Escadia (Atlantic Ocean Islands)

The Republic of Escadia
Escadia (from the French word escale; layover/port of call) is a country located on a large land mass in the north Atlantic ocean located at 48.59° N, 31.05° W. It's situated between the continents of North America and Europe, approximately 687 miles (1106 km) off the coast of Newfoundland and 653 miles (1051 km) off the coast of Ireland. The mainland is approximately 264,541 sq. kilometers, 653 miles/1050 km east-west and 452 miles/728 km north-south, and surrounded by three relatively small islands. The largest island to the north is called Westminster. In the southeast, there is a archipelago of islands called the Castelo Islands and the smallest island Yarmouth is located in the southeast.

Approximately 38 million people live in Escadia, with the majority of the population located on the mainland. The capital city is New London, which has a population of 7.1 million. The next largest cities are Westport (three million) and Los Benza (2.8 million). The native language of most of the population is English, which is the official language. However, under Terrebonne's state constitution the official state language is French. Castelo has a similar state constitutional amendment making Spanish the official state language.



History
Escadia was colonized by the British, French and Spanish starting in the late 1490's. Prior to that, the island of Escadia is thought to have been uninhabited, although some historians believe that Norsemen visited and inhabited the island for a short time in the 11th century. Due to its location in the middle of the north Atlantic Ocean, it was inaccessible from the North American and European continents, until the start of European expeditions to the Americas. French explorer Jean Cousin used what is now known as Chapeauroux, as a place of port during his expeditions to North America. The Spanish settled what's now known as Villatoya on Castelo Islands. By 1510 the English had established outposts along the western coast of the mainland. What is now Westport turned into the primary port between Escadia and North America.

By the early 1700's, Escadian had become a major shipping hub for the transportation of goods between North America and Europe due to its unique centralized location.

Historical Timeline

 * 1496: Spanish explorer Martin Alonzo Pinzon inadvertently discovers the islands off the southeast coast of what is now Escadia. Soon thereafter, Spanish and Portuguese colonies are established throughout the small chain of islands.
 * 1498: French explorer Jean Cousin lands on the eastern shores of the main island during his second crossing to North America. The French settle the area and declare it French territory under the command of King Louis XII.
 * 1502: The British begin to colonize and establish settlements in the western regions of the mainland after first landing on the northern island (known as Westminster) under the order of King Henry VII.
 * 1510: France's King Louis XII sent Louis II de la Trémoille to Escadia to govern the new French colony of Terrebonne.
 * 1511: England's King Henry VIII appointed Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk as Governor of English territories in Escadia. The northern island colony is called Westminster.
 * 1512: The Spanish declare the south-east islands a Viceroyalty of Spain and name the colony Castelo. Small Spanish colonies sprout up on the southeast region of the mainland.
 * 1514: The French and Spanish engaged in the Siege Of Pontella after French troops attack a half dozen Spanish settlements in the southeast. Eventually, the Spanish colonists retreat back to the Castelo Islands.
 * 1524: The British and French dispute over territory in the northeast leading to the War Of Highridge.
 * 1526: The British win the War Of Highridge and claim victory over the disputed territory in the northeast. Masset becomes an administrative district an official British colony.
 * 1532: British colonists migrate to the south of the mainland and establish the colonies of Ashton and Estcourt.
 * 1537: The British establish the colony of Easton in the east boarding with the French colony of Terrebonne.
 * 1539: The Spanish military raid British settlements in the south along the Lancaster Peninsula in Easton. King Henry VIII sends a large military force to Escadia and within weeks the British repel the Spanish back to the Castelo Islands.
 * 1545: The small southwestern island becomes a British colony known as Yarmouth.
 * 1610: Dutch West India Company conquer and hold British territory in the northern part of the mainland (Masset).
 * 1613: The British defeat the Dutch West India Company in the Battle of Ironcliff and reclaim the northern territory.
 * 1626: The Spanish attack on French settlements on the eastern mainland but are repelled by the French military.
 * 1643: With most of the mainland under control of the British Empire, Charles I of England issued a royal assent proclaiming the colonies would be part of New Britannia. This included Westminster, Masset, Ashton, Estcourt, Easton and Yarmouth. The French colony of Terrebonne remains under French rule and the Spanish continue to rule the Castelo Islands.
 * 1650: New London, a port city in the west becomes the largest city and an independent administrative district in New Britannia.
 * 1700: New Britannia has become a major shipping transport hub for goods between Europe and North America.
 * 1757: The Seven Years' War spreads to the mainland and the island chains.
 * 1763: After the Seven Years' War as part of the Treaty of New London, France gave up control of their colonial territory Terrebonne in the east and the Spanish ceded control of the Castelo Islands.
 * 1775: The American Revolutionary War beings. Great Britain positions New Britannia as an important hub due to its strategic location.
 * 1819: The Yarmouth Conference takes place in June with federalist leaders and colonial representatives meeting over three weeks debating and formulating the Constitutional Act.
 * 1821: As colonial dependence gives way to increasing autonomy, the British pass the Dominion of Escadia Constitutional Act of 1821 and the Dominion of Escadia was officially established as a self-governing entity within the British Empire. The colonies would be recognized as independent states within the dominion. New London becomes part of a new state called Royal Center which annexed regions of Masset and Ashton.

Politics
Escadia is a democratic federal state organized under a constitution. Leaders are chosen in general elections. An independent judiciary functions with rule by and respect for law. Civil liberties and human rights are scrupulously protected. Escadia is a Parliamentary Republic based on the separation and balancing of legislative, executive and judicial powers. The Constitution is the highest law in the Republic.

The nominal head of state is the President of the Republic, who is selected by the Prime Minister for a four-year term. The current constitution was drawn up and adopted by the Twenty Fourth Parliament of Escadia and entered into force in 1975. It has been revised three times since: in 1985, 2002 and 2009. The Constitution, which consists of 125 articles, provides for a separation of powers into executive, legislative and judicial branches, and grants extensive specific guarantees (further reinforced in 2002) of civil liberties and social rights. Women's suffrage was guaranteed with an amendment to the 1950 Constitution.

From the Constitutional amendment of 1985 the President's duties were curtailed to a significant extent, and they are now largely ceremonial; most political power thus lies in the hands of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister of the Republic regulates the functions of the powers of the State. He is elected by Parliament for a term of four years and his office is incompatible with any other office, position or function. To be elected Prime Minister the person should receive a majority of the total number of members of Parliament (151 votes). He appoints the President and, at the recommendation of the latter, he also appoints the rest of the members of the Government and the Deputy Ministers.

Federal legislative powers are exercised in the parliament by a 300-member elective National Assembly and a 98-member Senate. Statutes passed by the Parliament are promulgated by the Prime Minister of the Republic. Parliamentary elections are held every four years, but the Prime Minister of the Republic is obliged to dissolve the Parliament earlier on the proposal of the Cabinet, in view of dealing with a national issue of exceptional importance. The Prime Minister is also obliged to dissolve the Parliament earlier if the opposition manages to pass a motion of no-confidence.

Justice is administered by the courts, which consist of regular judges who enjoy personal and functional independence. There is a Supreme Court, Appeal Courts and First Instance Courts. A Special Supreme Tribunal deals with the remedy of conflicts between the courts and administrative authorities, or between the Council of State, which is the highest instance, and the regular administrative courts of the one part and of the other part the civil or penal courts, or, finally, between the Council of Comptrollers and the rest of the courts.

Constituent States
Escadia comprises of nine federal states — Ashton, Castelo, Easton, Estcourt, Masset, Royal Center, Terrebonne, Westminster and Yarmouth. Each state has its own state constitution and is largely autonomous in regard to its internal organization. For regional administrative purposes, each state is comprised of Constitutional Districts.

According to the Escadian constitution, some topics, such as foreign affairs and defence, are the exclusive responsibility of the federation (i.e., the federal level), while others fall under the shared authority of the states and the federation; the states retain residual legislative authority for all other areas, including "culture", which in Escadia includes not only topics such as financial promotion of arts and sciences, but also most forms of education and job training.

State elections are conducted under various rules set by the states. In general they are conducted according to some form of single-winner voting system, either the same as the federal system or some simplified version. The election period is generally four to five years, and the dates of elections vary from state to state.

The federal constitution, stipulates that the structure of each Federal State's government must "conform to the principles of republican, democrat and social government, based on the rule of law". Most of the states are governed by a cabinet led by a Premier, together with a unicameral legislative body known as the Legislative Assembly. The states are parliamentary republics and the relationship between their legislative and executive branches mirrors that of the federal system: the legislatures are popularly elected for four or five years (depending on the state), and the Premier is then chosen by a majority vote among the State Assembly members. The Premiere appoints a cabinet to run the state's agencies and to carry out the executive duties of the state's government.



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Geography
Escadia is situated between the continents of North America and Europe, approximately 687 miles (1106 km) off the coast of Newfoundland and 653 miles (1051 km) off the coast of Ireland. The main island is approximately 264,541 sq. kilometers, 653 miles/1050 km east-west and 452 miles/728 km north-south, and surrounded by three smaller islands of Westminster, Castelo and Yarmouth.

Coniferous trees such as black spruce, white spruce and balsam fir dominate the native vegetation. The largest deciduous tree is white birch; species of lesser stature include alder, cherry and mountain ash. Of introduced tree species, sycamore maple is most abundant and Norway maple is common. Blue spruce, common horse chestnut, European beech and little leaf linden are among the other non-native species grown.

Ecadia's geographic isolation for 125 million years and island biogeography has influenced evolution of the country's species of animals, fungi and plants. The forests were dominated by birds, and the lack of mammalian predators led to some evolving flightlessness. The arrival of humans, associated changes to habitat, and the introduction of rats, ferrets and other mammals led to the extinction of many bird species, including large birds like the Ratite and Helger eagle.

Other indigenous animals are represented by reptiles (tuatara, skinks and geckos), frogs, spiders, insects (weta) and snails.

Climate
Average winter and summer high temperatures across Escadia are relatively similar across the country. In Winters, the daily average temperatures are near −1 °C (30.2 °F) and in the summer the daily averages are 22 °C (71.6 °F). The spring and fall seasons are rainy, with the country receiving on average 700 millimetres (27.6 in) of rain per year.

Urbanization
Escadia has a number of large cities. There are 12 officially recognised metropolitan regions in Escadia. 29 cities have been identified as regiopolis.