 108 m
Natural Resources: Iron ore, arable land, lead
Land Use:
Arable Land: 32.64%
Permanent Crops: 1.02%
Other: 66.34%
Enviromental Issues: Air and Soil Pollution in urban areas, soil pollution in rural farmlands.
---
Population:
Total Census: 4,934,000,000
Density: 280 /km²
Capital w/Population: Auxerre ~ 42,415,000
Largest City w/Population: Neuschattel ~ 55,981,000
Age Structure:
0-14 years: 21.2%
15-64 years: 73.1%
65 years and older: 5.7%
Median Age: 37.5 years
Population Growth Rate: 4.68%
Life expectancy at birth: 84.07 years
Nationality:
Noun: Lachenburger(s)
Adjective: Lachenburg
Ethnic Groups: Celtic (Germanic-oriented), & other varied European ancestries.
Primary Religious Affiliations: Lutheranism, Roman Catholicism, Dutch Reformed Church, Methodism, Unitarianism
Official Language(s): German (national language), French (administrative language), Italian (regional dialect)
Literacy:
As defined: All those sixteen and older who are capable of reading and writing
Total Population: 99%
Male: 99%
Female: 100%
---
Country Name:
Legal Version: Grand-Duché de Lachenbourg (Großherzogtum Lachenburg)
Conventional Version: Lachenbourg (Lachenburg)
Government: Parliamentary Democracy w/ Constitutional Monarchy
Independence: N/A
Constitution: 3 November, 1838 [Declaration of Rights & Property]
Legal System: English Common Law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
The Executive:
Head of State: His Royal Highness, Leopold II, Grand Duke of Lachenburg, Baron of Merenberg
Head of Government: The Right Honourable Félix de Blochessen, Prime Minister of HM Court, Count of Chinon (T)
Cabinet:
Lord High Chancellor: The Right Honourable Georges Thilges (T)
Lord Privy Councillor: The Right Honourable Frederick Wilhelm Hausenbeck von Studelburg, Baron of Studelburg (R)
Second Lord of HM Treasury: The Honourable Hubert Loutsch (T)
High Marshal of the Court: The Honourable Otto Strumgott (T)
Minister of Foreign Affairs: The Honourable Henri Vannerus (T)
Minister of the Interior: The Honourable Vendelin Jurion (N)
Minister of Health & Human Services: The Honourable Jean-Luc Depardie (T)
Elections: N/A; the monarchy is hereditary; following popular elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch
The Legislature: Bicameral
Lower House: Chamber of Deputies - 1750 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms or until the current government is dissolved. According to the Constitution, The Chamber of Deputies is the dominate house in Parliament, originating all legislation. The approval of the Chamber of Deputies is also necessary for any prerogatives of the Chamber of Peers to be exercised, including motions to declare war, call for a referendum of the general electorate and impeach ministers of government.
Upper House: Chamber of Peers - 564 seats; members appointed by Grand Duke for life. Bills passed by the Chamber of Deputies are forwarded to the Chamber of Peers for corroboration. If the Chamber of Peers agrees or fails to vote on the proposed legislation six weeks after formal submission, the Bill is passed. If they veto the Bill, the Chamber of Deputies may override the veto by resubmitting proposed legislation with another majority vote of a higher quorum. However, the Chamber of Peers possesses and absolute veto regarding bills amending constitutional law, bills pertaining to the rights of Lachenburg's Duchies, Counties, Free Cities, or Royal Boroughs, and bills pertaining to the organization of the legislature.
Political Parties:
Ultraroyalists (R) [Absolutist; Economic Conservative]
Conservative Party (T) [Moderate Authoritarian; Economic Liberal]
Liberal Party (W) [Moderate Libertarian; Economic Liberal]
Labour Party (L) [Moderate Libertarian; Moderate Socialist]
Socialist Democratic Union (S) [Moderate Libertarian; Socialist]
Classic Liberal Society (E) [Libertarian; Anarcho-Capitalist]
Workers' Revolutionary Party (C) [Authoritarian; Marxist]
Lachenburgian Nationalist Party (N) [Authoritarian; Economic Conservative]
Independent Party (I) [Varies among party members]
The Judiciary: Chamber of Peers (highest court of appeal; twenty Lords of Appeal in Ordinary are appointed by the Grand Duke for life); Supreme Courts of Lachenburg (comprising the Courts of Appeal, the High Courts of Justice, and the Crown Courts)
International Organization Participation: Interpol
Established Diplomatic Missions: N/A
Diplomatic Agreements: N/A
Administrative Divisions: 11 Duchies, 304 Counties, 6 Free Cities, 12 Royal Boroughs
---
Economic Overview: Lachenburg ranks among one of the wealthiest nations in the world in terms of GDP per capita, maintains a well-developed free-market economy and a high standard of living. Until recently, Parliament had refrained from significant intervention in economic affairs, adopting a policy of comprehensive lassiez-faire during the era of Classical Liberal hegemony. However, the appearance of large corporate conglomerates, stagnating wages and productivity, along with a growing disparity in wealth between the upper and middle-classes spawned a progressive movement of reform within government. The more outrageous abuses of the free market system have been reigned in by a variety of anti-trust provisions and regulatory organizations. Labour movements, although present within many of Lachenburg's largest industries, hold little sway with a traditionally non-interventionist Parliament.
Agriculture: Lachenburg's mountainous climate makes farming enterprises small and fragmented on a national scale. Land stewardship is marginally subsidized, with monetary incentives dedicated toward facilitating rural development and compliance with environmental standards, as according to the Common Agricultural Reform Act, in order to provide farmers with a decent standard of living and preserve the Duchy's rural heritage. Agriculture employs 3.5% of Lachenburg's workforce, centered primarily in meat and dairy production.
Industry: The introduction of English methods of metallurgy at the end of the 19th century led to the development of Lachenburg's steel industry and corporate giant, Kronzeburg Steel Works Inc. in 1896. Located in the heart of the country's iron and coal-laden Saarpflaz region, the iron and steel industry accounts for 6.1% of the workforce. Starting in the 70's, an aggressive program of modernization, in addition to the assumption of key debts by the national government, allowed Lachenburg's steel industry to remain profitable and competitive in an ever-changing world. Advanced chemical, automotive, and telecommunications industries also persist.
GDP (PPP): $327.6 trillion USD
GDP Growth: N/A
GDP Per Capita: $45,790 USD
GDP By Sectory: Agriculture (2%), Manufacturing (15.5%), Services (82.5%)
Unemployment: 2.62%
Population Below the Poverty Line: N/A%
Consumption: $292,438,062,000,000 USD
National Budget: $38,474,613,627,030 USD
Expenditures: $37,705,121,354,489 USD
Law & Order: $18,475,509,463,699 USD
Commerce: $19,229,611,890,789 USD
Exports: $36,466,768,453,392 USD
Export Goods: machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass
Imports: $38,568,128,896,552 USD
Import Goods:
[More to come.]
Grand-Duché de Lachenbourg
Großherzogtum Lachenburg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Flag_of_the_Repubblica_Cisalpina.svg/125px-Flag_of_the_Repubblica_Cisalpina.svg.png http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Bologna-Stemma.png/88px-Bologna-Stemma.png
"Marteau d'argent ouvre porte de fer" (French)
"Money is the hammer which opens the iron door"
I. Introduction:
The Grand Duchy of Lachenburg (French: Grand-Duché de Lachenbourg, German: Großherzogtum Lachenburg), is a moderately large, and mountainous realm mostly isolated from the outside world. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, intelligent population of nearly five billion people co-exsist in a state of relative harmony, content to go about their daily business uninterrupted by the machinations of outside forces.
Since its foundation as a nation-state in the late 10th Century AD, Lachenburg has retained its status as a Grand Duchy, a Grand Duke retaining the position of 'Head of State' in amongst the court. In recent times, the Duchy, ruled to varying degrees of Absolutism by its long line of Dukes and Duchesses, has adopted more egalitarian standards in conjunction with the rest of the international community, establishing the provisions of a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy within the past century and a half. A historically neutral party in international affairs, Lachenburg is unaffiliated with the majority of current world-wide political, economic, and military blocs; however, its recent entrance and participation with the Community for Common Economic and Strategic Development illustrates a renewed political consensus, on the part of the current regime, in favour further economic, political, and military integration with the outside world.
Once the cultural cross-roads of countless cultures throughout history, the Grand Duchy has borrowed a myriad of unique customs and traditions from its large German, Italian and French communities. Although a secular state, Lachenburg is predominately Lutheran in its religious orientation, reflecting its sizable Germanic majority.
II. Basic Statistics:
Area:
Total: 17,609,438 km²
Land: 17,609,438 km²
Water: 0 km²
Area-comparative: Roughly twice the size of the United States.
Coastline: 11,000 km
Climate: Modified continental with mild winters, cool summers.
Terrain: Mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to mountainous in the north.
Elevation Extremes:
Highest Point: Torscharte ~ 3104 m
Lowest Point: Wienburg River ~ 108 m
Natural Resources: Iron ore, arable land, lead
Land Use:
Arable Land: 32.64%
Permanent Crops: 1.02%
Other: 66.34%
Enviromental Issues: Air and Soil Pollution in urban areas, soil pollution in rural farmlands.
---
Population:
Total Census: 4,934,000,000
Density: 280 /km²
Capital w/Population: Auxerre ~ 42,415,000
Largest City w/Population: Neuschattel ~ 55,981,000
Age Structure:
0-14 years: 21.2%
15-64 years: 73.1%
65 years and older: 5.7%
Median Age: 37.5 years
Population Growth Rate: 4.68%
Life expectancy at birth: 84.07 years
Nationality:
Noun: Lachenburger(s)
Adjective: Lachenburg
Ethnic Groups: Celtic (Germanic-oriented), & other varied European ancestries.
Primary Religious Affiliations: Lutheranism, Roman Catholicism, Dutch Reformed Church, Methodism, Unitarianism
Official Language(s): German (national language), French (administrative language), Italian (regional dialect)
Literacy:
As defined: All those sixteen and older who are capable of reading and writing
Total Population: 99%
Male: 99%
Female: 100%
---
Country Name:
Legal Version: Grand-Duché de Lachenbourg (Großherzogtum Lachenburg)
Conventional Version: Lachenbourg (Lachenburg)
Government: Parliamentary Democracy w/ Constitutional Monarchy
Independence: N/A
Constitution: 3 November, 1838 [Declaration of Rights & Property]
Legal System: English Common Law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
The Executive:
Head of State: His Royal Highness, Leopold II, Grand Duke of Lachenburg, Baron of Merenberg
Head of Government: The Right Honourable Félix de Blochessen, Prime Minister of HM Court, Count of Chinon (T)
Cabinet:
Lord High Chancellor: The Right Honourable Georges Thilges (T)
Lord Privy Councillor: The Right Honourable Frederick Wilhelm Hausenbeck von Studelburg, Baron of Studelburg (R)
Second Lord of HM Treasury: The Honourable Hubert Loutsch (T)
High Marshal of the Court: The Honourable Otto Strumgott (T)
Minister of Foreign Affairs: The Honourable Henri Vannerus (T)
Minister of the Interior: The Honourable Vendelin Jurion (N)
Minister of Health & Human Services: The Honourable Jean-Luc Depardie (T)
Elections: N/A; the monarchy is hereditary; following popular elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch
The Legislature: Bicameral
Lower House: Chamber of Deputies - 1750 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms or until the current government is dissolved. According to the Constitution, The Chamber of Deputies is the dominate house in Parliament, originating all legislation. The approval of the Chamber of Deputies is also necessary for any prerogatives of the Chamber of Peers to be exercised, including motions to declare war, call for a referendum of the general electorate and impeach ministers of government.
Upper House: Chamber of Peers - 564 seats; members appointed by Grand Duke for life. Bills passed by the Chamber of Deputies are forwarded to the Chamber of Peers for corroboration. If the Chamber of Peers agrees or fails to vote on the proposed legislation six weeks after formal submission, the Bill is passed. If they veto the Bill, the Chamber of Deputies may override the veto by resubmitting proposed legislation with another majority vote of a higher quorum. However, the Chamber of Peers possesses and absolute veto regarding bills amending constitutional law, bills pertaining to the rights of Lachenburg's Duchies, Counties, Free Cities, or Royal Boroughs, and bills pertaining to the organization of the legislature.
Political Parties:
Ultraroyalists (R) [Absolutist; Economic Conservative]
Conservative Party (T) [Moderate Authoritarian; Economic Liberal]
Liberal Party (W) [Moderate Libertarian; Economic Liberal]
Labour Party (L) [Moderate Libertarian; Moderate Socialist]
Socialist Democratic Union (S) [Moderate Libertarian; Socialist]
Classic Liberal Society (E) [Libertarian; Anarcho-Capitalist]
Workers' Revolutionary Party (C) [Authoritarian; Marxist]
Lachenburgian Nationalist Party (N) [Authoritarian; Economic Conservative]
Independent Party (I) [Varies among party members]
The Judiciary: Chamber of Peers (highest court of appeal; twenty Lords of Appeal in Ordinary are appointed by the Grand Duke for life); Supreme Courts of Lachenburg (comprising the Courts of Appeal, the High Courts of Justice, and the Crown Courts)
International Organization Participation: Interpol
Established Diplomatic Missions: N/A
Diplomatic Agreements: N/A
Administrative Divisions: 11 Duchies, 304 Counties, 6 Free Cities, 12 Royal Boroughs
---
Economic Overview: Lachenburg ranks among one of the wealthiest nations in the world in terms of GDP per capita, maintains a well-developed free-market economy and a high standard of living. Until recently, Parliament had refrained from significant intervention in economic affairs, adopting a policy of comprehensive lassiez-faire during the era of Classical Liberal hegemony. However, the appearance of large corporate conglomerates, stagnating wages and productivity, along with a growing disparity in wealth between the upper and middle-classes spawned a progressive movement of reform within government. The more outrageous abuses of the free market system have been reigned in by a variety of anti-trust provisions and regulatory organizations. Labour movements, although present within many of Lachenburg's largest industries, hold little sway with a traditionally non-interventionist Parliament.
Agriculture: Lachenburg's mountainous climate makes farming enterprises small and fragmented on a national scale. Land stewardship is marginally subsidized, with monetary incentives dedicated toward facilitating rural development and compliance with environmental standards, as according to the Common Agricultural Reform Act, in order to provide farmers with a decent standard of living and preserve the Duchy's rural heritage. Agriculture employs 3.5% of Lachenburg's workforce, centered primarily in meat and dairy production.
Industry: The introduction of English methods of metallurgy at the end of the 19th century led to the development of Lachenburg's steel industry and corporate giant, Kronzeburg Steel Works Inc. in 1896. Located in the heart of the country's iron and coal-laden Saarpflaz region, the iron and steel industry accounts for 6.1% of the workforce. Starting in the 70's, an aggressive program of modernization, in addition to the assumption of key debts by the national government, allowed Lachenburg's steel industry to remain profitable and competitive in an ever-changing world. Advanced chemical, automotive, and telecommunications industries also persist.
GDP (PPP): $327.6 trillion USD
GDP Growth: N/A
GDP Per Capita: $45,790 USD
GDP By Sectory: Agriculture (2%), Manufacturing (15.5%), Services (82.5%)
Unemployment: 2.62%
Population Below the Poverty Line: N/A%
Consumption: $292,438,062,000,000 USD
National Budget: $38,474,613,627,030 USD
Expenditures: $37,705,121,354,489 USD
Law & Order: $18,475,509,463,699 USD
Commerce: $19,229,611,890,789 USD
Exports: $36,466,768,453,392 USD
Export Goods: machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass
Imports: $38,568,128,896,552 USD
Import Goods:
[More to come.]