Embolalia

United Commonwealth of Embolalia
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: For the Common Good of the People
Embolalia (yellow) within the IDU (beige)
Capital	Caridd
Official languages	English, Embolalian
Demonym(s)	Embolalian
Government	Parliamentary democracy
• Monarch	Queen Elizabeth II
• Governor General	John B. Meyer
• Prime Minister	Gafin Gower
• Speaker of the Senate	Owen Jones
• Speaker of the House of Commons	David Llwelyn
Establishment
• British Embolalia Act	2 August 1813
• Treaty of Caridd	7 June 1875
Area
• Total	1,214,254 km2 (468,826 sq mi)
• Water (%)	5.3
Population
• 2010 census	52,821,565
Currency	Fŷri (EMF)
Time zone	Ytyroedd Standard Time (YST)
Calling code	+518
Internet TLD	.emb

Embolalia (pronounced /ˌɛmboʊˈlɑːliːʌ/), officially The United Commonwealth of Embolalia (Embolalian: Y Gyllwg Ymynodd Embolalau), is an island nation, spanning most of the Embolalian Archipelago including the major islands of Ytyroedd, Tramoria, and New Wales, as well as a number of smaller islands. Embolalia is surrounded by the Embolalian Sea to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest, the Gulf of Kedalfax to the southeast, and the Ytyroedd Sound to the west. It shares a boarder with Kedalfax via the Alliance Bridge.

Embolalia is a loose union of three constituent countries, each controlling a segment of the archipelago. It is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. The government is lead by a prime minister who, in nearly all cases, will come from the political party with the greatest number of seats in the lower house of the parliament.

Embolalia is a multilingual nation, with both English and Embolalian as official languages at the national level. Embolalia is active in international politics, and has served as the delegate to the World Assembly for its region, the International Democratic Union. Its currency, the Fŷri, is regarded as a regional benchmark currency, with high stability and reliability.

History

Much of early Embolalian history is unclear. The oldest traces of civilization are dated to approximately 27 A.D. However, records have been uncovered suggesting that civilization had been in the Embolalian Islands as early as 1842 B.C. A number of myths and stories circle around how humans arrived in the Embolalian islands. No trace of a migration across Kedalfax can be found. Anthropologists are further confused by numerous linguistic and cultural similarities between native Embolalians and Celtic cultures. Comparisons are often made between Embolalian and Welsh culture. In addition to and, some sources suggest, because of this, there is also a fairly large ethnic Welsh population in Embolalia, much of which emmigrated from Wales during the early 19th century.

The Embolalian islands were mostly isolated until sometime in the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century. The culture in the Pre-European period was reasonably advanced, having a centralized, if loose, central government and currency. The population was focused primarily around the River Sayth, with Caridd serving as the capital. Agriculture was a major driver of the economy, however copper was also abundantly available. Coper is believed to have been considered fairly valuable by the Pre-European peoples. In addition to being used in a number of relics as well as the minting of coins, the traditional green which is often associated with Ytyroedd is likely taken from the hue of the abundant Malachite.

The first recorded expedition dates to 1643, when British explorer Henry Jones made his first contact with Embolalian natives. Jones details in his logs a belief that another European explorer, perhaps even English, had previously made contact with the Embolalians. He makes special note of the organized government and advanced mining techniques. He also notes the familiarity of the native language, saying it has "a most familiar aire - a melodicity which reminds me of a Welshman who was briefly in my Father's employ during my youth." This other explorer has yet to be found, nor has any other evidence backed up Jones's claim.

When news of Embolalia and its vast natural resources reached the United Kingdom, it was quickly colonized. Initially, colonial powers respected the native government. The western end of the archipelago was uninhabited and better suited for agriculture. No effort was made to contest this claim. Even today, it is generally accepted that New Wales does not belong to the native Embolalians - opinions differ on Tramoria. However, a desire for expansion and the percieved economic threat of the burgeoning native economy quickly lead to extension of colonial rule. Primarily through economic threats and alleged political manipulation, Ytyroedd was enveloped into the territory of British Embolalia by 1700.

In 1713, an act was passed banning the use of the Embolalian language, even in private. While initially poorly enforced, it is nonetheless considered the starting point of the Embolalian nationalist movement. In 1783, sparked by the granting of independence to the United States, sporadic acts of violence were carried out against colonial rule. Poor organization and a lack of numbers meant the attacks were generally unsuccessful. Nonetheless, it is believed they helped prompt passage of the British Embolalia Act, granting Embolalia a modicum of independence under the Commonwealth of Embolalia. This government, however, was seen to have scant improvements over colonial rule, and was replaced under the Treaty of Caridd, which forms the current three-country system.

Geography

Embolalia is an island nation occupying most of the Embolalian Archipelago in the International Democratic Union region. It encloses the Gulf of Embolalia to the north. To the southwest, a number of outlying islands form the border of the Gulf of Kedalfax. The nation is divided into three major political subdivisions, generally refered to as either constituent nations or constituent countries. Frequently, thought not exclusively, the former is used to refer to the people of the subdivisions, while the latter refers to the lands of the subdivision. Each subdivision controls one of the three largest islands in the archipelago, as well as the surrounding islands.

Urban density is highest in Ytyroedd's River Sayth valley, but is still comparatively low. The majority of Embolalia is very rural. Cumberland County, in east New Wales, is the least densely populated, with a population density of only one person per square kilometer. The population density of the nation as a whole is higher, at roughly 43 per square kilometer.

Government

Embolalia has a pseudo-parliamentary government, with strong democratic traditions. Parliament consists of the House of Commons and the Senate, both of which are elected. Each Member of Parliament in the House of Commons is elected by plurality in an electoral district. Senators are appointed by the First Ministers of the constituent countries; in practice, each country holds an election for the offices. Elections are held every five years on the 7th of March.

Members of the House of Commons are distributed to the constituent countries by population. Originally, a constituent country was given one seat per 250,000 citizens. However, in 1999 a cap was set to a total of 200 members apportioned evenly. This cap took effect following the 2010 census, the first in which more than 50,000,000 people were recorded. Each constituent country is free to elect members according to their own procedure, but in practice members are elected to single-member districts.

In the House of Commons, the Prime Minister is selected by majority support. The Prime Minister then selects his ministers from the members of the House of Commons and forms a government. Unlike in many parliamentary systems, the House of Commons is dualistic, meaning that ministers can not also serve as members of Parliament. A minister's seat can be filled by his or her constituent country's First Minister. Another noted difference in the Embolalian parliament is the prevalence of "faithless electors". It is not at all uncommon that a Prime Ministerial candidate will be voted against by members of his own party. This is blamed, in large part, on the large political diversity of the United Commonwealth; a Conservative from Ytyroedd may further to the "political left" than a Liberal from New Wales, and a Liberal from New Wales further "right" than a Conservative from Ytyroedd. Embolalian political parties have very low cohesion nationally.

In the Senate, each constituent country has three Senators, for a total of nine. While by law they are appointed, in practice they are elected to six year terms, staggered such that one from each country is up for election every other year.

Embolalia is also a constitutional monarchy, with The Crown acting as a symbolic or ceremonial executive. The Crown consists of Queen Elizabeth II (legal head of state) and her appointed viceroys, and the governor general, who perform most of the monarch's ceremonial roles. The political executive consists of the prime minister (head of government) and the Cabinet and carries out the day-to-day decisions of government.

The Prime Minister's Office initiates most legislation for parliamentary approval and selects, besides other Cabinet members, Commonwealth court judges, heads of Crown corporations and government agencies, and the governor general. The Crown formally approves parliamentary legislation and the prime minister's appointments.

Foreign Relations

Embolalia has been a member in the Commonwealth of Nations since its founding, and the International Democratic Union and World Assembly since the early 2000s.

Embolalia's general stance toward international politics has historically been decidedly laissez-faire. The nation has never declared war on its own; however, it has followed allies into war on a number of occasions. It has supported national sovereignty. This is often attributed to an extension of the independent nature of Embolalia's constituent countries, and its comparatively weak central government.

During the Hopkins government of 2006-2010, Embolalia showed a rapid increase in its international involvement. This is perhaps most evidenced in its joining of the IDU, and its decidedly "international federalist" positions in that period. Resolutions it introduced and passed, such as Responsible Offshore Drilling and Clean Water Act were been regarded as a strong contrast with the nation's previous isolationism. Its ambassador to the WA in that time, Gwaredd LLwyd, was seen by many as the face of the new Embolalian foreign policy. When the Gower government took control in 2011, the trend tapered off, with the new ambassador E. Rory Hywel taking a much more sovereigntist position in the World Assembly. However, even still the nation is much more internationally involved than it had been prior.

Embolalia maintains an embassy exchange program, and has especially close ties to nations such as Knootoss, Unibot, and Ammador.

Economy

Embolalia's currency, the Fŷri, has long been considered a stable benchmark currency in the region. For this reason, Embolalia declined to adopt the regional currency, the Conargo, when it was introduced in 2007. The benefits of this decision have yet to be seen conclusively, though the Fŷri has maintained a higher value than the Conargo thus far.

Embolalia is an affluent, high-tech society. An extensive welfare system provides the citizens with state-paid health care, child care, employment insurance, pensions, and primary and secondary education, as well as heavily subsidized higher education. Some have criticized the high tax rates that come along with this system, while others consider it in the public interest.

Embolalia's economy is mainly highly focused on service industry, though in many parts of the nation primary industry and agriculture are still vital. Caridd is a major financial center. Embolalia is known for having strong regulations on consumer safety and consumer rights. While most consumer goods companies are privately owned, utilities, transportation, and "vital services" are almost exclusively owned by the government. Employee ownership is popular among Embolalian businesses, and worker's unions are common.

Embolalia's main industries are manufacturing, tourism, agriculture and natural resources. Embolalia has focused on creating an educated workforce, which has helped lead to a large high-tech industry sector. The automotive industry in Embolalia, though smaller than it was during its height in the 1950s, continues to be a major sector of the economy. Embolalia also has plentiful natural resources, including coal and other fossil fuels, aluminum, iron, and uranium.

Transportation

Embolalia enjoys a diverse and modern transportation infrastructure. Most of Embolalia's major cities have efficient mass transportation systems, many of which are the primary form of commuter traffic in their respective cities. Motorways, railways, and airports provide quick transportation between cities. Railways are generally the preferred mode of transportation for long distance domestic travel.

In addition to domestic transportation, Embolalia also plays a vital role in international traffic. The Ytyroedd Sound to the west of Embolalia, and the straits within Embolalia, are vital passages for cargo ships. Furthermore, Embolalia's position in the extreme east of the IDU has secured it a position as a major hub for passenger and freight air travel. Mersey Lisvane Airport is among the busiest airports in the region.

Culture

Embolalia is famous for its natural beauty and innovations in the field of technology, but it is the cultural and artistic realms that have earned Embolalia its cultural reputation. Embolalian culture is very heterogeneous, ranging from the native cultures in Ytyroedd to the English-influenced culture in New Wales. As such, it is difficult to describe Embolalians categorically.

Language

Main Article: Embolalian language

Both Embolalian and English are spoken in Embolalia. Both are considered official languages, though English is used primarily in New Wales and northern and eastern Tramoria, and Embolalian is primarily used in Ytyroedd. Embolalian and English are both required languages in all schools in the nation.

The nation has a literacy rate of 99%.

Demographics

Embolalia's last census was performed in 2010, and reported a total population of 52,821,565. Most of the population of Embolalia lives in urban areas, though a significant number do live in small towns and rural areas.

Ethnically, Embolalia consists mainly of people of native Embolalian and European descent, though there are people from throughout the world.