Georgeland

The United Islands of Georgeland
Flag
Motto: 'Divisus mari - unitus corde' 'Divided by sea, united in spirit'
Anthem: 'My Country'
Capital	Topstad
Largest city	Doubledance
Recognised national languages	English
Demonym(s)	Georgeland Georgelander
Government	Federal parliamentary republic
• President	Charlton Robards
• Prime Minister of Georgeland	Tom Elderton
Legislature	Parliament of Georgeland
• Upper house	Georgeland Senate
• Lower house	Georgeland House of Commons
Independence  from the United Kingdom
• Self-government	1 July 1891
• Republic	1 July 1929
Area
• Total	673,968.15 km2 (260,220.56 sq mi) (40th)
Population
• 2023 estimate	37,458,000 (39th)
• 2022 census	37,194,236
GDP (PPP)	2023 estimate
• Total	$1.46 trillion
HDI (2023)	0.943 very high
Currency	Georgeland dollar (GDR)
Driving side	left
Calling code	+55
ISO 3166 code	UI
Internet TLD	.ui

The United Islands of Georgeland is a sovereign country comprising an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, including five large islands and multiple smaller islands. The Georgeland archipelago includes the largest island in the Indian Ocean, Mainland, and the islands consist of the most populated country, and second-largest by area, with no land borders. An ecologically diverse country, Georgeland has a high elevation and a rugged environment, with one of the lowest soil fertility rates in the world and a mountainous interior.

Georgeland is thought to have been inhabited, at least in some coastal regions, by an Austronesian people until around the 4th century CE. It had become uninhabited by the time of the archipelago's discovery by maritime explorers, with the earliest recorded charting by Ming Chinese vessels in the 14th century. After Dutch and English navigators charted the northern coast the islands became of strategic interest, and after an expedition by Spanish navigator Juan Delmago in 1760 successfully charted the Mainland coastline, the British colonised the islands in 1773 and named them for Delmago's employer, King George III. Sparsely-populated for much of its colonisation, a population boom began in the mid-19th century with the discovery of gold and more reliable shipping methods. In 1891 the islands were given self-government as part of the British Empire; the country became a republic in 1929 following a referendum, and in doing so became the first part of the British Empire to peacefully secede from British rule.

Georgeland is a federal parliamentary republic comprising six states, two self-administered territories, and several external possessions. Its population is highly urbanised, and the country has a high population density. Slightly below half of its roughly 37 million people reside on the island of Mainland. The country's capital city is Topstad, on the island of Capitalia. Other major cities include Doubledance (the country's largest), Santa Christina (the largest metropolitan area), Emilypolis, New Kikipolis, Sergiocitta, Lylecity, Romphumburg, Huzzah, Stratton, Zigit and Dannyburg. Georgeland is a highly multicultural country - while the majority of residents are of Anglo-European descent, there are significant minorities of South Asian, African and Arab people due to large-scale immigration in the 20th and 21st centuries. Georgeland's economy is based around maritime industries, mining, agriculture and manufacturing, with its largest trading partner being India. Georgeland has consistently ranked highly in quality of life, democratic freedoms and civil liberties.

Georgeland is a member of the United Nations, the G20, the World Economic Forum and the OECD. Until 2020, it was also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. A regional power, Georgeland has for most of its history been considered a neutral country, though recent years have seen increasing ties with the United States and United Kingdom.

Etymology

The first maps to give a name to the Georgeland islands were those by Dutch explorers. A map from a Dutch expedition included the northern coastlines of Bradmarch and Scoita, conjecturing them to be a single land mass, and labelled vastland, or vasteland, probably derived from the Dutch word for 'continent'. Following Delmago's expedition of 1767, the islands were named by the explorer as King George's Land for George III, who had financed his voyage. The name George's Land had become shortened in parlance to Georgeland as early as 1790. The first official map of the entire archipelago, dated from 1794, used the name George Land (George Land). By 1810, the single word had become standard.

Officially known as the United Islands of Georgeland, rarely some institutions use the name United Islands in the same way as the United States of America is often referred to as the United States. This usage is uncommon, however; the most notable user is the United Islands Defence Force. The United Islands name was adopted in 1929 in homage to both the United States and the United Kingdom.

History

Main article: History of Georgeland

Geography

Main article: Geography of Georgeland

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Georgeland

Georgeland is a parliamentary republic and a federation of states. Described as a "full democracy", Georgeland has maintained a stable, liberal democratic system since 1891 under its constitution, which is one of the oldest continuing constitutions in the world. The majority of Georgeland's governmental traditions and practices are derived from those of the United Kingdom, though some have evolved a unique character and local variation over time.

A republic since 1929, the President of Georgeland is head of state and is elected for a four year term by universal suffrage. The president has a mostly ceremonial role, though recent presidents have exerted indirect influence over government. Based on the Westminster System, Georgeland's bicameral parliament is the legislative branch of its government.

The Prime Minister of Georgeland is head of government, exercising power through the Cabinet. The Prime Minister and all members of their government are members of, and responsible to, the parliament; the 300-member House of Commons, or the 78-member Senate. Members of the House of Commons are elected by a d'Hondt count form of proportional representation, with most members one of five representing their large geographical district. Senators are elected by Single Transferable Vote and represent each state. The House of Commons is elected for a three-year term, normally on the first Friday in August of an election year. Senators serve a six-year term, beginning on 1 January.

President of Georgeland, Charlton Robards

Prime Minister of Georgeland, Tom Elderton

A federation, Georgeland consists of six states and two territories. The states of Bradmarch, Capitalia, Long Island and Scoita consist of the islands of the same name, while the large island of Mainland is divided into East Mainland and West Mainland. The Federal District, containing the capital city of Topstad, is a self-governing territory under the nominal jurisdiction of the federal government, as is the small island of Delmago Island in the Bay of Lyle. Delmago Island was a state in its own right from 1958 until 2021, when it reverted to being a territory. Each state government operates its in a similar fashion to the federal government, with executive power held by a state Governor and exercised by an elected parliamentary government. Each state differs slightly in its governmental structure and constitution. State parliaments are unicameral, though all are now elected by a proportional electoral system.

Historically, Georgeland politics has been dominated by two parties, the right-of-centre Conservative Party and a left-of-centre party. Originally, this left-wing party was the Labour Party. The Labour Party collapsed in the early 2000s, and the left-of-centre position subsequently held by other groups including the Liberal Democrats and Vox. At the last election, held in August 2023, no party won more than 30% of the vote. The centrist Georgeland Reform Alliance, led by prime minister Tom Elderton, won a plurality of seats to form a minority government, while the leftist group Vox formed the Official Opposition.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Georgeland

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Georgeland

Culture and society

Main article: Culture of Georgeland

See also

• Outline of Georgeland