Llocsirdian Factbook

[Llocsirdia]

(OOC: some of the following is contrary to what you may find at http://www.nationstates.net/nation=llocsirdia)

Introduction and Table of Contents

Introduction

Llocsirdia has a long history which history starts to record about 1300 years ago. Its conception is shrouded in myth, and for a great period of time the nation was a monarchy and partly a theocracy. About two centuries ago revolution overthrew the government and wrote a constitution to keep the nation leftist and democratic thereon. The Glorious Workers’ Republic of Llocsirdia is a Large island nation (with many island territories near it) which values education, the arts, fashion, civil rights, and political freedoms. Most business is owned by the government, and that which is not it is heavily regulated.

Table of Contents

1.) Introduction (see above)
2.) Geography and People
3.) Government
4.) History
5.) Economy
6.) Communications and Transport
7.) Military
8.) Culture and Miscellaneous information

Note: This factbook will probably be remade in the future in an improved version. But for now, I hope you enjoy this.

[Llocsirdia]

Geography and People

Geography





Area
Total Area: 624,028 sq km
Land: 609936 sq km
Water: 14,092 sq km
Comparative Area – About the size of France

Coastline: 1596 km

Climate: Temperate, often overcast, rain is very common.

Terrain: High mountains in the west of the mainland, rolling hills in the north east, forested to the south.

Elevation Extremes:
Highest point: Mt. Libertas, or “Leon’s Den” (16,000 miles high)
Lowest Point: Tascian’s Valley (-4 m)

Land Use:
Arable Land: 24.2%
Permanent Crops: 0.02%
Other: 75.6%
Irrigated Land: 2300 sq km

Environment: Stunning, no pollution that isn’t counteracted.


People


Population: 96,435,021

Age Structure:
0 – 14 years: 17.2%
15 – 64 years: 66%
65 and over: 16.8%

Median Age: 41.4 years old

Population Growth Rate: 0.4%

Sex Ratio: 0.97 males/female

Life Expectancy at birth: 82.3 years old

Nationality:
Noun: Llocsirdian(s) (Llocsirdiite in some North-eastern dialects )
Adjective: Llocsirdian (or Llocsirdiite)

Ethnic Groups: 91% White (Primarily of native Llocsirdian origin), 6% Asian (primarily Chinese), 2% black, 1% mixed or other.

Religions: 84% Llocsirdian Mysticism, 12% non religious/deist/agnostic/atheist, 2% other

Languages: Llocsirdian, English, and Latin, small minorities of other languages

Literacy: 100%

[Llocsirdia]

Government
Intro: The Llocsirdian Government is a federal democratic republic with a bicameral parliamentary legislature. It is composed of two branches: The Parliament makes the laws and appoints (or holds elections for) those who enforce it. Llocsirdia’s laws are restricted to rules set out in Constitution, which ensures a Communist government system, which requires 60% of parliament’s approval to amend, so as to make a shift from communism hard to make.

Conventional Long Name: The Glorious Workers’ Republic of Llocsirdia, also Llocsirdian Federal Republic

Conventional Short Name: Llocsirdia

Capital: Veritas, the “City of Truth”

Administrative Divisions: 16 provinces (TableRase serves as a 17th province, but is technically independent): Veritas, Libertas, Oreaeus, Neuyesius, Saepius, Scniiae, Briuesque, Bureae, Venitesqeu, Niesmia, Leonesque, Visiaeus, Libent, Cantius, Giesque, and Proletius.

Dependent Areas: TableRase

Executive Branch:

Intro: The King is the Leader of the Church of Llocsirdian mysticism (see below in the religion section of Culture) by tradition, and symbolic leader of the nation, however he has no legislative, nor executive power since the revolution.

The Law is enforced by the minister of Law Enforcement, who has pardon and reprieve power, and is in charge of matters concerning police, prisons, work camps, and other such matters. He/she is nominated by the prime minister, and then approved or disapproved by Parliament.

The Government is lead by the Prime Minister, who is elected every four years (and subsequently is cabinet). He is in charge of appointing the cabinet (except the Minister of Law Enforcement, whom he only nominates), conducting elections and parliamentary voting, and similar duties.

Head of State: King of Llocsirdia de jure, Mister Sir de facto
Head of Government: Mister Sir
Minister of Law Enforcement: Eradesae Tascieticus
Significant Cabinet Offices: Law Enforcement, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Treasury, Economics, Education, Internal Affairs, Justice, Labour Rights, Arts’ patronage, Healthcare/human services, Housing/transportation/energy, and Defence

Legislative Branch:
The Legislative function of the government is comprised of two bodies composing the bicameral parliament. The bottom house is the People’s General Assembly, comprising of representatives of the people. The General Assembly is composed of 200 individuals who represent an amount of citizens which is reassigned every once in a while as population changes.
The upper house is the People’s Council, comprising of 50 individuals.

The Law Making Process:
Simplified version:
1.) Law's introduced in either house of Parliament
2.) Debate organised
3.) Debate lengthened, shortened, or remains the same length by request of prime minister
4.) Bill may be modified by the author for compromise
5.) Vote in the People's General Assembly
6.) Vote in People's Council
7.) Approval by People's Supreme Court if passed by both houses
8.) Law is passed if Court approves, made several copies of, put original in a safe place, and put a copy on display.
9.) Possible repeal by same process by government, or repeal by vote by population (requires 20% of the population to approve a petition to get on the ballot for repeal at the next general election)
Note: If law is struck down at any point in the process, it needs a 60% majority in favour for revival in either house, where upon it goes through the process again, except skipping the step that struck it down (except the judicial branch, see below).

Judicial Branch: The People’s Supreme Court is comprised of 10 individuals who are nominated by the Prime Minister and then confirmed or denied by Parliament. They are appointed to enforce that laws being passed do not violate rules set forth in the Constitution, primarily rights of the people. Judges serve for a maximum of 20 years, but can be impeached or can retire before then. If the judges vote to strike down a bill as unconstitutional, Parliament may override that with a 60% majority only if there was at least one judge who was opposed, if the court was unanimous, the Parliament requires an 80% majority, and both figures must be so in both houses.

Political Parties: In order of representation in Parliament: Communist and Civil Liberties Party, Democratic Socialist Party, Moderate Leftist Alliance, Moderate “centre” Party, Independents, Conservative Party, Other

Flag Description: Red field representing socialism, with a gold outlined star with a centre of a darker shade of red representing the ultimate communist goal of the government. To the left and right of the star are two rampant heraldic red lions both facing left, the right lion represents truth, the left represents liberty, they are both facing left representing the progressive nature of the government.

National Motto: “In Veritas Libertas”, Best translates from Llocsirdian to “In Truth [there is] Liberty”. An ancient saying meaning that when one lives up to one’s principles, one frees one’s sole.

National Anthem: “Llocsirdia, Free and Glorious”, adopted after the revolution to emphasise the people’s freedom from oppression from both government and bourgeoisie. Written by Loquatius Eradesius. The Song’s first verse translates to:
O Llocsirdia, Land of my fathers, Land I love
Forever free, forever beautiful
How the angels sing
Of thy grace

O Llocsirdia Land of Leon and Llocsird
Thy hills, thy mountains, thy rivers
How the angels sing
Of thy eternal beauty

(Chorus)
The Lion’s Heart, The Lion’s Strength!
Glory to thee, forever free!
And I tell thee this:
If need be I’ll die to keep thee!

(Song continues with various other verse, always same chorus)

[Llocsirdia]

History

Intro: Llocsirdia hasn’t always been a “Glorious Workers’ Republic”, however Llocsirdians have managed to have fun throughout the ages. Llocsirdian Philosophers/Historians have divided its history into five main periods, Pre-Llocsird’s time “Age of myth” or “Age before time”, Llocsirdian Kingdom, Constitutional Monarchy and Bourgeois Era, Revolution and Post Revolution Reconstruction, and then modern times, all of which shall be described below.

? – 700CE This is the time which historians know least, yet what has been written in fiction of most, and much of what is thought about this time by the public is that of myth. What Historians figure is that the mythical man Llocsird, who is claimed by myth to have founded the nation, probably was real, however the myths surrounding him not necessarily justified.

Historians can figure that the myths were right in his significance in Llocsirdian history, however, he probably was not the actually founder. Though he may have been the first of a new dynasty in an existing family of Llocsirdian Kings, possibly the founder of his religion’s namesake, and possibly a great conqueror, no hard evidence supports any, and many think the stories were just conceived by Llocsird himself to flatter himself.

And because guessing does not provide good material, historians generally write down the myths, with sections in the back about their accuracy, making them fun to read, and educational (if you care to read the actual history at the back).

Partly due to the church, and partly due to people’s liking of fiction to be pulled of as fact, great myths have popped up over the ages, and tell the story like this:

In a time before time, soon after the collapse of the world, there were many horrible dictators in the world, and the country’s founder, Llocsird (All Kings following took this name, this was the first), was one of them. Llocsird was a terrible man, who killed and tortured his own people soon after founding the country for his own amusement, and conquered other nations to make Llocsirdia grow (he named the country after himself, rather selfishly).

One day he was riding in the forest, and a mysterious wind blew, which made all the horses of his entourage gallop back, except his, who went further into the forest without Llocsird’s control. Llocsird did all he could to control his horse, but it was driven by something else. After a week of travel, without the horse pausing once, the horse stopped, bucked Llocsird off, and galloped back.

It was then that a giant Lion, five times the size of a man, pounced on Llocsird, telling him that he was the god Leon, come to take his soul. He then ripped the soul out of his body, and make Llocsird experience all that he ever inflicted upon his people. Then a changed man, Llocsird went back and made Llocsirdia the best he could in a kind manner, uniting the Llocsirdian tribes. It is said that Leon righted Llocsird because he saw that Llocsirdia would be a gem in the world filled with tyrants.

700CE – 1790CE Whether or not what the stories say about Llocsird is true, Historians know for certain that what followed was a time where Llocsirdia was ruled by kings, who ruled by how the church told them, and after Llocsird’s (or the mythical Llocsird’s rather) example. A feudal system arose, and Llocsirdia was rule mainly by religion, tradition, and whomever had more soldiers.

It was at this time that there were quite a few civil wars, and a massive effort by the Llocsirdian King to conquer the surrounding isles, which where eventually all conquered by 1534 (Llocsirdia is technically the main island, see map in “geography” for details).

Though this time was much a period of war, it was where Llocsirdians developed their culture, fashion, tradition, arts, music, technology and much more.

1790CE – 1884CE From 1763 to 1790 there was a Christian King on the throne, an outrage to the populace, who were primarily of the faith of Llocsird. This coupled with the King’s refusal to grant the people a parliament resulted in a rebellion against the King, leading the to establishment of the Constitutional Monarchy, which put the former kings son on the throne, and put the parliament into control of legislature.

The Kings had kept unregulated free trade at bay for a while, but the new parliament, being composed of rich bourgeois themselves, invited it in near the year 1830. And thus a time of capitalistic terror ensued, seemingly with no end in sight. After about fifty years, a movement of communist sympathisers arose. The bourgeoisie fought hard to repress them, torturing communists, killing them, exiling them. Soon it was too much. The revolution had finally come.

1884CE – 1920CE A series of strikes, riots, protests, workers kidnapping their employers, robbing of banks and much more happened in quick succession, militias formed, and a Man named Eradicus Tasciveticae led an armed force of guerrillas. The government soon surrendered to him.

Tasciveticae look control over the country and started claiming business in the hands of the state. He organised the production of crops and resources into state owned departments, claimed the banks, claimed all big business, sparring nothing except that which was the possession of the common man. He instituted the modern government system (he was the only man on the Supreme Court at the time, though). And once a democratic government was in place, he put control of business to the control of the workers councils. Then he retired to the country side in a small house, to live a shepherd’s life.

1920CE – Present As surprising as it may be, the King was sparred in the revolution, although his palace is technically government owned, he was left as the symbolic head of state, and the leader of the faith of Llocsird. The King welcomed the revolution, and donated money to Tasciveticae, and so he was accepted to the movement as a comrade. He serves today as a philanthropist and artists’ patron.

The government continued on to try to improve people’s lives, and built everyone nice houses, built and funded universities, and allowed any who wished to attend. It eradicated poverty and unwanted homelessness. The government constructed great concert halls and museums, and has done many other wonderful things.

See section on culture to see what a person’s normal life is like in this era.

[Llocsirdia]

Economy

Introduction:

The Llocsirdian Economy is a planned, yet market based, socialist economy. Most industry is state owned, with minor exceptions. Industry is planned by planning boards, and quotas given to the work places (could be factories, farms, offices, or anything), whereupon the workers decide in democratic worker councils on how they wish to acheive those quotas, they then sell their product to markets, and decide how to split the profit amongst themselves, usually with help of an accountant or monetary advisor. Disfunctional councils are directed under central management, although this is very rare. With combination of expansive policies in economics and a higher wage of workers, the economy is strong an people can be seen out spending their Llocsils (nation currency) out on the town.

The National Currency is the Llocsil. A vanilla soda, a popular drink in Llocsirdia, costs about 2 Llocsils (L2). The average person gets paid L20472 per year, the equivalent of $10,775.08. The Living cost in Llocsirdia is very low because of public housing and publicly owned industry being nerely non-profit, with aspects such as healthcare and insurance being taken care of, and when taxes come out, a person has about 4,700 Llocsils to spend however he pleases.

Resources, be it wheat and other food materials, or minerals and such, are organised under national planning and distributed to markets throughout the nation where they are needed.

There are very few landlords, as this was almost entirely stopped after the revolution, and the only thing left are the occasional house dweller leasing a spare room. Basic housing is free, and better situation has a higher rent that goes to the tresury.

Most councils split profit based on contribution, and those who contribute more work are alloted more of the profit, although some councils have decided against this. Many industries pay higher because of the intensity of the work. There is some difference in income levels between individuals, but this is not a result of ownership of private property and exploitation of others labour, but rather the individual's hard work.

Statistics
Exchange rate: 1.9 Llocsils = 1 US dollar
Gross Domestic Product: $27,918,236,866,195.00
GDP Per Capita: $10,775.08
Unemployment Rate: 7.92%
Consumption: $5,313,234,150,000.00
Government Budget: $23,000,421,360,262.50
Govenment Expenditures: $22,770,417,146,659.90
Government Waste: $230,004,213,602.63
Exports: $3,177,877,390,566.07
Imports: $3,343,291,821,030.94
Trade Deficit: ($165,414,430,464.87)

[Llocsirdia]

Reserved for section on Communication and Transportaion.

[Llocsirdia]

Reserved for Military. You may comment after this post if you like.

[Llocsirdia]

Reserved for Culture and Miscellaneous information.