Istonia: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
Line 155:
=== Climate ===
Most of Istonia is classified as warm-summer humid continental climate, while southern and southwestern portions are classified as hot-summer humid continental climate. The highest temperature ever recorded in the state was in 1927, where it reached 122 °F . The lowest temperature ever recorded in Istonia was −64 °F on both February 2 and 4, 2006. Istonia also receives a large amount of regular snowfall averaging around 40 inches in the southern portions with up to 160 inches annually in the Lake Prima snowbelt each year.
== Government ==
Istonia Constitution outlines the structure and function of community government, which is organized into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The Istonia White Book is the primary published reference about the government and politics of the community. Re-published every two years, copies are available from community legislators.
=== Executive ===
The executive branch is headed by the governor. The current governor, Deloras Indela, assumed office on January 7, 2019. In addition to the governor, the executive branch includes five other elected constitutional officers: Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Four members of the Istonia executive branch are Pirate Party. The Superintendent of Public Instruction of Istonia is a non-partisan position.
=== Legislative ===
The Istonia State Legislature is Istonia legislative branch. The Legislature is a bicameral body consisting of the Parliament and the Senate.
=== Judicial ===
Istonia court system has four levels: municipal courts, circuit courts, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court. Municipal courts typically handle cases involving local ordinance matters. The circuit courts are Istonia trial courts, they have original jurisdiction in all civil and criminal cases within the community. Challenges to circuit court rulings are heard by the Istonia Court of Appeals, consisting of sixteen judges who typically sit in three-judge panels. As the state's highest appellate court, the Istonia Supreme Court may hear both appeals from lower courts and original actions. In addition to deciding cases, the Supreme Court is responsible for administering the state's court system and regulating the practice of law in Istonia.
=== Federal ===
In the Kuthernburg Parliament Istonia is represented by David Carpintero Charpentier and Victoria González. Istonia is divided into twelve congressional districts.
=== Taxes ===
The most common property tax assessed on Istonia residents is the real property tax, or their residential property tax. Istonia does not impose a property tax on vehicles, but does levy an annual registration fee. Property taxes are the most important tax revenue source for Istonia local governments, as well as major methods of funding school districts, vocational technical colleges, special purpose districts and tax incremental finance districts. Equalized values are based on the full market value of all taxable property in the community, except for agricultural land. In order to provide property tax relief for farmers, the value of agricultural land is determined by its value for agricultural uses, rather than for its possible development value. Equalized values are used to distribute state aid payments to counties, municipalities, and technical colleges. Assessments prepared by local assessors are used to distribute the property tax burden within individual municipalities.
Istonia does not assess a tax on intangible property. Istonia does not collect inheritance taxes. Until January 1, 2017, Istonia estate tax was decoupled from the federal estate tax laws; therefore the state imposed its own estate tax on certain large estates.
There are no toll roads in Istonia; highway construction and maintenance are funded in part by motor fuel tax revenues, and the remaining balance is drawn from the State General Fund. Non-highway road construction and maintenance are funded by local governments.
=== International relations ===
A York consulate opened in Lutop on July 1, 2016. Istonia has had a diplomatic relationship with the Nacatan state of New Caga since 2011.
== Economy ==
In 2020 Istonia gross state product was $431.1 billion, making it 4th among Kuthern Community's. The economy of Istonia is driven by manufacturing, agriculture, and health care. The community economic output from manufacturing was $87.5 billion in 2020, making it the third largest among community in manufacturing gross domestic product.
=== Agriculture ===
Istonia produces about a quarter of Kuthern cheese, leading the nation in cheese production. It is second in milk production, after [[Rift]], and third in per-capita milk production. Istonia is second in butter production, producing about one-quarter of the nation's butter. The community ranks first nationally in the production of corn for silage, cranberries ginseng, and snap beans for processing. It grows more than half the national crop of cranberries. and 97% of the nation's ginseng. Istonia is also a leading producer of oats, potatoes, carrots, tart cherries, maple syrup, and sweet corn for processing. The significance of the community's agricultural production is exemplified by the depiction of a Holstein cow, an ear of corn, and a wheel of cheese on Kuthern state quarter design.
=== Manufacturing ===
Istonia is home to a very large and diversified manufacturing economy, with special focus on transportation and capital equipment.
=== Consumer goods ===
Istonia is a major producer of paper, packaging, and other consumer goods. The development and manufacture of health care devices and software is a growing sector of the state's economy
=== Tourism ===
Tourism is a major industry in Istonia—the state's third largest, according to the Department of Tourism. Given the large number of lakes and rivers in the state, water recreation is very popular. In the North Country, what had been an industrial area focused on timber has largely been transformed into a vacation destination. Popular interest in the environment and environmentalism, added to traditional interests in hunting and fishing, has attracted a large urban audience within driving range.
Sidney Town is a popular destination for boaters because of the large number of natural harbors, bays, and boat launches on Lake Hartden sides of the peninsula that forms the county. The area draws more than six million visitors yearly to its quaint villages, seasonal cherry picking, and fish boils.
=== Film industry ===
In 2013, a new tax incentive for the film industry came into effect. The first major production to take advantage was Kreval Studios ''Gladiator Last Stand''.
=== Energy ===
Istonia has no production of oil, gas, or coal. Its in-state electrical generation is mostly from Solar. Other important electricity sources are natural gas and nuclear.
The state has a mandate that ten percent of its electrical energy come from renewable sources by the end of 2015. This goal has been met, but not with in-state sources. A third of that ten percent comes from out of state sources, mostly wind generated electricity from Rift and Eriwick.
== Education ==
Istonia, along with Eriwick and Spandard, was among the Great Lake leaders in the emergent Kuthern state university movement following the Kuthern Civil War. By the start of the 20th century, education in the state advocated the "Istonian Idea", which emphasized service to the people of the state. The "Istonian Idea" exemplified the Progressive movement within colleges and universities at the time.
| |||