Free Pax States: Difference between revisions

|population_density_km2 = 87.2

|population_density_sq_mi = 228.3

|GDP_nominal_year = 2015

|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $46,275.52

|iso3166code = FPS

|calling_code = [[+9]]

The Federated Alliance is a [[wikipedia:developed_country|developed country]] with a high [[wikipedia:standard_of_living|standard of living]], a medium level of [[wikipedia:income_inequality|income inequality]], and a sizable [[wikipedia:GDP|global domestic product]]. The Federated Alliance is a [[wikipedia:post-industrial|post-industrial]] nation, though it retains substantial [[wikipedia:manufacturing|manufacturing]] and [[wikipedia:agriculture|agricultural]] industries. The Federated Alliance is enjoying a decade-long, immense economic boom thanks to the Pax trade agreement, which has driven the [[wikipedia:nation|nation's]] GDP to an estimated $6.8 trillion in 2015. The Free Pacifican economy is largely driven by [[wikipedia:information_technology|information technology]], manufacturing, agriculture, and the [[wikipedia:tertiary_sector_of_the_economy|service sector]].

== Geography and environment ==

The Federated Alliance comprises an archipelago and continental peninsula located between the [[wikipedia:equator|equator]] and the [[Tropic of Karkata]], and between longitudes 80E and 120E. It is just West of [[Oceanus Spoilaverunt]], just Southeast of [[Codex Pontus]], and just Northeast of the [[Imperial Sea]]. The Free Pacific States maintains two small islands beyond this contained area, [[Milesandia]] and [[Fish Island]], which lie in the Imperial Sea just East of 120E. FPS consists of approximately consists of 15,407 islands, about 600 of which are inhabited. The largest islands are Beren, Codex, and Tilden. The Federated Alliance shares land borders with Lyon and Pax-Draconica, and shares maritime borders with Lyon and East Malaysia. The population is mostly divided between Sumera and Beren.

At 1,684,000 square kilometers (650,196 square miles), the Free Pacific States is amongst the the [[List_of_sovereign_states_in_the_East_Pacific#countries_and_dependencies_by_area|largest nations by land area]]. Its average population density is 87.2 people per square kilometer (228.3 per sq mi). Population density varies significantly, however, with most of the population living along the coasts. At 4,884 metres (16,024 ft), Mount Java in Beren is FPS' highest peak, and Lake Sumatra in Faramount its largest lake with an area of 1,145 square kilometers (442 sq mi). The country's largest rivers are in Codex, and include Kalimantan and Borneo; such rivers are communication and transport links between the island's river settlements.

FPS' location along several [[wikipedia:plate_tectonics|tectonic]] [[wikipedia:fault_(geology)|faults]] make it the site of numerous [[wikipedia:volcano|volcanoes]], frequent [[wikipedia:earthquake|earthquakes]], and frequent [[wikipedia:tsunami|tsunamis]]. The Federated Alliance has at least 150 active volcanoes including Mount Timor and Mount Sulawesi, both famous for their devastating eruptions in the 19th century. The eruption of the Jengov [[wikipedia:supervolcano|supervolcano]], approximately 70,000 years ago, was one of the largest eruptions ever, and a global catastrophe. A strong commitment to [[wikipedia:earthquake_engineering|earthquake engineering]], tsunami monitoring, volcano monitoring, and emergency response has allowed the Free Pacific States to significantly reduce the deaths resulting from local tectonic activity. Nonetheless, seismic activity commonly results in deadly natural disasters in FPS including the 2004 tsunami that killed an estimated 15,893 in Columbia. However, volcanic ash is a major contributor to the high agricultural fertility that has historically sustained the Free Pacifican agricultural industry.

===Flora and fauna===

FPS' size, tropical climate, and archipelagic geography support the one of the world's highest level of [[wikipedia:biodiversity|biodiversity]]. Its flora and fauna is a mixture of Yasterian and oceanic species. Many islands were once linked to the Yasterian mainland, and have a wealth of Yasterian fauna. Large species such as the [[wikipedia:sumatran_tiger|tiger]], [[wikipedia:rhinoceros|rhinoceros]], [[wikipedia:orangutan|orangutan]], [[wikipedia:asian_elephant|elephant]], and [[wikipedia:leopard|leopard]], are making a comeback after years of population loss. Forests cover approximately 68% of the country. In Beren, these are predominantly of Yasterian species. Tilden and many of the smaller islands – having been long separated from the continental landmasses—have developed their own unique flora and fauna.

=== Health ===

The federal Department of Health operates the national healthcare system, providing [[wikipedia:publicly_funded_health_care|publicly funded healthcare]] to all persons mostly for free at the point of use. The national healthcare system is decentralized with states, territories, and localities operating most medical facilities, though the federal government itself operates some specialized facilities like the National Center for Infectious Diseases. The vast majority of medical facilities are operated by a government, a government corporation, or a non-profit company, but there are some for-profit hospitals that operate independently from the national health system. Drug manufacturers are for-profit entities. The government spends approximately $4500 per person on healthcare, approximately sixty percent of which is paid for by the federal government with the other 40% paid for by the states.

=== Education ===

The federal Department of Education operates the national education system, providing free [[wikipedia:preschool|preschool]], [[wikipedia:primary_education|primary education]], and [[wikipedia:secondary_education|secondary education]] through a network of schools operated by states, territories, and localities. Children aged roughly 3-5 through 17-19 can attend school for free, though children are only required to attend school from roughly age 5-6 through roughly age 15-16. [[wikipedia:state_school|Public school]] students attend regular classes from age 4-5 through age 15-16, then can choose amongst several options: continuing general classes in preparation for [[wikipedia:higher_education|higher education]], attending [[wikipedia:vocational_education|vocational]] courses, or leaving school altogether. [[wikipedia:school_voucher|Vouchers]] are most of the approximately 8% of children that attend [[wikipedia:parochial_school|parochial]] or [[wikipedia:nonsectarian|nonsectarian]] [[wikipedia:private_school|private schools]], and a [[wikipedia:tax_refund|tax refund]] is provided for the approximately 1% of children that are homeschooled. The government overall spends approximately $10,500 per student, though the states provide about 60% of this amount with the federal government providing the other 40%.

== Government and politics ==

The Federated Alliance is a [[wikipedia:federation|federation]], [[wikipedia:constitutional_republic|constitutional republic]], and [[wikipedia:representative_democracy|representative democracy]]. Governance is regulated by a system of [[wikipedia:separation_of_powers|checks and balances]] enshrined in the Constitution of the Federated Alliance, the supreme legal document of the nation. Citizens are usually subject to three levels of government: federal, state, and local. A three-branch government usually exists at each level, though local administration is commonly split between [[wikipedia:county|counties]] and [[wikipedia:municipal_corporation|municipalities]]. The state governments possess general [[wikipedia:police_power_(United_States_constitutional_law)|police powers]], while the federal government and local governments exercise limited authority. Executive officials are usually elected by plurality vote. Legislative and executive officials are varyingly elected through [[wikipedia:Party-list_proportional_representation|party-list proportional representation]] for [[wikipedia:at-large|at-large]] seats, [[wikipedia:single_transferable_vote|single transferable vote systems]] for multiple member [[wikipedia:electoral_district|districts]], or [[wikipedia:instant-runoff_voting|instant runoff systems]] for [[wikipedia:single-member_district|single-member districts]]. Judicial officials are usually appointed by the executive, often with the required consent of the legislature.

The federal government is composed of three branches:

* [[wikipedia:judiciary|Judicial]]: The [[Constitutional_Court_of_the_Federated_Alliance|Constitutional Court]] and lower federal courts, whose judges are appointed by the President with Council approval, interpret laws and overturn those they find [[wikipedia:constitutionality|unconstitutional]].

The Representative Assembly is comprised of 483 representatives, who serve two year terms. Most representatives are elected by plurality vote from single-member districts containing approximately a million persons, but some representatives are elected from multi-member districts using single transferable vote proportional representation. A [[wikipedia:nonpartisanism|nonpartisan]] commission sets the number of districts in each state, determines the nature of the district, and draws the borders of the district. The commission acts when the Parliament proscribes by law a total number of representatives following each decennial [[wikipedia:census|census]].

The Alliance Council is comprised of 150 councillors, 30 per state, elected [[wikipedia:at-large|at-large]] through party list proportional elections for six year terms. Ten Council seats are up for election every other year. A party must win more than 5 percent of the vote in a state in a given election year to win a council seat representing that state. The President is elected by plurality vote nationally, and serves a four-year term. A Vice President is elected alongside the President. The Constitutional Court, led by the [[Chief_Arbiter_of_the_Federated_Alliance|Chief Arbiter]], has nine members, who serve for life.

=== Law enforcement and crime ===

Local police and [[wikipedia:sheriff|sheriff's]] departments are primarily responsible for law enforcement in the Federated Alliance. [[wikipedia:state_police|State police]] forces provide broader services, often serving in a support role for primary law enforcement agencies. Federal agencies such as the Federal Law Enforcement Agency (FLEA), National Protection Agency (NPA), and Federal Marshals Agency (FMA) have specialized duties including protecting civil rights, national security, and enforcing federal court rulings and federal laws. A [[wikipedia:common_law|common law]] legal system operates at the federal level and in each state. State courts hear most criminal cases while federal courts hear federal law violations, national security cases, and certain appeals from state courses. [[wikipedia:Plea_bargain|plea bargaining]] is prohibited both at the federal and the state level, though accused criminals often plead guilty in return for a judge's promise of a specific lenient sentence.

The Federated Alliance has a relatively high crime rate for a developed nation, though the rate has substantially fallen over the last ten years. There were 7 murders per 100,000 persons in the Federated Alliance in 2012 including 5.3 gun homicides per 100,000 persons. There were 4,869 violent and property crimes per 100,000 residents in 2012. There is a high degree of gun ownership amongst the population despite considerable regulations upon firearms. Gun laws remain the subject of contentious political debate. Crime rates are relatively uniform across the Federated Alliance. Crime rates are particularly high in the [[Maltonville|urban ghettos]] that exist in most major cities. The NLEA estimates that approximately 15% of all crimes and 20% of all homicides occur in these so-called "Maltonvilles," named for the reform politician who championed the housing cuts widely believed to have created these centers of crime.

===Foreign affairs===

The Federated Alliance is a [[wikipedia:major_power|major Urth power]] with substantial international influence. The Federated Alliance is the host of the [[East Pacific Treaty Organization]], hosted the 2015 [[Convention on Diplomacy]], and hosts embassies from most Urth nations. The Federated Alliance maintains close relations with [[nation/Lyon|Lyon]], [[Xiopothos]], [[nation/East_Malaysia|East Malaysia]], [[nation/Reziel|Reziel]], and [[nation/1_Infinite_Loop|Infinite Loop]], [[nation/Kelssek|Kelssek]], and [[nation/Dannistaan|Dannistaan]]. Several nations host Free Pacifican military bases, and most nations host a Free Pacifican [[wikipedia:embassy|embassy]]. The Federated Alliance appropriated $66 billion for [[wikipedia:foreign_aid|foreign aid]] for 2015, though $46.1 billion of this amount was spent in Lyon.

===Transportation===

The Federated Alliance maintains an interlinked national [[wikipedia:public_transit|mass transit]] system featuring [[wikipedia:high-speed_rail|high-speed]] and conventional [[wikipedia:inter-city_rail|inter-city]] railways, [[wikipedia:train_ferry|train]] and [[wikipedia:ferry|regular]] ferries, [[wikipedia:rapid_transit|rapid transit systems]], [[wikipedia:light_rail|light rail]] systems, [[wikipedia:tram|trams]], and [[wikipedia:intercity_bus_service|intercity]] and [[wikipedia:transit_bus|transit]] bus services. State-level and local-level [[wikipedia:state-owned_enterprise|government corporations]] operate most of these systems, though with financial support from the federal government. Mass transit accounts for approximately 32.8% of national work trips, and for approximately 40% of urban work trips. Approximately 45% of Free Pacificans normally commute through some combination of walking, biking, and mass transit, though some of these commuters also use a personal vehicle for part of the trip. The overwhelming majority of Free Pacificans live within a kilometer of a mass transit stop. The mass transit system links up with the nation's system of passenger airports, which are mostly publicly owned. The civil airline industry is privately owned, notably featuring three major airlines, Free Pacifican Airlines, Federated Alliance Airlines, and Pan-Yasterian Airways, along with some smaller carriers. Air travel is more expensive than other mass transit, and is most commonly used for interstate and international travel, offering a much faster alternative to FPS' ferry system.

== Culture ==

The Federated Alliance is home to [[wikipedia:multiculturalism|many cultures]] and a wide variety of ethnic groups, traditions, and values. FPS is comprised of previously four independent nations with similar but distinct cultures that have been substantially modified by immense immigration over the last four decades. Mainstream Free Pacifican culture is a [[wikipedia:western_culture|Western culture]] largely derived from the traditions of Codexians, Wachovians, Columbians, Tildenese, Packilvanians, Drakkengardians, Tyrsins, Lyonese, and East Malaysians.

===Cuisine===

The Federated Alliance is renowned for its diverse cuisine. Traditional Free Pacifican food uses [[wikipedia:rice|rice]] as a staple with [[wikipedia:side_dish|side dishes]] of meat. Noteworthy examples include [[wikipedia:rendang|rendang]], [[wikipedia:nasi_goreng|nasi goring]], [[wikipedia:gado-gado|gado-gado]], [[wikipedia:satay|satay]], [[wikipedia:soto_(food)|soto]], and [[wikipedia:bakso|bakso]]. There is usually a great deal of culinary diversity in Free Pacifican cities, though, as a result of trade, immigration, and the assumption of local foods by Free Pacifican colonists in the 15th to 20th centuries.

===Entertainment and the arts===

The Federated Alliance is renowned for the major contributions it has made to literature, art, and philosophy. The Codexian, Wachovian, Tildenese, and Columbian leaderships historically substantially promoted cultural development, viewing it as key to continued global hegemony. Many of the greatest writers, philosophers, and artists of the 15th through 20th centuries originated from modern FPS, and many more were patronized by colonial officials hailing from one of the nations now comprising the Federated Alliance. FPS is often referred to as a colonial superpower as a result of its immense contributions.

===Sports===

Sports are highly popular in the Federated Alliance at the [[wikipedia:amateur_sports|amateur]], [[wikipedia:college_athletics|college]] and [[wikipedia:professional_sports|professional]] levels. There are two major sports seasons: spring/summer (April-October) and fall/winter (November-March). [[wikipedia:association_football|Football (soccer)]] dominates the spring/summer season, and is generally considered the de facto national sport. [[wikipedia:baseball|Baseball]] is also highly popular. [[wikipedia:basketball|Basketball]] is the preeminent winter sport, though [[wikipedia:badminton|badminton]] is also very popular. Baseball and badminton are mixed-sex, while separate men's and women's leagues exist for football and basketball. Generally, the men's competitions attract greater attention, and the women's leagues are substantially smaller as a result.