First New York State Congress
Ruling Left Alliance: Libertarian Socialist Caucus 27 (LF & FP), Socialist Party 22, Green Party 19, Working Families Party 10
Opposition Conference: Rent is Too Damn High Party 10, Liberal Party 24, Conservative Party 12
OOC: This contest is over; see original OP below.
In the fracture of the republic after the failed Second American Revolution, the twenty northeasternmost states joined in revolt to form a new union, Central North America. After their first Constititutional Republic, the states agreed to form a constitutional monarchy, where the royal "family" would be elected by popular vote and have no power whatsoever except to communicate the democratic decisions of others in diplomatic situations. Based on a sardonic and not entirely serious proposal in the congress of the first American republic, the principle of powerless democratic monarchy is to allow the people a national popularity contest with some meaning, but no dangerous impact on policy. The executive cabinet of the federal republic, and of each state, is formed by the legislature, which is elected by proportional/regional representation.
The first elections are in New York State. The 27 congressional districts will each vote for parties with Instant Runoff Voting, which will fill 27 seats in the federal UK Parliament. The combined vote will form the State Representational section of the New York State Congress, 62 seats alongside the 62 allotted to the party that wins each state district in the District Representational section. The combined vote of New York State will also allot a proportional share in the State Representational section of the federal parliament, which will be the same size as the District Representational section, all told.
OOC summary: This vote will directly determine a portion of 1/2 of the UK Parliament (federal/"national" government), and a full 1/2 of the New York State Congress. It will also indirectly inform portions of the same size in both legislative houses. NY-only parties will still be given seats in the federal Parliament; they cede the seats to an appropriate federal party or caucus, or have the option of sending their own representatives if their resources allow them to staff the offices.
*** THE PARTIES ***
Federal Parties
Green Party of New York: Green politics (grassroots democracy, social justice, equal opportunity, ecological wisdom, nonviolence, decentralization, community-based economics, feminism and gender equality, respect for diversity, personal and global responsibility, future focus and sustainability). Affiliates with the federal UK Green Party. "Standard Greens."
New York Libertarian Federation: "dedicated to the principle that free people have the right to do anything they please, except to initiate force, the threat of force, or fraud, against other persons or their property. Any law that violates this principle should be repealed. The only moral laws are those designed to protect this principle." Unlike the Libertarian Party of the former USA, this is a leftist coalition of syndicalists, mutualists and anarcho-communists who define "property" as "personal property" or "communal property"; "private property" is regarded as a lie to protect the ancient theft of the commons. Libertarians believe that the common resources are the rightful natural inheritance (in equitable share) of every member of the human race. This includes natural resources, the effects of industrial protection, and all knowledge in science. The Libertarians support replacing representation with pure delegation, making the equivalent of town or workplace meetings the site of decision-making; but they are ready to work for libertarian-socialist and anarchist-friendly causes including anti-capitalism, anti-fascism, working-class/pro-welfare/anti-prison politics, and maximum possible democracy and social freedom, with the power they merit in the current representational bodies. Affiliates with the federal UK Libertarian Federation. "Libertarian socialists."
Socialist Party of New York: Democratic socialism, leftist populism. A traditional Marxist party containing diverse socialist tendencies that are not better suited in the Libertarian Federation, Green Party or (in NY) the Working Families Party, the Freedom Party or the Rent is Too Damn High Party. Aligns with Socialist Party UKCNA. "Democratic socialists."
State Parties
Conservative Party of New York: Fiscal & social conservatism; pro-capitalist, neoliberal. "Liberal conservative."
Working Families Party: Social democracy; populism; American progressivism. "Center left."
Freedom Party of New York: "structural transformation of the political and economic system that includes: An equitable redistribution of wealth, progressive taxation, free education from pre-k to post baccalaureate, jobs, reparations, housing, political prisoners, women’s rights, support for youth and seniors, end to police brutality and deadly force, and clean and renewable energy." Anti-capitalist, anti-fascist, proletarian internationalist, socialist of a libertarian-friendly stripe. "Far left."
Liberal Party of New York: Supports WA membership, the Four Freedoms, "eliminate the political, social and economic causes of war and conflict", social liberalism with strong penalties for war criminals/torturers/abusers/etc, equal access to employment/housing/medical/education opportunities and equal civil rights and political participation including for immigrants, anti-discrimination, establish public medical training facilities, pro-choice in social policy, elimination of all barriers to voting, support federal investigation into discrimination and civil rights abuses. "Keynesian social-liberals."
Rent is Too Damn High Party: Tax and rent relief, investment in education (economic rightist to center-left). Social: Supports the nuclear family, tolerance of LGBT movements and other social causes. (Center-left.) The party, which focuses its activity in New York City, seeks to end poverty and hunger by relieving financial burdens; especially, as you might imagine, rent.
Typical government, eh? 
