New United States (Cyberpunk Expanded)
New United States of America | |
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.svg) Flag
Coat of arms
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Motto: In God We Trust | |
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Anthem: Star Spangled Banner | |
| Capital | Washington, D.C. |
| Largest city | New York City |
| Official languages | English (de facto) |
| Demonym(s) | American |
| Government | Federal Presidential Constitutional Republic under a Dominant Party System |
| Rosalind Myers (F) | |
| Anslem Letterman (F) | |
| Legislature | New United States Congress (Senate) |
| Independence from Great Britain | |
| July 4, 1776 | |
| March 1, 1781 | |
| September 3, 1783 | |
| June 21, 1788 | |
| July 4, 2035 | |
| Population | |
• 2021 estimate | 100,393,394 |
| GDP (PPP) | 2077 estimate |
• Total | $13.4 trillion |
| Currency |
Eurodollar (€$) U.S. dollar ($) |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +1 |
| Internet TLD | .nusa |
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The New United States of America (N.U.S.A), commonly known as the New United States (N.U.S.) or simply America, is a country primarily located in North America, consisting of 48 states, a federal district, and various island territories in the Pacific Ocean. With an estimate population of over 100 million, the New United States is the most populous country in the Americas. The nation's capital is Washington, D.C., while its major population center is New York City.
Indigenous peoples inhabited land area of the New United States well before its establishment. Beginning in 1607, colonization from Great Britain brought English settlers to the Americas and established thirteen separate colonies along the eastern New United States. Discontent regarding proper representation and taxation brought about the American Revolutionary War and saw the thirteen colonies breakaway and form the United States of America, one of the world's first constitutional republics. Through a policy of Manifest Destiny, the United States expanded across the continent and established itself as a global superpower following World War II and during the Cold War. The Crash of '94 brought social, economic, and political turmoil, resulting in the collapse of the United States government and the independence of various states collectively known as the Free States.
Following the Fourth Corporate War, the United States was reorganized as the New United States under President Elizabeth Kress, who ruled the country as uninterrupted from 2021 to 2065. The Unification War, started by the hawkish policies of Kress's successor, Rosalind Myers, saw the reintegration of the Free States into the New United States, albeit with varying degrees of autonomy.
The New United States is a federal constitutional republic and representative democracy. The President of the New United States is the nation's executive head of state. Since the restoration of democracy in 2040, the New United States has effectively been governed under a dominant party system. The Federalist Party has controlled the presidency since 2021 and has controlled the New United States Congress, the national legislature, since 2057. Militech, one of the largest megacorporations in the world, is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has maintained close ties with the NUS government. The New United States is categorized as a re-emerging power; while the country has yet to fully overcome the devestating effects of the Collapse, it is gradually regaining its importance in international politics and economies.
History
The Collapse
Beginning in the 1950s, the United States became under the elusive control of the Gang of Four, a covert association between the CIA, FBI, NSA, and DEA. While they did not assume direct leadership within the country, they were in fact a shadow government, influencing the government and elections to align with their needs. During what was described as the Quiet War, from 1991 to 1994, the United States devolved into "paranoid isolationism", working covertly to manipulate the international markets in order to sabotage the growing economic influence of the European Economic Community and the Eurodollar. The Gang of Four also sought to project American economic stability as the country teetered to a financial crisis.
In 1994, the EEC discovered the Gang of Four and their efforts to undermine international economic independence, exposing the Quiet War to the international community. Global outrage towards the United States resulted in several major trade embargos, and that coupled with increasingly negative financial decisions by major world powers resulted in a major clash in the global stock market. Known as the Crash of '94, the global stock market virtually collapsed overnight, resulting in global hyperinflation and economic ruin. The United States was hit the hardest by the crash and became the final catalyst for The Collapse. Poverty became rampant and the political situation within the country became tense.
While the Crash of '94 is viewed as a primary cause of the Collapse, the total collapse of society and government within the United States was the product of multiple factors. In 1996, President James Allen and Vice President...
2020s onwards
Demographics
Government and politics
The New United States is a semi-federal presidential republic and representative democracy. The government of the New United States was established by the Constitution of the New United States, which was implemented in 2035 as a modified replacement of the outdated United States Constitution. The Constitution establishes three branches of government: the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch.
The executive branch is headed by the President of the New United States. The President is the executive head of state and head of government of the country. The president is elected by the Electoral College, which is composed of electors from each state and four of the highest earning American-based corporations. The president is empowered by the Constitution with various executive powers and privileges, including the signing of legislation into laws, the declaration of national emergencies, the issuing of executive orders, and the nationalization of American-based corporations. The president is assisted in running the government by the Cabinet, a council of government ministers and corporate advisers. Members of the cabinet are appointed directly by the president with senatorial consent. The president is the head
The legislative branch is headed by the New United States Congress. The New United States Congress is composed of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Since 2035, the House of Representatives has been inactive, as no concise national census has been held. As such, the Senate acts as the sole legislative body in the New United States. The Constitution tasks the Senate to create federal legislation, known as the bills. Bills passed in the Senate are sent to the president to be signed into law. The Constitution describes the Senate as having the sole jurisdiction in terms of conducting diplomacy, impeachment trials, and providing consent to the appointment of federal officials. Since the House of Representatives is unable to be formed, the Senate has also taken on the lower chamber's reserved powers, such as the formation of an annual budget. The Senate will hold these powers until the House of Representatives is able to be formed. The Senate is composed of TBD members. Each state is entitled to three representatives to the chamber, two who are popularly elected by state residents and one corporate representative.
The judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the last court of appeals in the federal judiciary, and is considered the highest court of the land. The Supreme Court is made up of nine justices, headed by the Chief Justice, who are appointed by the president based on senatorial consent. The Supreme Court heads the federal judiciary, which include federal court of appeals and district courts. Each state is entitled to their own judiciary system, though must align with the Supreme Court.
Parties and elections
The New United States, along with its predecessor, has maintained a two party system. Since 2035, the current major parties include the Federalist Party and the Devolutionist Party. Since 2035, the Federalist Party has dominated federal politics, while the Devolutionist Party remains popular in the Free States.
Elections to the presidency occur every four years. The president is indirectly elected by the Electoral College. The Electoral College is composed of electors from each state and from the four largest-earning American-based corporations. Electors chosen by the states are done so based on the popular vote in that state, while corporate electors can be selected based on any reason. The vice president is also elected by the Electoral College, and is typically the running mate of the president. Elections to the Senate occur every four years, usually alongside presidential elections. Senators are popular-elected, with a majority of states employing the plurality voting method, while three employ a two round runoff system. Their are no term limits for any elected position.
The current president of the New United States is Federalist Rosalind Myers of Virginia, who was first elected into office in 2065. She previously served as CEO of Militech and had no prior experience in public office. The current vice president is Federalist Anslem Letterman. He previously served as a elected senator from Maine from 2035 to 2065.
Administrative divisions
The New United States is a federation of 40 states, 10 free states, 1 free city (Night City), and one federal district ({w|District of Columbia}}).
The 40 regular states in the New United States share sovereignty with the federal government. The operate their own governments, which are modelled after the federal government. They are further divided into counties and municipalities. A regular state is governed by a governor, legislated by a state legislature, and maintains a state-operated judiciary that is subservient to decisions made by the federal judiciary. Each state has an equal degree of autonomy, though certain functions are left to the federal government.
The 10 free states are granted autonomy regarding their form of governance. The states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho form the Pacific Confederation, an association that in itself acts as a de facto mega-state, operating in unison. The remaining free states of North California, Arizona, Nevada, New New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana and Night City operate with a degree of independence from the federal government; they are allowed to conduct foreign affairs to an extent and maintain their own militaries. These seven free states and single free city form the Free States Board, a loose association designed to form a united front against federal encroachment.
The Republic of Texas is recognized by the federal government and most of the international community as being apart of the New United States. However, Texas is de facto independent from the New United States, operating its own military, conducting its own state and diplomatic affairs, and maintaining its own economy. The New United States government classifies Texas as a free state, though does not count it amongst the other states.