Republic of Meridica
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Republic of Meridica | |
|---|---|
 Flag
 Coat of arms
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| Motto: "Liberty or Tyranny" | |
| Anthem: Freedom Marches | |
 Laidley, Queensland, Australia | |
| Capital | Orton, Orton Department |
| Largest city | Orton |
| Official languages | English |
| Demonym(s) | Meridican |
| Government | Federal Republic |
| Legislature | Senate |
| Establishment | January 21, 2013 |
| Population | |
• Census | 8 |
| Currency | Meridican Dollar |
Meridica officially known as the Republic of Meridica is an Australian micronation founded on January 21, 2013, by the current President Richard Millard. An enclave of Australia, the republic was set up as part hobby, part serious political simulation, and following the claiming of the territory of Orton on the date of independence, followed by the annexing of the land as passed in the Meridican Independence Laws, the nation grew in population with the official citizenship rising by six through February and March 2013, before declining throughout the rest of the year. As of June 2014, the population of the nation stands at eight.
History
During the Australian high school Summer holidays of 2012-13, four Australian students began to tamper with the idea of nationhood and "model nations". After reading up about the so-called micronations, Richard, with aid from one other student, began to formulate a social/political simulation to pass the time during the holidays, the result being the formation of the Republic of Meridica. After a short independence day celebration on January 21, all four began to formulate a draft declaration of independence as well as a Constitution to follow. These were both drafted by each member of the new nation throughout the early parts of February 2013, and consisted entirely of liberal/libertarian politics and laws, such as the Right to Consent clause, detailing that laws cannot restrict personal freedom as all freedoms are guaranteed if the individual consents.
The first elections, taking place on March 13, 2013, saw Richard Millard elected as the President, and by proxy, the head of the Senate, as well as two other founders being elected to Senate positions in the territories of West Laidley and Railway. On March 16, the Declaration of Independence,the Constitution of the Meridican Republic, and the National Annexation of Territory Act were passed all together, and were collectively known as the Meridican Independence Laws. Shortly after, the families of all aforementioned students joined the new nation, becoming official citizens on March 22.
On April 10, the first registered part in Meridica was formed, the Libertarian Socialist Party (now known as the Jacobin Party), with the president, with one member of the Senate joining. Created through combining the ideologies of civic libertarianism and economic socialism, it was quickly attacked by the second Senator, who formed the National Coalition in response, a moderate party that focuses on more conservative views.
By November 2013, Meridica had dissolved to only the Territory (renamed Department) of Orton, with all founders but Richard withdrawing their participation within the new nation, leaving only the president, along with his family, the sole remaining residents, his own participation in the experiment on hiatus. However, during the January of 2014, the nation, having grown by four citizens with the naturalization of the President's sister and her children, Meridica began to operate once again, national arms, alongside a new national flag, being commissioned in April 2014, as well as the passage of new Senatorial Acts in May, the first time in almost a year.
Government and Politics
Founded on the basis of strong, centralised government, Meridica is a unicameral nation, with a Senate, composed of two senatorial seats (both currently empty since July 2013) and a President, known together as the Meridican Congress. When sitting, all members may raise issues and actions in the Senate, and may vote for or against them, the President her/himself retaining the right to line-veto any and all legislation and sign them into law. The Senate, however, also retains special privliges to impeach a seated President, if it found that he has committed a crime against the nation of Meridica, or has acted against the constitution.
As the head of both state and government in the nation, the President is elected via the preferential voting system, each election taking place on 15 May every two year cycle (unless the date is set for Sunday, in which the election shall be held a day earlier), and whilst the position originally had little requirements, beside high school level literacy skills, having never been a lobbyist (a requirement struck down following the total ban on lobbying in January 2014), and must have a substantial knowledge of the constitution. Since Meridica's founding, a number of further requirements have been enacted, such as a minimum age (currently set at 15), and to have not served time in either the Meridican or Australian prison system for five years prior to being elected. There are currently no term limits, and the President is able to serve as many terms as he/she sees fit, or is removed from office via impeachment.
As of June 2014, Meridica has seen only the election of a single President, Richard Millard, who was voted to the office unanimously in 2013, with the second election set for 15 May 2015.
Currency
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After the release of insignificant paper currency on May 3, 2013, the Senate and President passed the Monetary Act of 2013, allowing for the creation, followed by distribution of a coin based economy. The $1 coin design was released on May 14, created by the member of the Senate for the John Territory (formally known as the West Laidley Territory), and was simply single-sided, however, due to a lack of funds, the venture was cancelled in June 2013, and Meridica adopted the Australian Dollar as the de facto currency.
However, following the the naturalization of four citizens in January 2014, a new paper currency was commissioned by the President to be the co-national legal tender for Meridica. As a result, the (now) former Senator for the John Territory was called upon to design the new note, and on May 6, it was finally released, the Monetary Act of 2014 (Revised) releasing the note as legal tender for May 10. Currently, there is only a one dollar and ten dollar note as part of the Meridican dollar currency, with plans to expand and decimalise it in the future.