Davenport

Republic of Davenport
Conventional short name:
Local:	Davenport
Ingallish:	Davenport
Data codes:	DA, DAV

Languages:
Official:	Ingallish, Phénixien
Others:	Simafiran, Solelhadan, Solanchatkan, Moranguese
Cities:
Capital:	Outreaumer
Other:	Star City, Trois Étoiles, Flansburgh, Fennia
Government type:	Democratic Republic
President:	Steven Kramer
Prime Minister:	Erik Porter
Area:	447 945 km²
Population:	(est.) 26 592 800 Davenportians
Established:	201 AP
Currency:	Credit (symbol: Cr)
Organizations:	United Nations of Vexillium, Assembly for Peace in the Western Hemisphere

The Republic of Davenport is a nation located in the southeastern portion of the continent of Smalik. It is one of the southernmost countries in all of Vexillium, bordered by Flovaigne, Gen, and the Lectern of United Kencari Peoples (LUKP) on land and the Dark Sea and Meridic Ocean by sea. Historically, it was founded as an amalgam of a number of separate colonies of northern nations; today, it is noted for political progressiveness, a proficient engineering and technical sector, and excellence at winter sports.

Administration[]

YADDA.

Government[]

Davenport is a democracy. The President, an elected office, is the supreme position in the government. The President outlines broad policy and budget initiatives, represents the Republic to foreign interests, and appoints the Cabinet and Commander-General of the Self-Defence Force.

The Council is the law-making body of the Republic. It consists of the appointed representatives of the nine elected leaders of the provinces, plus twelve members elected at large; additionally, the President may appoint a Delegate (the Shadow Councillor), and the District of the Callay Islands may elect a Delegate. Delegates have no vote in Council. The Council, with the approval of the President, must elect one of their number as a Prime Minister, who will oversee the day-to-day operation of the government. It is the Council's commission to propose, debate, amend, and delete laws. Those laws which are of a non-emergency nature must be sent to a referendum, where six times a year, the public is asked to vote by electronic means.

Justice is served by a series of tribunals, whose actions may be reviewed by a citizens' panel, convened on an ad hoc basis, or by the Council in a case of national scope. Appeals to a panel or the Council are allowed only under certain circumstances.

Elections for the Presidency, the Council, and the Provincial Governorships take place all at once if and when the government loses a vote of confidence during a referendum. Parties have two months after the vote to nominate candidates, and two months following the nomination to campaign. During the General Election, each citizen of the Republic is allowed one vote in favour of a candidate and one vote against. The votes against each candidate are subtracted from those in favour to determine the winner. This insures that the chosen candidate has a broad base of support.

The current President, Steven Kramer, elected in March, 298, presides over a divided Council. The President's left-wing Progressive Party, the largest in Davenport, is one seat short of a majority. The Conservative, or Tory, Party is the second largest. The Council also includes the Libertarian Party, La Parti Nationale (or PN), and the Green Party. Other parties include the isolationist Davenport First Party, the Socialist Workers' Party, and the Monarchist Party.

Administrative Divisions[]

LIST OF ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS

Political Parties[]

Major Parties[]

Progressive Party of Davenport
Davenport Conservative Party ("Tories")
Alliance pour Davenport (APD, Davenport Alliance)
Green Party of Davenport
Liberty Davenport

Minor Parties[]

Davenportian Communist Party
Davenport First
Simafiran People's Alliance (Ri Konndo Simafira)
Parliamentary Union Party
Monarchist Party
Rassemblement du Peuple Davenportien (RPD, Rally for the Davenportian People)

History[]

Little is known about the earliest inhabitants of the area now known as Davenport. It is believed by some that following the Great Migration of the Founders to Smalik two to three thousand years ago, there were several nomadic tribes which occupied the area, travelling when the climate became too harsh in the south. It is known that one of those tribes was the Lendosans, who began on the tropical islands of Lendia and Piolhosa and probably travelled to north Smalik on large bark-covered canoes about 900 years ago (a journey recreated by Davenportian anthropologists Thomas Hayden and Jean-François Colibri in 267). The Lendosans occupied most of Smalik (then known as Smallwick) for hundreds of years, but were eventually forced back to their archipelago by drought, disease, and starvation. Some pockets of these original occupation remained, however. The Davenportian province of Liliotha still retains a considerable minority percentage of native Lendosans, which is reflected in the region's culture.

It is believed that just as the Lendosan influence was waning in the south, other countries and cultures began to settle in the area on missions of colonisation. The first was the Angliyans, a separatist branch of the Liliani Empire who sought a new homeland under the rule of Princess Alia, a pretender for the Liliani throne. They first arrived in 87AP, landing just north of present-day Star City. However, unbeknowst to the Angliyans, Phenixian explorers "discovered" Câp Gardien twelve years before, and began a colony on the Peninsule Fennienne at Trois-Étoiles in 92AP. Trade began between the two colonies almost immediately, and the area became known collectively as "Davenport" by about 124AP.

The two areas of Davenport eventually began to band together to protect themselves from imperialistic ambitions of other peoples. In 150AP, a trade agreement was declared. This proved a great boon for commerce, and the confederation began a period of rapid industrialization and social progress. Eventually, with the relative success that the states shared, sectional differences were resolved. The Republic was declared in 201AP.

Geography[]

Map of davenport original — Map of Davenport

Davenport is located in the aft-starboard or southeast on the continent of Smallwick, known to Franco-Davenportians as Petilande. It borders Bowdani to the north and east. Davenport's sea frontiers face the cold Great Southern Ocean to the south and la Baie Vielle (the Old Bay) to the east, across which lies the former Angliyaa, and within which are the Callay Islands.

The terrain is level along the eastern sea coast and through the Interior, hilly toward the western frontiers of the eastern provinces, and mountainous in the northwest and southwest. There are five major rivers: the Carnable in the north, the Huxley in the centre, the Berl to the south, and the Wilbury and Morgan (tributaries of the Berl) in the west. Lake Lucent in Pomenary is the largest body of fresh water; the Lake of Dreams, in the northwest, is Davenport's other major natural lake and is the headwaters of the Wilbury-Morgan-Berl river system.

The climate is temperate along the east coast, and reaches extremes of subtropical in the Callays to subarctic along the southwestern coast. The central and north-central areas of the Interior have good rainfall and growing seasons, and provide most of Davenport's agriculture. This gives way to forests in the south and mineral deposits in the northwest, ensuring a good supply of natural resources for the young nation.

Davenport's population is centered mainly along the east coast. Star City, the largest city, and Outreaumer, the capital, are located along the populous Northeastern Shore in the Province of Peyton, home to one of every five Davenportians. Fennia and Trois Étoiles are the largest cities in the south, located on the Fennian Peninsula, better known as La Peninsule. A combination rail line and highway, the Autoway, stretches north to south from Newcastle to Atlantia, providing a transportation artery for the East.

Demographics[]

DEMOGRAPHY AND ALL

National Symbols[]

FLAG AND SUCH

Economy[]

Davenport's economy is spurred by low tariffs, free trade agreements, an educated work force, and abundant natural resources. There is a slight trade imbalance due to shortages of certain raw materials common to warmer areas (such as rubber).

Thanks to the high education of the populace and government encouragement, many high-tech firms make their home in Davenport. La Peninsule is particularly active with companies manufacturing computers, electrical and alcohol-combustion vehicles, specialized electrical and steam-driven equipment, and even robots and androids. In addition to manufactured and technological goods and vehicles, Davenport exports seafood and timber. Davenport also grows excellent tea, and Davenportian teas are consumed by appreciative gourmets all over Vexillium.

The Davenportian currency is the credit (Cr), subdivided into 10 decicreds each. As the name suggests, the currency is backed by the full faith and credit of the Republican government, based on its holdings in gold. For comparison, the current value of 1 g of gold (Au) on the Star City commodity market is about Cr36.4.

Culture[]

Davenportians have progressed quite a bit from their colonial days and have developed a vibrant culture all their own. There are Davenportian dialects of Ingallish and Phenixien (with a distinctive accent and slang) and a native cuisine (spicier than most!) Davenportians love their art, and some of Vexillium's finest contemporary musicians come from Davenport. There are also thriving industries in film and television which are reknowned throughout the world.

Diversity is a fact of life in Davenport. Though for the most part racially homogeneous, Davenportians delight in other cultures and customs. Many religions (besides the Protestant Church of Davenport), political beliefs, and lifestyles have a presence in Davenport, and are accepted and tolerated.

There's also that famous "mode d'arrière" that gets talked about so much up north. The laid-back, relaxed nature of Davenport draws visitors to her shores again and again. So leave your tie at home, but bring your hat (a Davenportian gentleman isn't seen without one)! And check that calendar frequently -- Davenport uses its own!

Languages[]

WHAT THEY SPEAK

Religion[]

THEIR FAITH

Weights, Measures, and Timekeeping[]

More on the unique aspects of measures and standards in Davenport, including metric time and the Davenportian Calendar.

Sports[]

Davenport is a sporting society, and offers several games and pastimes. There are two major sports: football during the summer, and ice hockey during the winter.

The Davenport Football League (Ligue Davenportienne de Football) draws the nation's best together. In addition, several Davenportians play in the Premier Leagues of other countries.

The Davenport Ice Hockey League (Ligue Davenportienne de Hockey à Glace) is the pre-eminent hockey league in all Vexillium. Players from around Vexillium take part, though over 60% of the talent is home-grown. Each year, the league's twelve teams vie for the Gray Cup.

In addition, there are several world-class golf courses in Davenport, and the Republic is seen as an up-and-coming participant in the sport of rugby! Davenportians also play baseball, triskelion (a sport with resembles both rugby and football, where three teams compete at once), ultimate (a field game which uses a flying disc), basketball, volleyball, and cambok (a form of field hockey).