Confederation of Pennsylvanian States (1983: Doomsday)

Confederation of Pennsylvanian States
Eastern Pennsylvania
Confederation of Pennsylvanian States Eastern Pennsylvania
	Anthem: Pennsylvania;
Institutional Seat	Pottsville, Reading (Temporary)
Largest city	Reading, Reading
Official languages	English
Demonym	Pennsylvanian
Type	Supranational Union
Members, Susquehanna Valley Community, Observers	4 Members, 3 Observers ; Lehigh ; Reading ; Susquehanna ; New York (Susquehanna Valley Community) ; North Pennsylvania (Observer) ; State College (Observer)
Government	Intergovernmental
Establishment	12 April 2018
Population
Currency	Reading Dollar, State College Dollar, North Pennsylvanian Dollar
Time zone	EST

The Confederation of Pennsylvanian States is a regional supranational union with the goal of providing mutual defense and economic security to member states. It presently has three member states and one observer and is in negotiation with one other for potential membership.

History[]

Charter

Background[]

During the formation of the Commonwealth of Susquehanna, Reading and State College officials each met with the provisional government separately to request the nation accede to the authority of one of the two state government. Susquehanna declined and proceeded with its declaration of independence. However, talks with Reading continued as the state government continued to pursue a long term goal of unification or integration.

Even though Reading and Susquehanna disagreed on reunification, the two countries continued to collaborate on economic and security issues, primarily surviving raiders from Allentown and Hazleton. Throughout the late 2000’s and early 2010’s cross dialogue continued to occur as Reading pursued reunification.

After successful joint military operation, destroying the remaining bastion of raiders in Lehighton, the two government agreed to negotiate a political union to improve defense, economic, and political ties. While dissidents in Reading opposed this move as an infringement on its claim to be the sole legal successor to Pennsylvania and those in Susquehanna claimed it was the first step to Reading absorbing the country.

Foundation[]

The organization was founded in 2015, after the signing of the Treaty of Pottsville between Reading and Susquehanna. The treaty outlined various areas of cooperation, and collaboration in regards to foreign relations, regional security, the economy, and culture. While the treaty did not include any provisions to arrange or form a supranational organization, both Reading and Susquehanna recognized it would be most efficient to cooperate in forming one.

Initially, Reading proposed the two nations unify under the "Commonwealth of Eastern Pennsylvania", however the citizens of Susquehanna resoundingly rejected it. The plan was declined due to the capital being planned for Reading and there were fears that the much smaller nation would be forgotten or overruled in Reading politics. A counter-proposal from Susquehanna was to add provisions to the Treaty of Pottsville, with a council formed to act as liaison between the countries. Several back and forth proposals were passed between diplomats of Reading and Susquehanna before an agreement was made to form a supranational organization that would govern aspects of diplomacy, economics, and security.

In the end, both nation hold complete sovereignty and retained control of domestic and international policy and security. The charter provides the organization with a measure of control over tariffs between member states, passport laws during peacetime, and mutual security and defense requirements.

Upon the official formation in August 2017, there were no defining governing bodies or enforcement methods, just statements that discussions were being held and an agreed upon body would be decided before the end of the year. After lengthy negotiations and back and forth between the governments of Reading and Susquehanna, the two nations agreed to set up the organization with a military structure similar to pre-Doomsday NATO and an economic and political structure similar to the pre-Doomsday European Economic Community.

The structure permitted each nation political and economic autonomy while improving coordinations militarily and economically. It also served as a means to prevent disputes from escalating and served as a political way for the two founding members to increase influence and prevent State College from eventually absorbing the nations.

The agreement entailed the formation of Pennsylvanian Commission as the executive branch, a bicameral General Assembly, and a supranational judiciary. While initially, Reading pushed to locate the seat in its capital of Reading, Susquehanna's delegates refused as they felt that it would result in the much smaller nation being overruled and absorbed by Reading's provisional government. Instead, Pottsville in Reading was selected as the seat of the organization as it was located roughly halfway between the two nation's capitals.

2019-Present[]

The organization, though officially founded in 2017, began operations nearly nine months later, on April 12th, 2018. During the first few days of operation, it seated the Commission and the Confederation Council which served as the executive and upper house of the legislative branch. Both Reading and Susquehanna planned elections for the General Assembly to occur between August 2018 and February 2019 with the assembly to be seated in April of the following year on the one year anniversary.

After the provisional government of Lehigh was elected in 2018, the city-state requested membership. Initially, Reading and Susquehanna were reluctant as both nations were still legally occupying and overseeing the country and didn’t grant it full independence. However after a lengthy discussion, the Commission agreed that it was better to admit the country under a friendly government than delay and potentially be forced to address raiders or gangs in the future.

In the first two years of the organization’s existence, very little progress was made towards the mission, with much of its focus on setting up the organization and completing the temporary headquarters. However, it did manage to obtain an agreement to control coal prices between the members to avoid both inflation or deflation of prices. Additionally, new border provisions were agreed to, eliminating restrictions and providing a universal passport between member states.

On 1 August 2020, three years after the confederation’s foundation, Lehigh was admitted as the third member. However, representatives were not seated until the following spring session. Around this time, the United Communities requested an observer to attend meetings and help facilitate future infrastructure or development projects. While hotly debated, with many members of the Conservative Group and all members of the Libertarian and United America groups opposing this, the entire Liberal and Progressive blocs plus a minority of the Conservatives agreed to accept the request. However, the observer status was only a courtesy and was not formalized until 2021.

In 2021 the General Assembly passed a motion to create a rapid response force, giving the Confederation the ability to better respond to peacekeeping requests from the United Communities and commit personnel to foreign operations without crippling Reading or Susquehanna’s armed forces.

At the end of 2021, the Republic of New York sent a delegation to Pottsville, expressing interest in improving ties and possible membership, based off its control of several villages across the Northern Tier of former Pennsylvania. While it did not meet territorial requirements for full membership, it was agreed to admit the country as an observer, based off criteria established in light of the situation with the United Communities and the request by New York.

After Gettysburg and Toledo announced accession to the East American Alliance, North Pennsylvania and State College released plans to join the confederation as a means of improving joint military coordination (which had already been occurring unofficially since the organization’s foundation), and preventing further encroachment of Virginia and Gettysburg on territory claimed by these two nations.

Political analysts across the United Communities were taken by surprise at this development. Officials in the East American Alliance have painted this as “concerning” and stated that the organization has no intention of confronting the member states of the confederation. Reportedly, officials in Charleston criticized North Pennsylvania and State College, claiming they were illegitimately occupying native Virginian lands”, based off the claims of the post-Revolutionary War region of Westlyvania.

Participating States[]

Member States[]

Since the foundation of the organization, the confederation has seen one expansion, adding Lehigh in 2020. Countries acceding to the confederation become a party to all preexisting treaties, subjecting the nation to the privileges and obligations of membership. However, the organization does not preclude membership in other international bodies, provided they do not violate the treaties of the confederation.

Member State	Capital	Largest City	Accession	Population	Area
Lehigh	Jim Thorpe	Lehighton	1 August 2019	5,327	78 sq mi
Provisional Government of Pennsylvania in Reading	Reading	Reading	12 April 2018	748,815	4,454 sq mi
Commonwealth of Susquehanna	Bloomsburg	Hazleton	12 April 2018	254,596	2,263 sq mi

Susquehanna Valley Community[]

The Susquehanna Valley Community (abbreviated SVC) is a sub-organization within the Confederation that precludes certain matters specific to Pennsylvanian reunification and the legal status, but permits economic and military cooperation. Aspects related to Pennsylvanian reunification and political matters are not binding for these members.

Flag	Honorary Member	Capital	Largest City	Accession	Population	Area
	Republic of New York	New Albany	Binghamton	2022 (Provisional)	309,458 (2020)	1,733

Observers[]

In late 2021, the Confederation of Pennsylvanian States agreed in a supermajority to recognize the observer status. Interested parties must formally request observer status, which is voted on by a simple majority of the Council. Observers are permitted to send a delegate to attend sessions of the Commission, Council, and General Assembly. However they are not permitted to vote on resolutions and any right to speak during debates is limited by a supermajority vote of the body the observer wishes to address.

There are two types of observers. The first type is considered more of a traditional observer, being a Pennsylvanian survivor state that is uninterested in full membership however may have interest in a level or participation.

The second type are nations or organization with no territorial or historical claims to Pennsylvania, however instead may have economic or political interest in ties to the region. The United Communities was granted observer status immediately upon the enactment of the recognition.

Separately, talks have opened up with Delmarva, Niagara Falls, and Vermont for these nations to send observers to the organization. Canada has also expressed interest in observing the organization as it works to deepen ties with the northeastern region of the former United States.

Observer	Capital	Largest City	Accession	Population	Area (sq. mi.)
Commonwealth of North Pennsylvania	Franklin	Meadville	May 19, 2023	701,293	15,232
Provisional Government of Pennsylvania in State College	State College	State College	May 19, 2023	911,651	11,407
United Communities	Niagara Falls	Lexington	2021 (2020 de facto)	~11,500,000 (2015-2022)

Potential Candidates for Membership[]

The organization is open to any Pennsylvanian survivor state that meets the following criteria:

Has the majority (defined as at least 60%) of its population and territory within the borders of pre-Doomsday Pennsylvania
The capital city and/or largest city is located within the borders of pre-Doomsday Pennsylvania
The executive and legislative branches are democratically elected
Elections are conducted in a free and fair manner without interference from politicians
The applicant’s constitution recognizes basic human rights

Two of the three proposed member states, North Pennsylvania and State College meet all the criteria, however Gettysburg fails to meet the last criteria. This is due to accusations by human rights groups in Reading and Susquehanna that the government treats prisoners of war similar to those in Virginia.

Gettysburg - Controls southcentral Pennsylvania with the capital in Gettysburg and the largest city in York. Borders Reading in the east, primarily between Lancaster County and York County. The nation does not meet the criteria for recognizing basic human rights due to accusations of mistreatment of prisoners of war and criminals.

Potential Candidates for Honorary Member or Observer Status[]

Virginia - Controls Fayette, Greene, and Washington counties in the southwestern part of former Pennsylvania with the capital and largest city being in Charleston, West Virginia. Not expected to obtain any future status due to the stance the nation holds towards most Pennsylvanian survivor states as well as failing to meet the criteria territorial control and democratic elections.

Politics[]

Geography[]

Geography of the various participants tends to be rela

Economy[]

The economies of the member states and observers tend to be a mix of developing or underdeveloped economies. North Pennsylvania and Reading as well as more urbanized regions in New York and State College are developing, while Susquehanna and rural regions tend to be underdeveloped. A focus of the organization is to promote cooperation, create a free trade zone, and help bring outside investors, both governmental and private, into the region.

There are three main currencies in use, the Pennsylvania Dollar (in use by North Pennsylvania and State College), the Reading Dollar (in use by Reading and Susquehanna), and the New York Dollar. Barter is frequently utilized as well, and both Canadian and US dollars have seen some level of circulation as well.

Demographics[]

Culture[]

Foreign Relations[]

While the organization is a supranational group and does not overrule member states autonomy in maintaining embassies or diplomatic relations, the Confederation has requested observer status in the United Communities. The UC is currently debating whether to admit the organization with a decision planned for early 2022.

Regional Relations[]

Several regional nations have expressed both support and opposition to the new organization.

Gettysburg criticized the group’s foundation as warmongering and unnecessarily inflaming tensions. Members of the Gettysburg Republican and Veterans parties have discussed reconsidering membership in the East American Alliance. Formal diplomatic complaints were lodged with the Reading and Susquehanna embassies in Gettysburg, and the Gettysburg Armed Forces deployed for snap drills on the eastern side of York.

New York released statements indicating cautious optimism upon the foundation of the confederation. The republic controlled northern Bradford County and Susquehanna County, primarily the boroughs of Sayre and Little Meadows, which Susquehanna claimed. It privately expressed concerns of the territorial dispute. However, separate negotiations were held and the dispute was resolved in 2020. The republic joined the confederation as an observer in 2022, in light of the tension with Virginia and level of trade between New York and the confederation member states.

North Pennsylvania welcomed the organization’s creation in 2017 and has supported its pro-Canadian stance. While membership discussions formally opened in late 2022, with the admission of New York, it is believed that there were secret meetings held as early as 2019. In early 2023, the nation joined the confederation as an observer in tandem with State College.

State College applauded Pennsylvanian unity, with the provisional government having a long term goal of reunification. The Confederation of Pennsylvanian States has admitted State College with observer status. Longer term membership is still unclear as Reading and State College have not come to an agreement on the legal successor to Pennsylvania.

Superior criticized the organization’s formation, claiming it would result in a power struggle encircling the Great Lakes and accused the confederation of trying to destabilize Pennsylvania. The country sent diplomatic protests to Reading and Susquehanna via its consulates in Reading and Bloomsburg.

Virginia released a statement similar to Superior’s and expelled both Reading and Susquehanna’s diplomats, closing the Reading embassy and Susquehanna consulate.

International Relations[]

Canada celebrated the organization as the member states had a pro-Canadian lean. While the organization’s membership remained seriously outnumbered by Superior and Virginia, it offered one of the few defense organizations on the east coast of the former United States that were not aligned with either nation. Federal authorities, while having indirect relations with Reading and Susquehanna and sporadic trade, indicated there was interest in improving ties as Canada worked to build a regional alliance to counter growing Superior and Virginian influence.

The United States, due to the distance between the Pennsylvanian survivor states and the United States, the nation lacks formal diplomatic relations with Reading or Susquehanna. Informal contact has occurred while in Canada. However, the nation’s diplomat to Canada released a statement indicating federal authorities in Torrington were encouraged by the news of continuing unity and collaboration within survivor states. When pressed if federal authorities would seek formal relations with the organization or potential membership in the United States, the ambassador declined to comment.

Other Organizations[]

The Atlantic Defense Community released a statement in support of the organization. The two leading members, Reading and Susquehanna both staunchly supported Canada during the Saguenay War and there has been some indication that the ADC has been interested in a presence on the US mainland to counter the East American Alliance. The Confederation has shown interest in either joining the Atlantic Defense Community or cooperation in other fields. While negotiations have not begun, Reading and Susquehanna have both begun procuring military hardware from Canada and the Nordic Union with longer term standardization planned for their armed forces to be capable of interoperability within the ADC structure.

The East American Alliance harshly criticized the organization as being formed solely to antagonize Gettysburg and Virginia’s claims on former Pennsylvania. It has refused diplomatic contact with the organization which has caused security concerns in the region.

The North American Union released a statement of support, celebrating continued collaboration of survivor states. However it has not pursued any affiliation with the CPS due to geographical distance being a major barrier.