Confederation of the Rhine (Napoleon's Australian Victory)

The Confederation of the Rhine, commonly referrred to as Germany, is a country in central Europe. It is bordered to the East, West, and North by the French Empire, and to the South by Switzerland. it has numerous self-governing colonies around the world, including South Madagascar, the German Antilles, the German Maldives and New Rhineland, in Western Australia. The country is a confederation of 37 largely self-governing monarchies, but each sends representativs to the Confederal Diet in Frankfurt.

History
The Confederation was created in 1806 by Napoleon I out of the defeated and outdated Holy Roman Empire. The new state was a significant help to Napoleon, supplying him with troops and supplies throughout all his campaigns. Although originally a French puppett, the Confederation was, for all intents and purposes, independent by the reign of Napoleon II.

The confederation embarked on a small campaign of colonialisation throughout the remainder of the 19th century. The German Antilles were established through a combination of gifts from France, purchases from france, and some actual colonialisation. Bases were established on the Maldives in the 1840s, and a naval station was established in Western Australia in 1857. Gradually elbowing into the Indian Ocean trade, still dominated by the British East India Company Authorities, the colonies were both a source of national wealth and national pride for the Confederation. Expansion into Madagascar began in the late 1860s, and after a three-year conflict, southern Madagascar was ceded to the Confederation in 1875.

The twentieth century was one of good fortunes for the Confederation. Spared from most of the fighting of the Asia-pacific War, as well as most of the economic woes of it's neighbour, the Confederation flourished. With the turn of the century, the Confederation is a world leader in renewable energy technologies, as well as a very strong economic power.

Government
The Confederation of the Rhine has quite a unique system of government. It has two heads of state, and a tricameral legistlature. Each of the constituent monarchies also have their own monarchs and parliaments.

Constituent States
The Confederation is made up of 37 constituent monarchies. Constituent states of the confederation are divided -by their size and by their monarch's title- into the College of Kings and the College of Princes.

Confederational Politics
The de jure head of state of the Confederation of the Rhine is, in fact, the French Emperor, Napoleon VII, who is simultaneously the Protector of the Confederation. Although the position as a remnant from the days of total French domination, with little actual power, the Protector has been useful in the nation's history. For example, then Protector napoleon VI successfully stopped a national crisis after the assasination of the Prince-Primate in 1964.

The de facto head of state, however, is the Prince-Primate. He is a monarch of a constituent state who is elected by the people of the Confederation. He serves a ten year term, and has executive control over the military of the Confederation. He is the president of the College of Kings.

The monarchs of the states of the Confederation each have a seat in either the College of Kings or the College of Princes. These are the higher two of the three houses of the Diet, and the equivalent of the House of Lords in England. Bills must pass in at least one of these colleges to become laws.

The Head of Government of the Confederation is the Chancellor. They are the leader of the party in majority in the lowest house; the College of the People. Members of the College are elected by all citizens aged 18 and above. Elections are generally held every five years. The People's College has the right to introduce bills, and any bill introduced by one of the noble colleges must pass in the People's College to become Confederational Law.

State Politics
Each of the member-states of the Confederation have their own governments. Whilst the government of the Confederation is in control over the Military of the Confederation, as well as Education, Healthcare and wellfare, the rest is left to the constituents. For instance: amenities, basic services, and state militaries.

A typical state government consists of the monarch, and a small elected assembly. The monarch has the final say on bills before they come into law. State elections are generally held every three years.

Military and Foreign Affairs
Foreign relations of the Confederation centre on a strong military, political and historical link to France. It is also a close ally of the Duchy of Warsaw. The military of the Confederation of the Rhine is divided into two categories: the Military of the Confederation, and the various state militaries of the constituent states.

The Confederation's military consists of an Army, Navy and Air Force. The Army is the third largest in Europe, after France and Russia. It is frequently regarded as the most professtional on the continent. The Navy is mediochre, but is foes it's job of protecting the Confederation's trade routes and colonies. The Air Force has the world's largest fleet of airships, which are used as command centres, fleet convoys and as suppy carriers. The colonies swell the numbers of the military and make it, all in all, a force to be reckoned with.

The militaries of the constituent monarchies operate as a sort of militia, or home guard. It is compulsary for all men aged 18-20 to be a member of their local state military. This helps keep up a trained pool of potential recruits in the event of a war. Most of the militaries consist of a Brigade of infantry and a cavalry troop. However, some of the larger states (like bavaria) can boast a military the size of some countries'. Mecklenburg-Schwerin is unique in also having a state navy, which operates as a vitrual coast guard. Subjects of Mecklenburg-Schwerin have the choice of joining the Army or Navy.