United States of Britannia
It was said the British Empire would last a thousand years, she lasted four centuries, yet Britannia will be immortal.
Introduction
The United States of Britannia, also called the Britannian Empire or simply Britannia is a massive system-wide empire founded in 2046 with the passing of the “Acts of Restoration of the Union between Britain and America” by the former United States of America and former British Federation. The current ruler of the Britannian Empire is Empress Eleanor of House Arthurnia. Today, Britannia is the current dominant power in the solar system which guarantees the steller trade lanes with her Royal Navy.
Brief Britannian History
Britannian history dates back from the present-day of 2582 to when Emperor Arthur founded the Empire in 2046 after defeating the Yokai during the Sixth Yokai Invasion. The Empire reached new heights with the wars of Emperor Theodore (2162-2178) against the French and Martians, however, it would nearly collapse a few decades later during the Allencourt Crisis. Under Emperor Alastair, the Empire was restored as a great power and would go to actively clash with the German Empire, eventually culminating in the War of the Four Emperors (2464-2493) where Britannia emerged triumphantly. In the modern era, the Empire is dealing with many internal problems, such as commoner mages and radical rebels, and new potential rivals such as the Vesta Trade and the Martian Republic of Eflana.
Capital of Britannia
Because Britannia was originally a union of two countries the Britannian Empire originally had two capitals—London serving as the Eastern capital and Washington DC as the Western capital. Over time, Washington became the sole capital as London often came under threat from European Powers as governmental functions were slowly moved west. After the destruction to Washington caused by the Allencourt Crisis, Washington DC was renamed and rebuilt by Emperor Edward to Arthurnia after the first Emperor Arthur Allencourt.
Demographics and Population
Britannia has dozens of internal cultures and peoples within its borders, but these groups can fit into two different groups, Britannians, and non-Britannians. Britannia’s population when factoring in protectorates and other territories has around 6 billion Britannians and 1 billion non-Britannians on Earth, and several hundred million of Britannians in Settler Colonies.
Territories
Britannia has expanded throughout the solar system, originally driven by utilizing the asteroid belts resources, but has moved on to trade which then also motivates expansion to secure said trade.
- States: Culturally Britannian territories which share power with the federal government, and whose power is guaranteed by the Constitution, each with its own government, nobles, bureaucracy, and state military.
- Colonies: Directly administered by the Imperial government and not by the higher nobility.
- Protectorates: Nations that have been forced under Britannia's protection for one reason or another. In practice, Britannia assumes responsibility for these nations' foreign relations and their defense, as a result, they are not independent.
Political Structure
Emperor/Empress of Britannia
The Emperor/Empress is the head of state and head of government of the United States of Britannia. The Emperor rules for life and is officially chosen by the Divine. The title of First Citizen is given to the Emperor as a recognition of the people's approval. The Emperor also holds the only king titles as the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Since the rule of Arthur, Britannia has teetered between a near-absolute monarchy and a constitutional monarchy which empowered the nobles and states. However, how much of the government is Constitution-based is a question for political scholars. However, due to lèse-majesté laws enacted under Emperor Alastair, it is discussed in private rather than the public sphere. The Emperor may abdicate if of sufficient age, but must swear to stay out of day-to-day politics, however, may continue to meet privately with nobles and foreigners and in an official capacity as the current Emperor’s ambassador.
Imperial Duties
As the head of the government, the Emperor is responsible for overseeing the various sections of the government, military, the colonies, the treasury, foreign relations, the execution of the law, and the managing of the Imperial Household.
- The Emperor is the Commander-in-Chief of the Britannian Royal Forces, responsible for overseeing training, supplying, and deployment of the military, and is expected to take the role of admiral or general during a war.
- Through the Ministry of Colonial Affairs (MCA), the colonies and protectorates are under the Emperor’s jurisdiction, with him being responsible for ensuring their development and protection, as well as promoting Britannian culture.
- The Ministry of the Treasury oversees the execution of the budget which is set by Parliament, the treasury ministry also gives out loans, and issues money backed by gold and silver.
- Through the Ministry of State, the Emperor oversees Britannia's relations with foreign powers, establishing and receiving diplomats and embassies, and help to ensure the safety of Britannians in foreign countries.
- The Ministry of Supernatural Affairs (MSA) ensures humans are safe from the supernatural, and when that fails is responsible for investigating crimes relating to magic, spirits, and the Yokai. The Emperor’s officials are responsible for judgments during such investigations, as part of a tribunal of regional nobles.
- The Imperial Household House of Arthunia, led by the Imperial Regent Imperial Regent, manages the affairs of the Imperial family, establishing political marriages with nobles both foreign and domestic, and ensuring good relations through members serving in the military and government. The most important duty, however, is finding an heir for the Emperor, the heir is chosen from the large Imperial Household to ensure the best possible candidate.
Britannian Parliament
The Britannian Parliament is the bicameral legislature, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Imperial Senate.
After a law passes through both houses with a simple majority, it must be approved by the Emperor who may then veto it, but Parliament may overturn a veto with a 4/5 majority.
The Britannian Parliament was the world's first legislature to have sessions take place entirely in a virtual online space using Virtual Reality. However with Duchies expanding beyond Earth, many Senators and Representatives now reside in the Capital and there is an official building even if it's not always filled.
House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is composed of members elected directly by Britannians, with one for every one million Britannians, with a total current of around six thousand. The House of Representatives is mostly made up of nobles, who are voted in primary by nobles and their retainers. Despite being meant to represent Britannians, the representative nobles or commoners typically represent their clansmen first over other Britannians.Imperial Senate
The Imperial Senate is composed of retired Dukes of the nobility, with each state being given one senator and one vote, for a total of about several hundred members. The Senate is the more powerful of the two bodies and is where most of the decision making happens, with the House only tending to deny or approve things from the Senate ever since the Arthurian Restoration greatly expanded the House of Representatives to include territories previously not included.Nobility
The Nobility(click for more info) is essential for the nation because it is from the Nobility where much of the members of the military (except the militias), bureaucracy magic industry originate.
The nobility often finances those with great talent in the arts and sciences, and in exchange, the nobles receive some of the prestige and any practical benefit from it. While most of the nobility comes from long lines of the established aristocracy, the status of “Noble” can be granted to individuals, by the Emperor, to those who have done a great service for the nation and meet the Noble Code. The nobility also maintains a large class of retainers equal in size to the nobles, and which are fairly loyal to their clans because they are treated as equals by the clans. The nobility is organized into clans that form several power blocks and are more powerful than an individual duke.
Military
Britannia is defended by the Britannian Royal Forces which is split up between Federal forces, Noble forces, and the militias.
The Federal Forces are primarily the Royal Britannian Navy, Royal Britannian Marines and the Royal Army(The Emperor's private force), which are organized in such a way to deliver large forces wherever it is needed. The Royal Navy also keeps the shipping lanes secure. Noble forces make up the bulk of the ground forces, but also provide a good many smaller ships to the Royal Navy. These split between the retinue and the garrison, with the garrison being more stationary and dealing with threats in their local area, but are still well supplied and trained. The retinue is well-equipped and often serve on the front lines as well as against various internal threats against a clan. The militias are paramilitary units made up of citizen troops who provide security for the cities, towns, and villages and help bolster initial defenses when bodies are needed, they rarely are able to deal with anything major on their own.
Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets
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