Saeard, The Commonwealth of

[Joshua]

The Commonwealth of Saeard Common Names: Saeard Capital: Burnaburgh Demonym: Saeardish Languages Saeardish Government: Federal Presidential Republic Head of State: The Saeardwalda Head of Government: The Saeardwalda Legislature: Upper: Witenagemot Lower: Folkmoot The Commonwealth of Saeard is a Federal Presidential Republic with nine constituent shires and three ancient cities. The Head of State and Government is the Saeardwalda, elected every five years by popular vote and without term limits. The current Saeardwalda is Torr Durwin. The Commonwealth has a bicameral legislature. The lower House, the Folkmoot, is elected every four years and has 545 members. The Folkmoot has the sole power to initiate revenue and appropriation bills. The upper House is the Witenagemot. The nine shires each elect three members to the Witenagemot, and the three ancient cities send one Witan each. The Witans are elected for six year terms, with a third of the house being up for election every two years. The Witenagemot has the right and duty to confirm federal judges and ambassadors. Traditionally the federal government has been relatively weak in Saeard, but in recent decades the balance has tended to be in the federal Government’s favour. However, the Shires still retain their own legislatures, judiciaries and executives. They each elect an Earldorman serving for five years, with one exception where the Earldorman serves for three years. A seven man Supreme Court, founded only twenty years ago, acts as the final court of appeal. Its members are appointed for life by the Saeadwalda, and confirmed by the Witenagemot. National Anthem(s): Onward National Animal(s): The Gull National Color(s): Green, Yellow, Blue National Flower(s): The Sand-Lily Area Total: 352,539.77 km² Population 1587 Census: 66,109,097 Density: 187.52 /km² GDP (PPP) 1587 Total: 1,595,146,371,072 Per capita: 24,129 <Links to various detailed posts>