New Sketherlands

New Sketherlands
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: "Knowledge is Power, But Wisdom is Might"
Anthem: New Victory
Geography
Area	989,789km2
Highest point	Mount Barbados 2.3 miles
Longest river	Ollovnian River
Demographics
Population	310.45 million
• Growth	2.3%/year
Median age	34.1 years
Demonym	Skethish
History
Old Sketherlands Formed:	210 B.C.
King Casey Vallance Crowned:	February 10th, 1502
Constitution Ratified:	July 4th, 1827
Government
Capital	Corumminius
Official language	Skethish
Type	Constitutional Monarchy
Legislature	Skethish Parliament
Monarch:	Queen Oprah Qurinis
Prime Minister:	Laura Revjekx
Parliamentary Majority Leader:	Justin Elappinis
Minister of the Peace:	Sophie Quentin
Cities	Corumminius Ezexksmo Oprannus Port Bestraffne Williamsville
Economy
Currency	Cosavalor (Ȼ) (COS)
GDP	Ȼ605 billion ($1.21 trillion)
• Per capita	Ȼ54,993 ($109,987)
• Growth	1.4%/year
Sectors	13% Agriculture 29% Industry 58% Services
Unemployment	2.9%
Development
Life expectancy	85.1 years
Clean water access	99%
Literacy	99.9%
Enrollment	94.63%
• Primary	99.9%
• Secondary	98.7%
• Tertiary	85.3%
Standards
Measures	Metric
Date format	Month-Day-Year
Traffic	Left-Hand
Codes
ISO code	NSK
Internet TLD	.qua
Time Zones	VST-1 (Coastal Zwakazian Standard Time)
Calling code	+5

New Sketherlands, officially the Kingdom of New Sketherlands, is a sovereign nation located on the southern tip of the Zwakazi continent. The kingdom is a unitary constitutional monarchy, bordering only the Republic of Trigadia to the north, with only the Calidihav and Nyoka oceans to the southwest and east respectively. The country geographically is thus fundamentally a peninsular nation, with a total land area of 989,789km². As a constitutional monarchy, the nation is governed by the Skethish Constitution, with the Prime Minister of New Sketherlands leading the executive, and the Parliament of New Sketherlands comprising the legislative. With a population of 310.45 million and a high GDP of greater than $1 trillion, the nation is prominent in both economics and global affairs, with cities such as the capital, Corumminius, and Williamsville, among others, being some of the largest cities in the world.

Sketherlands is one of the oldest countries on the Zwakazi continent, and was founded in 210 B.C. as the kingdom of Old Sketherlands. The Old Kingdom was a much smaller nation, confined to areas around Corumminius extending up to Williamsville. Additionally the Old Kingdom featured a much more powerful royalty and royal court system. Around 45 A.D. the Old Kingdom had become extremely prosperous, maintaining a thriving economy and making advancements in technology and religion as well. However, the Old Kingdom was conquered in 50 A.D. by the Allian Empire, which toppled the royal family and absorbed Sketherlands into the empire. After being one of the more prosperous and pioneering protectorates of the Empire for nearly a thousand years, Sketherlands gradually drifted away from the Empire through neglect from the weakening, ever-burdened government in Procantinac. In 1500 the Empire was dissolved, and Sketherlands officially became independent once more. After a brief lack of government in the nation, Sketherlands crowned King Casey Vallance as the country's new monarch in 1502, however it soon became clear that an absolute monarch would not function properly in the new nation.

This led to the creation of the Skethish Parliament in 1508, which balanced the power of the monarch. The Skethish were prosperous under this new form of government for 200 years, dominating affairs on the Zwakazi continent. In the late 1700's strife came, however this was soon solved with the 1827 Skethish Constitution, which modified the government and created the Prime Minister, whose government immediately implemented measures of capitalism and industrialism. Neutrality in the Great Venturian War and an alliance with the Southern Coastal Alliance in the Greater Venturian War maintained stability in the country throughout that period, and the country's continued economic and political stability helped New Sketherlands remain prosperous throughout the 20th century.

Today New Sketherlands remains a powerful global economic and political force, with a high GDP and a mid-sized population. This allows wealth to be distributed well in the nation, with a high GDP per capita, high standards of living, low crime, and a high human development index. In these ways, New Sketherlands rivals New Dawn and Lindsaya in terms of its per-citizen prosperity and high standards of living. Besides economics, New Sketherlands also maintains a major political influence globally, as it is considered a country which can swing in its alliances or even be neutral. This combined with the fact that it maintains a powerful position on the Zwakazi continent means it is quick to be appeased by other powers, despite its smaller than average military. A member of the Venturian Union, the GECO, and the Sidus Dei Ludos, the country maintains low pollution and emissions levels, and also maintains diplomatic relations with every nation and micronation on Venturia. Additionally, the nation is the founder of both the Skethish language and Skethianity, a major global religion with a strong diaspora across the world.

Government and Politics

Main article: Royal Government of New Sketherlands

The government of New Sketherlands is that of a unitary, separated constitutional monarchy. This means that the basis for the Skethish government is the Skethish Constitution, which lays out the three branches of government which include the Prime Minister and his royal Cabinet, the Skethish Parliament consisting of the House of Lords and the House of Commons, and the Skethish Royal Judiciary, which consists of the Skethish Panel of the Royal Judiciary and numerous lower courts.