Sierra

   

This is the article on the constituent country. For the article on the sovereign nation with the same name, see Kingdom of Sierra.

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Sierra 8 other official names Sierra (Spanish) Sierra (French) 塞拉 (Tondolese) 塞拉 (Chinese) Dãy Núi (Vietnamese) 시에라 (Korean) シエラ (Japanese) Sierra (German)
Flag National arms
Motto: "Libertas sine sacrificio" (Latin) Liberty without sacrifice Other traditional mottos   "Nemo me impune lacessit" (Latin) "No one cuts me with impunity" "Renatus et redemit" (Latin) "Reborn and redeemed" "Iustita et Libertas" (Latin) "Justice and Liberty"
Anthem: For the Love of Our Union Royal anthem: God, Country, and Crown
Map of Sierra with its provincial boundaries
Capital and largest city	Porciúncula
Official languages	English, Spanish, French, Han, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, German
Recognised regional languages	Arabic, Armenian, Dutch, Gilbertese Hawaiian, Navajo, Pascuan, Samoan, Serran
Ethnic groups (2010)	46% White 27% Asian 5% Black 1% Amerindian 1% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 20% Mixed or other (incl. Hapas and Creoles)
Demonym(s)	Sierran
Sovereign state	Kingdom of Sierra
Government	Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Queen	Elizabeth II (I)
• Prime Minister	Susan Kwon (SD)
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	House of Commons
Independence  from Mexico
• Declared	June 14, 1846
• Recognized	February 2, 1848
• Constitution	November 27, 1858
• Constituent country	June 23, 1950
Area
• Total	1,225,601 km2 (473,207 sq mi)
• Water (%)	8.99
• Label below area_label (optional)	Text after area_label2 (optional)
Population
• 2020 census	87,287,291
• Density	71.21/km2 (184.4/sq mi) (52nd)
GDP (PPP)	2020 estimate
• Total	$7.127 trillion (4th)
• Per capita	$85,320 (4th)
GDP (nominal)	2020 estimate
• Total	$7.127 trillion (4th)
• Per capita	$85,320 (2nd)
Gini (2014)	0.49 low · 23rd
HDI (2020)	0.939 very high · 4th
Currency	Sierran dollar ($) (KSD)
Time zone	UTC−8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (MST/PDT)
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+1
ISO 3166 code	KS
Internet TLD	.ks
Website www.sierra.gc.ks
Literally "Golden Kingdom" Does not include any territories and other unorganized lands ...... For any footnote h used above
For any generic non-numbered footnotes

This article contains Chinese text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters.

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This article contains Korean text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Hangul and Hanja.

Sierra (Spanish: Sierra, French: Sierra, Tondolese: 塞拉, Chinese: 塞拉, Vietnamese: Dãy Núi, Korean: 시에라, Japanese: シエラ王国, and German: Sierra), also referred to as Federal Sierra or the Sierran mainland, is a country located mostly in the North American West Coast with a population of eighty-seven million. Sierra is a constituent country of the Kingdom of Sierra, and shares this status with two other states (the Deseret and Hawaii). The term "Federal Sierra" is often used to distinguish the constituent part of Sierra from the Kingdom of Sierra. Federal Sierra consists of twenty-three provinces, ten territories, and two crown dependencies. It borders Astoria to the north, the Deseret and Brazoria to the east, Mexico to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Sierra's Yucatán territories shares land borders with Guatemala and Belize, and maritime borders with Cuba. It has a total area of 473,207 square miles (1,225,601 km²) and a population of an estimated 59.6 million (83.4 million as the Kingdom) inhabitants in 2020, making it the most populous member state in the Conference of American States and the 29th most populous country in the world when including the Kingdom as a whole. Sierra's capital and largest metropolis is Porciúncula, while its largest conurbation is the Greater Porciúncula Area. The ten next largest cities in Sierra include, in descending order: San Diego, Phoenix, Riverside, Tijuana, San Jose, San Francisco City, Tucson, Las Vegas, Fresno, and St. Anne.

During the Pre-Columbian era, Sierra was inhabited by several Amerindian tribes including the Chumash, Navajo, Tongva, Mojave, and Maidu. The indigenous peoples of Sierra were highly diverse, who spoke over a dozen different language families (over 100 distinct languages), and lived in various climates ranging from forested mountain slopes to barren desert land. There was also diversity in sociopolitical organization, with many tribes living in hunter-gatherer societies, while a few living in complex, city-based societies such as the Hohokam. Conservative estimates placed around 400,000 inhabitants living in modern-day Sierra at the time the first Europeans made contact starting in the 16th and 17th centuries. Although the Spanish, French, Russian, and Dutch all established a colonial presence in Sierra by the end of the 18th century, Spain emerged as the paramount power through its claims and colonization efforts by the late 18th century. Sierra was an important link for the Spanish galleon trade system between the Spanish New World and East Asia. Sierra was administered as Alta California during the Spanish colonial period revolved around the mission and rancho systems, which encouraged the assimilation of the Amerindians through missionary work and settlement of European colonists through homesteading and ranching.

In 1821, Mexico gained its independence from Spain and obtained control over Alta California. Mexico abolished the Spanish mission system but preserved the Spanish practice of giving large land grants to private citizens. During the Mexican period, California witnessed significant emigration from Anglo-America and United Kingdom which caused tensions between the Mexican government and English-speaking settlers. In addition, the local Californios grew increasingly dissatisfied with the Mexican government over differences in policy and feelings towards administrative efficiency over the region. In 1846, the Mexican-American War broke out and the California Republic was declared. California gained its independence in 1848 following the end of the war and the ratification of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and doubled California's territory to include the Baja California Peninsula and Sonora. Its independence was secured through the backing of Brazoria, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The population of California grew to nearly half a million within the span of five years after independence due to the California Gold Rush which attracted settlers from the Americas, Europe, and East Asia. The Republic lasted for ten years, before it adopted a new constitution and instituted a monarchy, reorganizing as the Kingdom of Sierra, with Charles I as its first king.

During the late 19th century, the Kingdom underwent a period of fast economic development and political turmoil. The early government undertook a rigorous campaign of centralization that tackled on crime, lawlessness, war debt, and lack of a professional, standing army. As Sierra's economic and trading power grew through continued population growth and development of railroad and telegram networks, the country cemented its power as a nation-state through its pivotal involvement in the War of Contingency. Sierra joined forces with its neighbor Brazoria in preventing the United Commonwealth from retaking the Anglo-American breakaway states that formed in the aftermath of the American Civil War. Meanwhile, the debate between monarchism and republicanism eventually led to a full-scale civil war that divided the nation into the Republican North (led by Sen. Isaiah Landon's self-declared Second California Republic) and the Monarchist South for nearly four years between 1874 and 1877. The monarchy prevailed against the Second California Republic and the devastation of the North in the war resulted in long-lasting effects known as Southernization, wherein the center of power and influence shifted from San Francisco City to Porciúncula. In the following decades, Sierra underwent rapid industrialization and expanded its military. It became an imperialist power when it annexed Hawaii in 1896 and Tondo in 1901 through military conquest.

Under the reign of Louis I, Sierra permanently transformed from a predominantly White Anglo-American state into a multiracial society through the Sierran Cultural Revolution. Advancements in civil and political rights expanded universal suffrage to Asian, black, Hispanic, and Creole citizens, and increased interest in syncretizing the cultures of the two largest racial groups: white and Asian, created the "New Culture", a pan-Eurasian-based movement that combined Protestant and Confucian–Taoist values into a single monoculture. The Revolution coincided with increased powers of the monarchy as well as the formation and maturation of a homogenized, cohesive national culture and identity. Towards the end of Louis I's reign, Sierra moved increasingly towards authoritarian rule as civil rights were restricted and the role of the military was elevated in national politics. The country became frequently involved as an intervener in Anglo-American and Latin American affairs. It played a prominent role in the Mexican Revolution and engaged in a number of proxy wars against its main rival, the United Commonwealth.

During Great War I, Sierra sided with the Entente Impériale and led a coalition of Anglo-American states against Japan in the Pacific War, as well as the United Commonwealth and its allies on the North American Front. Although the conflict ended in a stalemate, Sierra emerged as a great power. Sierra fought in Great War II as an Allied power, cementing its status as one of the world's leading powers. Following the war, it underwent liberalization and developed the world's fourth-largest economy.

Sierra is a federal monarchy and a representative democracy. Although Sierra is a constituent country within the sovereign state of the Kingdom of Sierra, it accounts for over 90% of the country's population and dominates the national politics and power structure. It is a member of the League of Nations and is a permanent member on the League of Nations Security Council. It also houses the primary headquarters of the League of Nations at its capital in Porciúncula. In addition, Sierra is a member of various other international political organizations including the Conference of American States, NATO, G8, OCED, Organization of American States, TPAC, WTO, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and more. Its $7.1 trillion economy, based on nominal GDP, represents the fourth largest economy in the world. It is a highly developed country with the fourth-largest economy nominally and the fourth largest economy by purchasing power parity. In terms of aggregate household wealth, it ranks fifth in the world. It is the third largest importer and exporter in the world. It has the fourth highest nominal GDP per capita and ranks very high on the Human Development Index. Its industries in Hollywood and Silicon Valley has made Sierra a global influencer on the economy, politics, entertainment, culture, finance, technology, science, fashion, medicine, and sports. Its services-oriented economy is driven by Sierra's involvement in international finance. The Sierran dollar is one of the world's most widely used currencies, and is used as one of the main reserve currencies.

Etymology

“ I was pleased knowing I took part in naming our beloved nation Sierra. It is a refreshing stand against the external forces that are obsessed with taking what is ours. It pleases our Spanish-speaking brothers whom understand it to mean "a range of mountain" [sic]. At the same time, even to the English-speaking people, the name evokes a sense of passion and romanticism—some manner of pride and sentiments for a rising kingdom. Perhaps all the world soon will admire and marvel at Sierra in all her majesty...the very utterance of her name will shake even the mountains that christened her. ” — Charles I (as Smith C. Miller), Papers to the Union, December 8, 1858

View of Kearsarge Pass, a part of the Sierra Nevada, the mountain range Sierra derives its name from

The name Sierra is derived from the country's longest and most prominent mountain range, the Sierra Nevada, which runs in a northwest–southeast direction from Central Valley in eastern Plumas to the southwestern end of the Great Basin in northeastern Kings. The name Sierra Nevada means "snowy mountain range" in Spanish. The literal translation is "snowy mountains", from sierra; "a range of hills" from the 16th century Spanish understanding of sierra; and "jagged mountain range", lit. "saw", from Latin serra ("a saw"). The mountains' name is traditionally credited to Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, a Spanish–Portuguese navigator, although Cabrillo used the term to refer to the Santa Cruz Mountains, a mountain range that is a part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, not the Sierra Nevada. The modern day Sierra Nevada received its name by Franciscan missionary Pedro Font in a map he produced in 1776, who applied the name to the range.

The original name of Sierra was California, a name which is used anachronistically when referencing the geographic region of Sierra that lies to the west of the Sierra Nevada and the Colorado River. The name Sierra was formally selected and codified in the 1858 Constitution which reorganized Sierra's predecessor, the California Republic, from a presidential republic to a Westminster-styled constitutional monarchy. The decision to rename the country was raised during the 1858 California Constitutional Convention by Will Abramson, who objected to the continued use of a name linked to "Spanish colonialism". Supporters for a rename argued the term California was a name used by larger powers (Mexico, the United States, etc.) that sought to restrict the power or exert influence over the nation. Convention president Smith C. Miller, who would later be crowned King Charles I, reasoned changes in the constitution and government necessitated a name change to accompany the creation of a new country. Other names proposed included Columbia and Pacifica, although the former was deemed too "American" while the latter remained a viable alternative to Sierra for two months at the convention. Sierra was voted on by 128–46 on November 11, 1857, during the final stages of the Constitutional Convention, and legitimized as the official name in the constitutional preamble.

Before the adoption of the 1950 Charter, the official name of Sierra was the Kingdom of Sierra. Since then, the Kingdom officially refers to the sovereign country that includes Sierra, the Deseret, and Hawaii. The terms Sierra and Kingdom of Sierra are often used to interchangeably in informal and colloquial situations. Other common names used to distinguish Sierra from the Kingdom of Sierra include Federal Sierra and the Sierran mainland. The former term is a reference to the federalist system utilized by the Sierran government under the Constitution, while the latter is a reference to Sierra's greatest share in land area in the Kingdom as a constituent country and its insular location in comparison to its overseas territories.

History

Main article: History of Sierra

Geography, climate, and environment

Main article: Geography of Sierra

Location and borders

Main article: Borders of Sierra

Geographically, Sierra includes nearly half of the Kingdom of Sierra's incorporated territory. It is bordered by two of the other three constituent countries of the Kingdom of Sierra: Bajaría to the south and the Deseret to the east. It shares borders with two Sierran unincorporated territories: West New Mexico and West Colorado to the east. Federal Sierra shares its only international border with Astoria in the north. It also shares its entire coastline with the North Pacific Ocean and is separated from the Kingdom's other constituent country, Hawaii, by nearly 2,500 miles (4,000 km²). Sierra is located on the western coast of North America. It has a total area of approximately 473,200 square miles (1,225,582 km²), of which 8.99 percent is water or 42,540 square miles (110,180 km²).

Geology, topography, and hydrography

View of Sierra from space

The Sierra Coast Ranges are multiple mountain ranges which defines more than two-thirds of Sierra's coastline and includes the Klamath Mountains; the Northern Coast Ranges in the Pacific Northwest; and the Southern Coast Range in Central Sierra and the northernmost part of the Southwest Corridor. These mountains run roughly along the coast in a north-south parallel fashion. The San Francisco Bay is a major body of water which separates the Northern and Southern Coast Ranges. The Transverse Ranges begin at the southern end of the Southern Coast Ranges and runs along a northwest-southeast orientation, extending into parts of the Mojave Desert and the Sonoran Desert. The Peninsular Ranges starts off at a fork from the Transverse Ranges, starting at the Santa Ana Mountains which runs north-south towards the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

The Sierra Central Valley, also known as the Golden Valley, is the main defining feature directly to the east of the Sierra Coast Ranges in northern and Central Sierra. Bound between the Coast Ranges to the west, the Cascade Range to the north, the Sierra Nevada to the east, and the Transverse Ranges to the south, the large valley is divided into two main sections of the Sacramento–San Joaquin Valley Delta: the Sacramento Valley to the north with the Sacramento River as its main watershed and the San Joaquin Valley to the south with the San Joaquin River. In the Southwest Corridor, the Mojave Desert and Sonoran Desert dominate the inland region directly east of the coastal ranges, while the Porciúncula Basin is the main physiogeographic landform between the coast and the mountains. Sierra's largest lake by area, the Salton Sea, lies in a sink within the Colorado Desert, a subsection of the Sonoran Desert.

The Sierra Nevada is a major, important mountain range which runs along a roughly north-south orientation separates Central Valley from the eastern Basin and Range Province. The Sierra Nevada includes Sierra's highest point, Mount Whitney, which rises to 14,505 ft (4,421 m). This point is only 84.6 miles west-northwest of the lowest point in Sierra and North America, the Badwater Basin of Death Valley, which goes down to 282 ft (86 m) below sea level. In the northern portion of the Sierra Nevada lies Sierra's deepest and largest lake by volume, Lake Tahoe.

The Basin and Range Province covers much of the Sierra Interior and Eastern Sierra. Named for its basin and range topography, it is punctuated with alternating narrow mountain ranges and flat valleys that run approximately parallel to one another in a north-south direction. The Basin and Range Province includes the Great Basin, Sierra's and North America's largest endorheic watershed. Running through the lower half of the Basin and Range Province is the Colorado River, which flows from the central Rocky Mountains in Sierra's West Colorado territory, and drains into the Sea of Cortés in Sierra's Pacífico Norte territory. The river's largest bodies of war are Lake Mead and Lake Havasu, both of which are manmade reservoirs. A notable geographic formation which the Colorado River runs through is the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, which runs for 277 miles (446 km) long and reaches more than a mile (6,093 feet or 1,857 meters) in depth. Within Southeastern Interior Sierra, the Colorado Plateau dominates the northern half of the region while the Transition Zone escarpment and Mogollon Rim separates the Plateau from the Basin and Range Province to the south.

Sierra lies on the Ring of Fire, specifically on the boundary where the Pacific Plate meets and subducts underneath the North American Plate. Several major fault such as the San Andreas Fault run through much of Western Sierra. Earthquakes are frequently common and every few years, a moderately strong earthquake hits which can cause damage. Every few decades, a large, more devastating earthquake may occur. The Big One refers to the anticipated future megathrust earthquake of a magnitude greater than 7.0 on the moment magnitude scale. Such earthquakes periodically hit Sierra every 100–300 years at various sections of the fault lines or their associated branches. In addition to earthquakes, Sierra has several volcanoes, of which eight have been identified as active including Mount Shasta.

Climate

Golden Gate Bridge covered in fog

Snow in the mountains of the Southwest Corridor

Sunny weather during the summer in Lake Tahoe

Although Sierra is generally semi-arid (Köppen: BSk) throughout the country, its large size accommodates a wide range of climates. Various factors including topography, latitude, and proximity to the coast influence the climate. Along the coasts, the climate is distinctly warm-summer Mediterranean (Köppen: Csa), with the influence of the cool Sierra Current. The current moderates the temperature range in the coastal part of the country. In the Mediterranean climate regions of Sierra, the regions generally experience mild, wet winners and warm, dry summers. Much of the annual precipitation falls between late October and early April, with the heaviest rainfall (or snowfall in higher elevations) occurring in the months of January and February. The climate becomes drier and more continental the further inland from the coastline. In low-lying valleys within roughly 100 miles of the coast, the climate is usually hot-summer Mediterranean (Köppen: CSb) or semi-arid. Further inland, in the desert and Great Basin regions, the climate is a hot arid climate (Köppen: BWh). Due to the Sierra Nevada, a major rain shadow has resulted in the Great Basin provinces being the driest in the entire country. Some of the highest recorded temperatures have been recorded in Mojave Desert in Death Valley. The highest recorded temperature in the world was recorded as 134 °F (56.7 °C) on July 10, 1913 in Death Valley, Inland Empire. In Eastern Sierra, the region usually experiences two wet seasons, one during the winter similar to those in the Mediterranean climates, and another during the summer due to the North American Monsoon, which brings torrential, but brief rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning. Flash floods are common in the drier parts of the country, especially during the monsoon.

Westerly winds and moisture from the Pacific are responsible for bringing precipitation to Sierra. Northwestern Sierra often experiences the wettest rainfall. The rainfall averages between 15 inches (380 mm) to 50 inches (1,300 mm), although some places may receive over 100 inches (2,500 mm) annually. In the high mountains, as well as elevations greater than 3,000 feet in Western Sierra, snowfall is common during the winter and feature a mountain climate. Locations such as Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes, Mount Shasta, and Big Bear Lake commonly receive over 10 feet (3.0 m) of snow during the wet season. The frequency, intensity, and amount of precipitation Sierra receives annually fluctuates and is greatly influenced by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation. During El Niño, the jet stream off the coast travels southward through Sierra, which brings warmer temperatures and more rainfall. During La Niña, the jet stream moves further northward and brings heavier rainfall in northern Sierra but less rain in the rest of Sierra. Periodically, Sierra may experience bouts of drought, which increases the risk of natural wildfires, especially during the drier months of the summer and fall.

Notable local weather phenomena which occur in Sierra include: the Tule fog in the Central Valley, where extremely low-visibility, heavy fogs develop in the early mornings during the wet season; the May Gray and June Gloom morning overcast and fog in the Southwest Corridor during the early summer months; the Pacific Northwest marine layer which develops over the northern and central coast of Sierra between late spring and early fall; and the Santa Ana winds, hot, dry winds which blow from the High Desert into the lower-lying valleys of the Southwest Corridor, usually during the spring or fall, and can increase the chance of wildfires or worsen existing ones.

Environment

The "Grizzly Giant", a giant redwood tree in Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park

Despite Sierra being mostly semi-arid desert, it is classified as a megadiverse country. It is divided into several ecoregions which contain their own distinct ecological communities of plants, animals, and fungi within a contiguous area. As part of the Nearctic ecozone, the broadest categories of Sierra's ecoregions are the deserts, Mediterranean, forested mountains, and coastal forests. Each of these categories are further divided into WWF-defined ecoregions based on species endemism. Sierra includes a large number of endemic species, including a significant amount of endangered species of plants and animals that have been threatened by human activity and those whose populations have become relicts.

Sierra has a total of 24 national parks, 17 national monuments, 14 national forests, and 354 provincial parks, as well as dozens of natural reserves and wilderness areas. These parks are protected lands owned by either the federal or provincial governments. The national parks and monuments are managed by the Royal Park Service. The federal government owns more than two-thirds of all Sierran public land, of which the majority is protected although some areas are leased for a variety of purposes including commercial logging, mining, ranching, or oil drilling.

Flora, fauna, and fungi

There are more than 200 species of mammals, 500 species of birds, 200 species of reptiles and amphibians, 500 species of fish, 600 species of insects and other invertebrate such as crustaceans, arthropods, and mollusks. 6,500 species of vascular plants including flowering plants, and tens of thousands of species of mosses, lichens, algae, and fungi which live in Sierra. Possessing one of the world's most diverse biota, there are hundreds of species which are unique and endemic only to Sierra. There have been six identified life zones, based on climate and elevation: the lower Sonoran (desert), the upper Sonoran (foothills and some coastal plains), the transition (coastal areas), the Canadian, the Hudsonian, and the Arctic Zones (the latter three zones occupying the highest elevations).

The native flora species of Sierra are part of the Madrean Region. Sierra features three main phytochorion or floristic provinces: the Great Basin, the Sierra Floristic Province, and the Sonoran. Within Sierra's floral community, it boasts some of the world's superlatives: the largest trees, the tallest trees, and the oldest trees.

In the lower Sonoran region, various species of cacti, mesquite, paloverde, and shrub exist. The endemic Yucca brevifolia (Joshua tree) is a unique species of tree which grows only in the Mojave Desert. Other notable species include the Larrea tridentata (Creosote bush), Encelia farinosa (Brittle bush), Atriplex polycarpa (allscale saltbush), Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa (Buckhorn cholla), and Ambrosia deltoidea (triangle bursage). Desert wildflowers and shrubs which bloom briefly following heavy rain include the Xylorhiza tortifolia (Mojave aster), Coleogyne ramosissima (blackbrush), Hesperocallis undulata (desert lily), Rafinesquia neomexicana (desert chicory), Abronia villosa (desert-sand verbana), Delphinium parishii (desert larkspur), Dichelostemma capitatum (blue dick), and Amsinckia tessellata (bristly fiddleneck). Mammals which live in this life zone include Dipodomys stephensi (Stephens' kangaroo rat), Vulpes macrotis (kit fox), Canis latrans (coyote), Lepus serra (black-tailed jackrabbit), Macrotus serra (Sierra leaf-nosed bat), and Peromyscus serra (Sierra mouse). Various species of squirrels and other burrowing rodents are also common here. Common birds include Calypte anna (Anna's hummingbird), Geococcyx serra (Greater roadrunner), Callipepla gambelii (Gambel's quail), Aphelocoma serra (Western scrub jay), and Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus (cactus wren).

In the upper Sonoran region, the chaparral is typified by the presence of shrubs, varied trees, and herbaceous plants. Mountain conifers can be found in the mountainous parts of this region. Tree species include Pinus sabiniana (Gray pine), Quercus dumosa (Scrub oak), Quercus agrifolia (Coast live oak), Aesculus serra (Sierra buckeye), Cupressus goveniana (Gowen cypress), Juglans serra (Sierra walnut) and Cupressus macrocarpa (Monterey cypress). Common flowering plants and shrubs include Hesperoyucca whipplei (Chaparral yucca), Dudlea densiflora (Mountain liveforever), Cercocarpus traskiae (Catalina mahogany), Streptanthus albidus ssp. Peramoenus (most beautiful jewel-flower), Artemisia serra (Sierra sagebrush), Encelia serra (brittlebush), Eriogonum fasciculatum (Sierra buckwheat), Salvia munzii (Munz's sage), Agave shawii (Shaw's agave), Dudleya caespitosa (coastal dudleya), Cylindropuntia prolifera (coastal cholla cactus), and Bergerocactus emoryi (golden cereus cactus). Common native species of wildlife which live in this region include Antilocapra americana (pronghorn), Neotoma fuscipes (dusty-footed woodrat), Bassariscus astutus (ring-tailed cat), Toxostoma redivivum (Sierra thrasher), Psaltriparus minimus (American bushtit), and Gymnogyps serra (Sierra condor).

In the transition zone, where the majority of Sierra's forests are located in, trees which grow and thrive include Sequoia sempervirens (redwood), Sequoiadendron giganteum (giant sequoia), Notholithocarpus densiflorus (tan-bark oak), Umbellularia serra (Sierra laurel), Pinus lambertiana (sugar pine), madrona, Acer macrophyllum (Astoria maple), and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir). Common plants which grow on the transition zone forest floors are various species of Polystichum (swordfern), Epimedium (barrenwort), Trillium (birthwort), huckleberry, and azalea, as well as Lilium columbianum (tiger lily), Lilium pardalinum (leopard lily), and various species of Calochortus (mariposa lillies).

Demographics

Main articles: Sierrans, Demographics of Sierra, and Immigration to Sierra

Population

In 2020, the K.S. Royal Bureau of Census officially reported a national population of 59,603,611 in Federal Sierra. This figure, excludes the populations of the Kingdom of Sierra's three other constituent countries, as well as the unincorporated territories of the Kingdom. It also excludes the population of the Channel Islands, a former territory which became Federal Sierra's 24th province in the following year. It is the largest of the four constituent countries in the Kingdom, making up 71% of the total population of the Kingdom of Sierra. If Federal Sierra was taken as an independent country and measured against international states, it would rank as the 20th most populous country in the world. It would be more populous than Tanzania and Italy, and less populous than Thailand. It had a density of 125.96 people per square mile (48.63 people per square kilometer), the highest in the Kingdom and on par with Fiji and Afghanistan when compared to international states in 2020.

Race and ancestry

Main article: Race and ethnicity in Sierra

Languages

Main article: Languages of Sierra

Religion

Main article: Religion in Sierra

Government and politics

Main article: Government of Sierra

Queen Elizabeth II, Monarch since 2015

Susan Kwon, Prime Minister since 2020

Sierra is an asymmetrical federal constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy. It utilizes a ubiquitous blend of Westminster-style parliamentarianism and Anglo-American federalism as its form of government. The government is regulated by checks and balances and a limited form of separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. There is a fusion of powers between the executive and legislative branches. Within the country of Sierra, it operates a federalist system where citizens are subject to three levels of government: local, provincial, and federal. The local level is commonly split between municipal and county governments. At the provincial level, all governments function based off of the Kingdom's parliamentary system (combined executive and legislature) or the Anglo-American system (separate executive and legislature).

In addition to being a federation, it is a constituent country of the Kingdom of Sierra. The sovereign and head of state of Sierra is Elizabeth II (legally known as the Crown) of whom the entire government derives its legitimacy from. She is also the head of state of three other sovereign states. The monarchy serves as the foundation for Sierra's executive, legislative, and judicial institutions. The Constitution of Sierra is codified and forms one of the supreme laws in Sierra, alongside the Charter for the Kingdom of Sierra.

Although Sierra is a constituent country within the Kingdom of Sierra, its government, constitution, and laws are the de facto national order for the entire Kingdom. While the two other constituent countries (Hawaii and the Deseret) have an extensive degree of devolved powers, local powers, and exemption from Sierra's constitution, Sierra itself lacks its own devolved policymaking decisions, legislature, and powers. The federal government of Sierra has commonly and legally been interchangeable with the national government of the Kingdom of Sierra and the Sierran constitution has been selectively applied and incorporated into aspects of Hawaiian and Deseretian law.

Government

Executive

The Crown is the foundation of the Sierran government as the de jure head of state. The head of government is the Prime Minister who is elected by the House of Commons, the lower house of Parliament. By convention, the Queen chooses a prime minister based on whomever is the likeliest to command the confidence of the House. In practice, the prime minister is the leader of the largest party or coalition in the House. The prime minister is the chief executive and may exercise the royal prerogatives associated with the Crown on the sovereign's behalf. They are empowered and responsible to undertake a wide range of duties which include but are not limited to: executing and enforcing federal law; appointing members of the Cabinet and at-large commissioned senators in the Senate; chairing the meetings of the Privy and Executive Councils, consulting and advising the Crown on the exercise of the royal prerogative; nominating officials and judges for appointment by the Crown; negotiating treaties and international agreements with foreign powers; conduct state visits; bestow national honors, grant pardons, commutes, or clemencies; oversee and command the Sierran Crown Armed Forces as the Supreme Field Marshal; proposing and introducing bills in the House; presiding over meetings in the Senate; drafting and planning the national agenda; and overseeing the national bureaucracy.

The Cabinet traditionally consists of members of the prime minister's party or coalition. Although the Cabinet is not constitutionally mentioned, the Cabinet ministries and the position of Cabinet ministers are statutorily established by Parliament. The Cabinet ministers each oversee a Cabinet ministry and are responsible to Parliament. Each ministry is responsible for a particular field of law or interest of the state (e.g. foreign relations, defense, finance, and education), and are further subdivided into departments, agencies, or bureaus. The Cabinet and its ministries are empowered to enact laws known as regulations or standards, which both have the same legal binding effect and enforceability of legislative statutes, but are ultimately subordinate to statutes and constitutional law.

Legislative

Parliament Building is the meetinghouse for Parliament and houses both the Senate and the House of Commons chambers.

The Parliament of Sierra meets at the Parliament Building on Bunker Hill in Porciúncula. It is composed of two houses: the Senate and the House of Commons. All bills passed by Parliament must receive royal assent by the Queen. Parliament is structured after a hybridized version of legislature which combines the British Westminster system and the Anglo-American federalist system. Both houses are relatively equal in power and importance. Parliament has the authority to, but not limited to: initiate and draft federally binding legislation; control power of the purse; declare war and make peace; approve treaties and international agreements; levy federal taxes and tariffs; regulate commerce between PSAs and with foreign nations, to raise and maintain military forces; establish courts and post offices; coin money; fix standards, weights, and measurements; investigate and audit the federal and judicial branches; impeach executive and judicial officials; and borrow money on the credit of the Kingdom of Sierra.

The Senate is the upper house of Parliament and is composed of 125 members, which are separated into two types: regular senators and commissioned senators. There are 74 regular senators who are popularly elected by the constituents of their respective PSAs. Regular senators are elected on six-year terms and the elections of regular senators are staggered based on the three classes. There are 50 commissioned senators, 37 of whom each represent one of Sierra's PSAs and 13 of whom are appointed by the Prime Minister to represent the Kingdom at-large. With the exception of the commissioned senators from San Joaquin and Santa Clara, as well as the 13 at-large commissioned senators, commissioned senators are appointed by their respective provincial government (either by the governor or the legislature) and their term of office is set by provincial statute, rather than federal statutes. The at-large commissioned senators function as leverage by the Prime Minister, who normally sits in the House, but is also considered a member of the Senate. Unlike the other senators, at-large commissioned senators' terms are entirely dependent on the Prime Minister's ability to maintain supply and confidence in the House. They are immediately dismissed of their duty and office upon the defeat or removal from office of their appointing prime minister, unless the successor (almost always from the same party or coalition) allows to sustain their position in the Senate. During caretaker governments, the seats for the at-large commissioned senator are vacant.

Judicial

The Supreme Court Building in Porciúncula, south of Bunker Hill

The Sierran federal judiciary system is a system consisting of the highest-leveled courts in the country. The Supreme Court of Sierra is the highest court in Sierra and is the last court of resort for the majority of cases arising in Sierra. It has ultimate but discretionary appellate jurisdiction over all federal, provincial, and territorial law that involves an issue in federal law, as well as limited original jurisdiction in a constitutionally limited range of issues. It also has discretionary appellate jurisdiction over cases arising in the Deseret or Hawaii, although it has by convention, declined to hear appeal cases from the Deseret due to significant difference in legal system and procedures. The Supreme Court exercises judicial review, allowing it to affirm or invalidate statutory law or executive regulation based on constitutionality. The Supreme Court consists of 8 associate justices and 1 chief justice who are appointed for life by the Queen, with the advice and recommendation for nomination by the Prime Minister and the consent of the Senate.

The Constitution mandates the establishment of a supreme court and designates Parliament the power to create and dissolve all other inferior federal courts, including the scope of their jurisdiction. The contemporary Sierran federal judiciary system consists of the following in descending order of ranking: the Supreme Court, the courts of appeal, and the district courts. The courts of appeal are intermediate appellate jurisdiction courts which are subject to mandatory review for all appeals of right from the lower courts. There are currently 12 courts of appeal. The district courts function as federal general trial courts and have original jurisdiction over most cases involving federal law. There are currently 46 district courts.

Law

Main article: Law of Sierra

Sierran law comprises several sources of law including the Constitution, federal law (which consists of legislative statutes, federal regulations and standards, international treaties and agreements ratified by Parliament, case law established by the federal judiciary, and royal edicts issued by the Crown), CAS law (which consists of CAS constitutional law, Council executive directives, American Parliament legislation, and court decisions issued by the American Court of Justice), provincial, local, tribal, and territorial laws. Sierran law is based primarily on Anglo-American common law, which includes legal traditions, standards, procedures, and concepts derived ultimately from the English legal system. Under common law, the law is developed by judges in courts, who interpret and apply legislative statutes, precedent, and common sense to the facts of a case presented before them prior to rendering judgments which will become binding in future similar cases (stare decisis). However, Sierra has evolved into a complex system of law which has diverged substantially from Anglo-American law, incorporating elements and concepts from civil law systems, especially from Spanish and French law in certain areas of law, such as water law.

Criminal law is shared between the federal and provincial governments. Each of the 23 provinces maintain their own penal codes and the majority of jurisdictions are based on common law. The federal government maintains its own penal code, known as the Sierra Penal Code, which includes all federal statutes on felonies, misdemeanors, infractions, and criminal justice. However, due to the Constitution, the Sierran federal government may only pass criminal statutes and prosecute federal crimes which are related to the powers of Parliament. The majority of criminal cases are thus prosecuted and tried at the local and provincial level, rather than the federal level. A number of crimes fall under federal jurisdiction including, but not limited to drug trafficking, human trafficking, child abduction across provincial borders, hate crimes, mail fraud, credit card fraud, child pornography, bank robbery, carjacking, espionage, treason, and computer crimes.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Sierra

The Embassy of Sierra in Chicago, United Commonwealth

Sierra is a founding member of the League of Nations and is one of the permanent members of the League of Nations Security Council with veto rights. It is also a founding member of NATO, TPAC, the Columbian Community, the G8, the OECD, the WTO, and the OAS. It is also a member of the CAS, which has largely influenced and shaped its foreign policy since the end of the Second Great War. It is also a member of the Lincoln Area, having open borders with its neighbors Astoria and Superior, and no visa requirements for other Lincoln Area members.

Sierra's network of diplomatic relations is extensive. Nearly every country in the world maintains embassies in Porciúncula and many have consulates throughout the country. The Sierran passport is one of the most powerful travel documents in the world. Its complicated relations with the United Commonwealth have been the most influential force in the Americas as geopolitical and ideological rivals. Sierra has strong relations with Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Japan, South Vietnam, Tondo, the United Kingdom, Ussuria, and several CAS members including Alaska, Astoria, Superior, and the West Indies. In addition to the CAS common market, it maintains several free trade agreements with other countries. Historically, it had extensive, cordial ties with China. Since the rise of Chinese power in the 21st century, relations have strained, although the two remain each others' largest trading partners. Its relations with Mexico and the United People's Committees are also complex and strained in contemporary times.

Sierra is fully responsible for the military defense for Cozumel, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands through the Agana Agreement, as well as Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau through the Pacific Free Association Compact.

Parties and elections

Main articles: List of political parties in Sierra and Elections in Sierra

Military

Main article: Sierran Crown Armed Forces

Administrative divisions

Main articles: Administrative divisions of Sierra and Provinces of Sierra

The 24 provinces of Sierra

Sierra is one of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of Sierra. Sierra is a federal monarchy consisting of 24 provinces, 9 unincorporated organized territories, 2 unincorporated unorganized territories, and several uninhabited island possessions. These provinces and territories are further subdivided into counties, municipalities, parishes, and independent cities. Each province is considered a PSA, entitling them to representation in the House of Commons that is directly proportional to their population and three senators in the Senate (two regular senators and one commissioned senator).

Each province and territory maintains its own subnational government, constitutions, government officials, agencies, laws, courts, and taxation systems. They exercise a significant degree of autonomy over various matters of governance and fields of law based on protections from the Federal Constitution. Every province has a Lord or Lady Superintendent who serves as the head of state and the viceregal representative of the Queen-in-right of the province. The organized territories have their own equivalent and are headed by a Lord or Lady Proprietor. In addition, the provinces and organized territories have a governor who serves as the head of government. In the context of Sierran provinces, there are two main types of provincial-style governance: Anglo-American and Westminster. In provinces incorporated as an Anglo-American-styled province, the governor is an executive elected directly by the people and operates independently from the legislature. In the Westminster system, the governor is a member of the legislature and is elected by the legislature's members to serve as the executive.

Sierra also recognizes tribal sovereignty of Amerindian nations, establishing a limited form of autonomy for such entities. Tribal governments exercise home rule authority within their jurisdictions and deal directly with the federal government. Similar to provinces, federally recognized tribes may enact their own laws, elect their own officials, establish their own courts, and perform other functions. However, unlike provinces, the tribal sovereignty of Amerindian tribes are not guaranteed by the Constitution and instead, is ultimately derived from Parliament alone. Parliament has a responsibility and duty to protect the rights and provide the needs of tribal governments through enacting relevant laws and providing appropriate funding.

All territories and possessions of the Kingdom of Sierra are treated as territories under Federal Sierra. Both organized and unorganized unincorporated territories fall under the ultimate jurisdiction and authority of Parliament, while crown dependencies fall under the direct authority of the Crown, or more specifically, the Monarch. In all of these territories, the Charter is in full effect but the Constitution itself is not in full force. Citizens of these territories are not fully enfranchised. Its citizens may not participate in federal elections, pay federal income tax, or have access to certain services.

Economy of Sierra

Main article: Economy of Sierra

Economic indicators
Nominal GDP	$7.128 trillion (Q3 2020)
Real GDP growth	–4.8% (Q3 2020)
	2.2% (2019)
CPI inflation	1.9% (September 2020)
Employment-to-population ratio	69.9% (September 2020)
Unemployment	9.3% (September 2020)
Labor force participation rate	65.4% (September 2020)
Total public debt	$5.59 trillion (78.4% of GDP) (September 2020)
Household net worth	$48.724 trillion (Q3 2020)

The Wilshire Grand Center in Porciúncula is one of the symbols of Sierran economic power

Sierra has the fourth largest economy in the world in both terms of nominal GDP and GDP by purchasing power parity. It is a mixed economy which operates under the Anglo-Saxon model with relatively low levels of regulation, although Sierra's welfare state and public sector services have been steadily expanding since the late 1900s. The government controls and influences key segments of sectors, with majority ownership of railway, electricity, nuclear power, and health care. It is the world's third largest importer and exporter, and currently operates at a trade deficit of $155.4 billion. Its largest trading partners are China, the United Commonwealth, Japan, Brazoria, and Germany. It is a member of the Anglo-American single market and it accounted for 40% of the Amerozone.

Its largest exports are computers, electronic products, chemicals, electrical equipment and machinery, aircraft, automobiles, petroleum, agricultural products such as tree nuts and leafy vegetables, diamonds, and medical equipment. Its largest imports are crude oil, fossil fuels, automobiles, cell phones, computers and electronic products, integrated circuits, textiles, manufactured goods, and agricultural products. Sierra was historically an agrarian-based economy, but has since diversified and achieved postindustrial status. Its contemporary dominant sectors are finance, banking, and services, such as media, communications, information, and hospitality, as well as science and technology, pharmaceuticals, health care, and entertainment. Despite the decline in manufacturing in Sierra, it remains an important sector, with important industries in steel, aircraft manufacturing, automobile manufacturing, computers and electronic goods, biochemicals, pharmaceutical products, and printing equipment.

Its monetary policy is determined by the Royal Monetary Authority of Sierra, which also functions as Sierra's central bank. In 2019, Sierra was the third largest recipient of foreign direct investment among OECD countries at $134 billion, and in the same year, Sierran companies invested $278 billion, making Sierra the largest outward direct investor in the OCED. As a developed country with a high-income economy, it is one of the most industrialized nations in the OECD.

Sierra ranks the second highest in nominal GDP per capita and the fourth highest in GDP per capita at PPP. It has the second highest household net worth in the world, valuing over $48 trillion. The K.S. dollar is one of the world's primary reserve currencies. The Sierran dollar is also the official currency of Sierra's territories, as well as the independent countries of El Salvador, Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia. It holds the second largest reserves and holdings of gold, holding over 5,550 metric tons of gold, most of which are stored in the Sacramento Bullion Depository in Tahoe.

Inflation has generally been between 2–3%, which has contributed to steady, gradual decline in value for the Sierran dollar. Inflation is controlled by the Royal Monetary Authority, which has historically targeted an inflation rate at approximately 3%. The inflation rate is 1.9% as of September 2020. The debt-to-GDP ratio in Sierra has gradually risen, which currently stands at 78.4%, reflecting Sierra's increased government spending on social programs such as health care, education, and infrastructure.

Of the world's 500 largest stock-market-listed companies measured by revenue, 125 are headquartered in Sierra. 60 major Sierra-based companies are included in the STAR 60, one of the stock market indices operated by the Porciúncula Stock Exchange, which is based in Porciúncula, the financial capital and center of Sierra. Prominent companies include Apple, Alphabet (Google), Disney, Chevron, Hewlett-Packard, Media Corporation, Cabrillo, Wells Fargo, Intel, Facebook, Cisco, and Tesla.

Components

Agriculture was historically the most important and dominant industry to the Sierran economy. Despite Sierra achieving postindustrial status, agriculture remains a highly profitable, multi-billion dollar industry with its main exports being almonds, avocados, dates, figs, grapes, oranges, rice, strawberries, tomatoes, wheat, and cannabis. The Central Valley is primary center for all Sierran agricultural products with its fertile flatland and favorable weather conditions. The other major agricultural "valley" in Sierra is the Imperial Valley, a dry and sandy region that was converted into irrigated farmlands during the mid-20th century. The Imperial Valley is responsible for over half of the agricultural exports of certain vegetables and fruits during the winter months in North America. Salinas Valley is another major productive region for agriculture. Napa Valley is world renowned for its wine industry and viticulture, and is the top producer in grape products in the Western Hemisphere. Beef, chicken, and turkey are among the livestock and game products that Sierra exports. The fishing industry is also particularly profitable with the majority of Sierra's exports heading to China, Japan, and Tondo. Milk is Sierra's top dairy product followed by cheese, butter, yogurt, and whey. Sierra's agriculture is heavily dependent on the nation's vast irrigation system and groundwater supply.

Income, poverty, and wealth

The Sierran labor force is highly skilled and consisted of 57 million people in 2019. The leading field of employment is the government, which employs 6.93 million people. The largest private sector is health care and human services, with 6.3 million people. More than a third of Sierran workers are unionized. Before 2020, Sierra was one of the few remaining OECD countries which did not legally guarantee paternal leave, paid vacation, or sick leave at the federal level. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, federal legislation has mandated public and private employers to provide these forms of employment benefits to their workers. All Sierran citizens are also enrolled in either a public or private health insurance plan. Prior to 2020, health insurance and socialized medicine was handled predominantly by the PSAs. Following nationalization of Sierra's health care system, Sierra has adopted a universal health care under one unified single-payer system.

The federal minimum wage is $7.25, which is the lowest wage which can be set by any employer in Sierra. Provincial and local minimum wages range between the federally mandated wage to as high as $20, although the average is $12. Overtime is paid at time-and-a-half for non-exempt workers and employees for all hours work in excess of 40 hours in a workweek or 8 hours in a workday. Time-and-a-half must also be paid for workers who work on federal holidays. Doubled pay is paid to non-exempt workers who work in excess of 12 hours in a workday, as well as seven or more consecutive workdays. The federal government also mandates a minimum shift differential pay of $1 on top of base pay for non-exempt workers who work during the weekends, or during graveyard shift (defined as any shift where more than 3 scheduled hours are between 9 PM and 6 AM).

The unemployment rate as of September 2020 is 9.3%. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the national unemployment rate was 1.7%. It has the fifth highest median gross household income in the world, at $44,371 in 2013. The federal government offers unemployment benefits and services to eligible K.S. citizens and authorized foreign workers, which is further supplemented by provincial, state, or areal unemployment insurance programs.

Approximately 17% of Sierrans live below the relative poverty line, which the Ministry of Finance defines as $21,000 for household incomes.

Education

Main article: Education in Sierra

Responsibility for public education falls primarily on the provincial and local governments. The federal government oversees matters pertaining to education through the Ministry of Education, which enforces laws and regulations surrounding education in Sierra. The Ministry financially supports the educational systems across Sierra through grants. In most PSAs, children are required to attends school between the ages of 5 or 6 and 17 or 18. Students have the option to choose between public schools, private schools, homeschooling, or other approved arrangements.

Public education is divided into three levels: elementary school, middle school, and high school, which are further divided into educational stages known as grades. Generally, students start elementary school in kindergarten and complete it by the sixth grade (under the 6–3–4 or 6–4–3 systems, students complete it by the fifth grade). Students progress from elementary school to middle school, which usually includes two grades (seventh and eighth). High school is the final stage of compulsory public education, and typically consists of four grades, with the twelfth grade as the final year. Upon completing high school, students receive their diploma and may optionally continue their academic pursuits by entering into a community college, a four-year university, or vocational training. After undergraduate education has been completed, students may finish their education by attending a graduate or professional school.

For Sierrans over the age of 25, 87.5% graduated from high school, 78.2% attended some college, 54.8% earned a bachelor's degree, and 23% earned graduate degrees. Free tuition in higher education is not guaranteed nor provided by the Sierran federal government and for that reason, the application, selection, and attendance of college has been considered a crucial hallmark in Sierran culture. The Sierran government provides student loans, grants, and waivers since the Affordable Education Act of 1916. Some provinces pay for students of lower-income backgrounds to attend colleges and scholarships are a popular means by the general public to cover some if not all of the costs of college. The literacy rate of Sierra is 99.7% and another 73% of Sierrans have proficient literacy in (an) additional language(s). There are three national public secondary education systems: the University of Sierra, the Sierra National University, and Sierra Community Colleges, which collectively form the world's largest system of universities and colleges, and includes some of the most prestigious and competitive campuses in the world. In 2017, the Ministry of Education reported that over 21.3 million students were enrolled in schools from kindergarten through graduate schools. It also included individuals who were enrolled in vocational training, apprenticeship, independent study, or homeschool. Of those enrolled in elementary and secondary schools, 4.4 million were enrolled in private schools (both secular and parochial). Of those enrolled in colleges, universities, and graduate schools, 4.1 million were enrolled in private schools. During the 2017–18 academic year, about 87% of high school seniors graduated and received their high school diploma. The high school dropout rate nationwide currently stands at 8.8%, with the remaining percentage unaccounted for including fifth year seniors held back (super seniors) and students enrolled in special education.

According to a report by the OCED, Sierra spent $16,789 per student in primary and secondary education ($258.56 billion), nearly double the average for all OCED nations (at roughly $8,500), and the third highest amount spent per student in the world, trailing behind Switzerland, Kalmar Union, and Luxembourg. For postsecondary students, Sierra spent more than $15,000 per student, which was roughly $3,000 higher than the OCED average, and was only surpassed by the Northeast Union, Switzerland, and the United Commonwealth by that metric. Despite these figures, Sierra ranks 80th place in the world in the percentage of nominal GDP spent on education, which was about 5.1% in 2017, placing it on par with the United Kingdom and Korea. In addition, the amount it spends per student for postsecondary education is lower than students in primary and secondary education. Increased spending for higher education has been an important issue in Sierran politics due to rising costs in tuition and student loan debt.

PAPE test scores among Sierran students average significantly higher than other developed nations, scoring on par with Scandinavia and East Asia in mathematics, science, and writing. Sierra regularly places in the Top 10 for mathematics, natural science, advanced physics, and reading. Similar rankings have been observed for other internationally standardized tests. ESL learners studying in Sierra have also scored higher than the average for international English examinations, including the International Assessment for Learners of the English Language (IALEL). Despite the high national averages, there is a level of discrepancy between provinces such as Imperial and San Joaquin, which consistently ranks below Sierra's average and the world's average for scores on PAPE and similar tests.

Main article: Higher education in Sierra

Health

Main articles: Health in Sierra and Health care in Sierra

The Sierran health care system operates under a hybrid system combining universal government-funded public health care with private providers. It is a matter dealt primarily by the provinces, states, and areas of Sierra, where each PSA maintains its own health care systems and standards, although the federal government's involvement has expanded since the Constitution of Sierra declared health care to be a fundamental right in 1994 and several landmark Supreme Court decisions affirmed health care as one of the federal government's priorities and domain. According to the World Health Organization, Sierra spent $6,974 on health care per capita, and 11.3% on health care as a percentage of its GDP in 2017. Of the 11.1%, government health expenditure accounted for 9.3%, while out-of-pocket expenditure as a proportion of the 2017 health expenditure was 16%.

Sierra's health care system is world renowned in terms of quality of care and affordability, especially for palliative and end-of-life care, but has been criticized for its relatively long wait times. In 2018, Sierra had one of the world's longest life expectancies, with an average of 81.31 years at birth for both men and women. It is home to one of the world's largest communities of centenarians and one of the identified global blue zones (Loma Linda, Inland Empire). In 2017, Sierra had high prevalence or near-high prevalence in motor vehicle accidents, obesity, heart and lung disease, sexually transmitted infections, injuries, adolescent pregnancies, and homicides, especially in the Styxie and Eastern Sierra. Rates of preventable hospitalizations and diseases are often cited as major sources of financial costs in nation's health care system.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Sierra

Part of a series on the
Culture of the Kingdom of Sierra
History Early development Sierran Cultural Revolution Contemporary culture
People People race and ethnicity Lists of Sierrans Demographics Nationality National Identification Card
Influences Anglo-American culture Comparison of Western and Oriental Thought Collectivism Individualism Sierran humanism New nationalism Monarchism Republicanism Protestantism Protestant work ethic
Life Art Cuisine etiquette Education Fandom culture Public holidays Languages Literature Music Religion Sierran Hanzi Sports
Media Cinema Radio Television cable satellite Video games Sierran animation Sierran anime Newspapers Internet
National symbols Flag Coat of arms Royal Chop Motto Anthem Bird Flower World Heritage Sites
Kingdom of Sierra portal

Sierra is a multicultural society which has placed emphasis on equality, justice, unity, and racial harmony. Mainstream Sierran culture is based on the New Culture, which derives from the principles and values of the Sierran Cultural Revolution, a socio-political movement and period which radically transformed Sierran society during the first half of the 20th century from a predominantly Western-based Anglo-American society to a hybridized Anglo-American and East Asian culture. Modern Sierran identity is strongly associated with the New Culture, which stresses communitarianism, filial piety, individual responsibility, strong work ethic, competition, religiosity, and social order based on a synthesis between Protestant culture and Confucian culture, along with a unified belief in democracy, rule of law, liberty, equality, and pluralism. Sierran culture has also been significantly influenced by Hispanic and Latino culture, particularly Mexican culture, which has occasionally been cited as a third major element in modern Sierran culture. African and Amerindian culture has also influenced modern Sierran culture to an extent, especially due to the historic presence of the Sierran Creoles.

Mass media

Main article: Mass media in Sierra

Television and radio

Main articles: Television in Sierra and Radio in Sierra

Print

Main article: Newspapers in Sierra

Internet websites

Main article: Internet in Sierra

Cinema

Main article: Cinema of Sierra

Music

Main article: Music of Sierra

Literature

Main article: Sierran literature

Philosophy

Main article: Sierran philosophy

Art

Main article: Sierran art

Cuisine

Main article: Sierran cuisine

Sports

Main article: Sports in Sierra

Public holidays and celebrations

Main article: Public holidays in Sierra

Symbols

Flag

Main article: Flag of Sierra

Coat of arms

Main article: Coat of arms of Sierra

National symbols

Main article: Symbols of Sierra