Reforms in the Federal Republic

[Germanic Republic]

[center][u][b][size="6"]Restructure of the Federal Republic of America[/size][/b][/u][/center]
[center][img]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a307/gold_skywalker/FRAflag-1.png[/img][/center]

[list]

[*]Return from Military Rule
[*]Legislative restructuring
[*]Judicial restructuring
[*]Administrative restructuring
[*]Military restructuring
[*]Foreign restructuring
[*]Civil Restructuring
[*]Into the Breach
[/list]


[center][u][b]Return from Military Rule: A Preface[/b][/u][/center]

[i] The following officers of the Federal Defense Force, pledge with this preface the complete and utter surrender of administrative control of the Federal Republic of America to the executive branch of the government and will remove the restrictions and control of the judicial and legislative branches of government following this plan.

With the victory of Federal forces, at the time the Army of the Imperial States of America, in the war against the United States of America, the military felt a need to replace the Imperator and his family from power to maintain the safety of Federal citizens and the cohesion of the Federal Republic. The culture of the Federal Republic had become militarized to an extreme, and the only way to snuff out the fire was to create an explosion next to it-- absolute military rule, with the gradual relinquishing of control to the civilian populace. The time has come for control to be turned over-- the culture of militarism still exists, but in a benign form.

Part of the reason such militarism came about was because the old system focused on loyalty to one man in a system where such absolutism would return only a turn to autocracy. Democracy and Republicanism cannot flourish under the iron will of a President like that of Engelmann, or Kunis, and the latter example proves the rule.

May the Federal Republic of America be fortunate in her exploits, steadfast in her values, and resolute against the opportunism, greed, and absolutism that had controlled her foreign and domestic affairs for most of her life-- a complete return to Murphy's time would be folly, instead, these reforms are meant to blaze a new trail for the Federal Republic, while remembering both the positive and negative aspects of our history and our present and past culture. With this, we of the Federal Defense Force, establish the parameters for the new government of the Federal Republic of America. This is the closest the new government has to a constitution as of yet, until the new legislature gets around to ratifying a new one.

Signed,

Clarence Potter, General of the Army, Councilman of the Military Council

Signed,

Stefan Holden, General of the Army; Head of the Military Council [/i]

[center][u][b]Legislative Restructuring[/b][/u][/center]

[list]

[*]Bicameral legislature
[*]State Representation
[/list]

[i][center]Bicameral Legislature[/center]

The legislature of the Federal Republic of America will consist of two Houses-- the Senate and a House of Representatives, homage to the former United States of America as well as the former government of the Federal Republic of America.

The House of Representatives will assign representatives based on the population of the state in relation to that of the nation, in the interest of giving heed to the will of the People. Per this document the fixed amount of representatives is set at one-hundred.

The Senate will assign equally two seats to all states. This is in the vein of the idea that the tyranny of the majority, while the will of the People is important, should not be used to crowd out the weak or infringe upon the minority. As stated, each state admitted to the Federal Republic of America will be given two seats in the Senate.

[center]State Representation[/center]

Per this document, and not given to any further action taken by the legislature afterward, the states will be given the freedom to create their own legislatures, on the condition that it be outlined within the state constitution, and enshrine the values above. State law takes a back seat to federal law, as the federal government has supremacy over the states. [/i]


[u][b]Judicial Restructuring[/b][/u]

[list]

[*]Federal courts
[*]State courts
[/list]

[i][center]Federal Courts[/center]

This document establishes the existence of multiple courts, chief of which being the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of America. The Supreme Court's rulings are the final say in legal and civil matters. Also established are a series of district courts, criminal appeals courts, and districts. The first district consists of the states of Mississippi and Alabama. The second district consists of the states of Tennessee and Kentucky. The third district consists of Kansas and Missouri. The fourth district consists of Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.

[center]State courts[/center]

The state legislature and constitution will provide specifics, but per this document, they must include a criminal appeals court, civil courts, and punitive courts. The states have the right to limit who may be a judge in the context of experience, profession, and other legitimate means of qualification. The state constitution must provide for local/county courts. [/i]

[center][u][b]Administrative Restructuring[/b][/u][/center]

[list]

[*]Office of the Presidency
[*]Agencies
[*]Capitol
[/list]

[center][i]Office of the Presidency[/center]

As has been the case for most of the Federal Republic's time, the Office of the Presidency has been given extraordinary powers over civilian life and over the military. While the need for a “face” to the government that extends beyond the foreign affairs division is present, the overbearing command and absolutism the presidency once bore goes against the core of the Federal Republic and Republicanism in general.

The Office of the Presidency is created for that face, for the purpose of creating federal agencies as extensions of the Administrative branch of the federal government, and for the purpose of upholding legitimate treaties and guarantees of independence given. The President and representatives of the presidency only have authorization to sign treaties under the explicit permission of the federal legislature, and generally, the federal legislature has the supreme authority in the ratification of treaties, with the judicial branch overseeing the legality of the terms-- leaving the military and the administrative branch the job of enforcing them.

The President does not have the power to declare war, to sign treaties without permission, to create agencies that cannot be scrutinized by the judicial or legislative branches of the federal government, to launch nuclear weapons, to use conventional force, or create legislation or executive orders. The President is not the Commander in Chief of the Federal Defense Force, and cannot order anything of the military, the legislature controls the means to declare war.

[center]Agencies[/center]

Federal agencies are to be created by the President for the purpose of carrying out law passed by the federal legislature, or independent of that in the resolution of a national problem. Agencies are subject to review by the federal legislature and judiciary, and if not subjected to review by the end of every four years, are ultimately shut down. Agencies are otherwise free from other branches of the government-- they are strictly administrative.

[center]National Capitol[/center]

The Republic has expanded, changed, and the cities within have too. The current capitol of Montgomery holds too much presence of the old guard, of the nation we were, the nation that embraced absolutism, autocracy, and opportunism, that rejected Republicanism and morality. A nation that looked to authority and not to innovation and freedom. For this reason, the nation's capitol is now to be placed in Austin, Texas-- of the newly acquired territories, and a city of innovation, not only technologically, but culturally. [/i]



[center][u][b]Military Restructuring[/b][/u][/center]

[list]

[*]Federal Defense Force branches
[*]Commander in Chief
[*]District Commands
[*]Nuclear and draft policies
[*]Research & Development
[/list]

[i][center]Federal Defense Force branches[/center]

With the reformation of the Federal Defense Force, six branches are to be set up for the defense of the nation, her values, and her interests, as well as with attention to our neighboring states on the North American continent.

[b]F[/b]ederal [b]A[/b]merican [b]A[/b]rmy

[b]N[/b]ational [b]R[/b]eserve [b]C[/b]orps

[b]F[/b]ederal [b]A[/b]merican [b]N[/b]aval [b]F[/b]orces

[b]F[/b]ederal [b]A[/b]merican [b]A[/b]ir, [b]S[/b]pace, and [b]N[/b]uclear [b]F[/b]orces

[b]F[/b]ederal [b]I[/b]ntelligence [b]A[/b]gency

[b]Sp[/b]ecial [b]O[/b]perati[b]o[/b]ns and Security-[b]K[/b]eeping [b]S[/b]ervices
[center]
Commander in Chief[/center]

The Commander in Chief is the highest ranking of the military. As of the writing of this document, Stefan Holden is the Commander in Chief of the FDF. The Commander in Chief decides when and where to send conventional military forces, and along with each branch's Chief, holds the option to deploy nuclear weaponry. The Commander in Chief has the ability to respond quickly to international threats, but must provide a complete review and justification to the federal legislature within 365 days. The Commander in Chief is also, at any time, able to be dismissed by a 2/3rds vote of both Houses from the federal legislature.

[center]District Commands[/center]


For the defense of the Federal Republic and the North American continent, military districts are being created for the division of forces appropriately.

Western District consists of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas; HQ at Austin, Texas
Southern District consists of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama; HQ at Mobile, Alabama
Central District consists of Arkansas and Missouri; HQ at Little Rock
The Eastern District Consists of Kentucky and Tennessee; HQ at Nashville
[center]
Nuclear Policy and the Draft[/center]

The nuclear policy of the Federal Republic of America is one of defense, second-strike-- we will only launch when attacked with nuclear weaponry.

The military of the Federal Republic of America is completely voluntary-- the idea of a selective service or draft is anathema to the Federal Republic of America and to the idea of lessening the militarism of old.

Research and Development

In order to stay on top of the way war is being fought, the money funneled into the now-defunct draft program will be put towards new research facilities in Austin, Little Rock, and Huntsville. New weapon designs from the Federal Republic of America will begin to appear as well as an agency set up by the Commander in Chief to ensure all branches meet the technological, equipment, and doctrine requirements.
[/i]
[center][u][b]
Foreign Policy Restructuring[/b][/u][/center]

[list]

[*]Tres Amigos pact
[*]Values
[/list]


[center]Tres Amigos Pact[/center]

Reassessing the Tres Amigos Pact comes easy-- this is our notice of cancellation to the remaining member of the pact, Himynamistan. The Amerikanisches Reich has fallen into anarchy and no longer exists as a governing body, and we do not have enough contact with Himynamistan for it to mean much of anything.

[center]Values[/center]

The Federal Republic of America upholds the ideas of freedom of agency, liberty, and condemns the use of coercion and violence to subjugate a race, a culture/people, orientation, religion or creed in foreign or domestic lands. Genocide comes in many flavors, all of which are detestable, and if possible, should be prevented or condemned. Diplomatic efforts where they can be made to stymie such evils, and military intervention where possible, are all acceptable under this. As for authoritarian, it should be opposed and discouraged, diplomatically or otherwise. Being in bed with dictators does us no good.
[center][u][b]
Civil Restructuring[/b][/u][/center]

[list]

[*]Civil Rights
[*]Civil Service
[/list]

[i][center]Civil Rights[/center]

The civil rights of the people, the rights of the accused, the rights of free speech, expression, religion (freedom from religion also), the freedom from established religion, right to a jury trial, due process of law, protection from unlawful/unwarranted searches and seizures, the right to personal firearms, and protection as equal citizens of the law no matter what your race, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, national origin, or language, are all protected and ensured within this document. The federal government cannot discriminate against you based on the prior classes, and no employer may discriminate against you based solely on these classes. The right to life, personal property, and opportunity are all protected as essential to the Federal Republic of America.
[center]
Civil Service Projects[/center]

With the end of the war and the nation settling into peace-time, a number of civil service projects are to be set up. Chiefly, projects repairing the damage brought about by the conflict with the US and the communications black-out and infrastructural damage visited upon their states. The repair and maintenance of highways, river-ways, levees, dams, park and recreation, and city streets, among others, are to be created to combat unemployment as well as to improve the national image and our standard of living. [/i]

[center][u][b]Into the Breach[/b][/u][/center]

[i] With this, we hand the reigns over to the civilian government of the Federal Republic of America, and elections will begin soon.

- Stefan Holder, Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of America, General of the Army[/i]

Edited February 7, 2011 by Germanic Republic

[Germanic Republic]

[size="5"][u][b][center]Elections in the Federal Republic of America[/center][/b][/u][/size]

[list]

[*]Parties
[*]Presidential
[*]Senate
[*]House
[/list]

[center][u][b]Political Parties[/b][/u][/center]

[i] Involved in the first elections of the new government of the Federal Republic of America are numerous start-up parties and some familiar old ones.
[/i]
Democratic Party (D)
Conservative
Anti-secularism, anti-abortion, pro-family values, states rights' advocates
Pro-free market, pro-corporate, anti-union
Anti-interventionism

Federal Republicans (F)
Liberal
Secular, socially progressive ideals, pro-federal supremacy
Pro-union, pro-interventionist
Pro-interventionist

The Left (L)
Socialist
Secular, socially progressive, anti-state
Pro-union, central planning
Anti-interventionist

Green Party (G)
Ecologists
Secular, socially progressive
Pro-union, pro-environmental policy
Pacifistic

Libertarian Party of the Federal Republic of America (LP)
Libertarian
Secular, socially progressive, anti-state
Anti-union, pro-free market
Anti-interventionist

The American Front (A)
Fascist
Theocratic, pro-family values, pro-federal government, anti-abortion
Central planning, corporatist
Jingoists


[center][u][b]Presidential Election[/b][/u][/center]

[i] Citizens of the ten states of the Republic were allowed to vote in the Presidential election. The candidates of the parties and the results:
[/i]
Democratic Party
Mr. Josef Allen
Former CEO of Arma National, weapons producer in the Federal Republic of America
10% of the Popular Vote

[b]Federal Republicans
Mr. Hermann Meyer
Former General of the Army in the Federal Defense Force
86% of the Popular Vote[/b]

The Left
Mrs. Stefanie Holden
Union leader, Activist
3% of the Popular Vote

Green Party
Mr. Gerard Merkel
Geologist, Biologist, University of Texas at Austin
Less than 1%

Libertarian Party of the Federal Republic of America
Mr. Franklin Murphy
Son of President Justin Murphy, CEO of Montgomery Security Company
1% of the Popular Vote

The American Front
Mr. Jeremy Kohl
Activist, suspected terrorist
Less than 1%


[center][u][b]Senate Elections[/b][/u][/center]

Texas
F; F

Oklahoma
A; D

Kansas
D; G

Missouri
D; F

Arkansas
D; D

Louisiana
F;F

Mississippi
F;F

Alabama
F;F

Tennessee
F;LP

Kentucky
L;D

Democratic Party, Six senate seats, 30%

Federal Republicans, Ten senate seats, 50%

The Left, One senate seat, 5%

Green Party, One senate seat, 5%

Libertarian Party of the Federal Republic of America, One senate seat, 5%

American Front, One senate seat, 5%






[center][u][b]House Elections[/b][/u][/center]


Texas (35)
D 8
F 20
L 2
G 1
LP 3
A 1

Oklahoma (6)
D 1
F 3
L 0
G 0
LP 2
A 0

Kansas (6)
D 4
F 0
L 0
G 0
LP 1
A 1

Missouri (9)
D 3
F 5
L 0
G 0
LP 1
A 0

Arkansas (6)
D 4
F 1
L 0
G 0
LP 1
A 0

Louisiana (7)
D 0
F 4
L 2
G 1
LP 0
A 0

Mississippi (6)
D 2
F 3
L 0
G 0
LP 1
A 0

Alabama (8)
D 0
F 3
L 4
G 0
LP 1
A 0

Tennessee (10)
D 1
F 4
L 0
G 0
LP 5
A 0

Kentucky (7)
D 5
F 0
L 0
G 0
LP 0
A 2

[b]Results[/b]

Democratic Party
28 Seats

Federal Republicans
43 Seats

The Left
8 Seats

Green Party
2 Seats


Libertarian Party of the Federal Republic of America
15

American Front
4

[Drexler Villepin]

On behalf of the Sovereign See of East Timor, the Apostolic Diplomatic Coalition conveys its congratulation to the people of the Germanic Republic for implementing massive reforms.

The Sovereign See of East Timor / Apostolic Diplomatic Coalition has observed the election as successful and fair.