Introduction to Atlasia
Unconditional Surrender Truman:
Welcome to Atlasia!
Atlas Fantasy Government & Elections is a policy and elections game set in the fictional Republic of Atlasia, a North American presidential democracy roughly corresponding to the real-life United States. Begun in 2004, Atlasia has undergone many changes to its constitution and player base, but the heart of the game remains the same. As citizens of Atlasia, players can run for office in local and national elections, participate in organizing and leading a political party, debate new legislation in Congress and the regional assemblies, or choose to remain a private citizen and reward or punish politicians with your vote. This thread exists to introduce you to the basic forms and institutions in Atlasia, and to connect you to veteran players and resources who can help you to best enjoy your time here.
Game Engine
The Game Moderator, or ''GM'', is the final authority on all matters of in-game canon; the so-called ''god'' of the game, they create the context within which Atlasia exists. This means in practice that the GM is the highest source for information about the world and the domestic situation in Atlasia: everything from war and international relations to hurricanes and unemployment are under the umbrella of the GM's domain. On a daily basis, it is assumed that anything happening in real life also happens in the game, unless is is contradicted by the GM or a previous statement by them. For example, a terrorist attack in a foreign city would be assumed to happen in the game, unless the GM were to state that the attack did not happen, or had published a previous story stating the group responsible for the attack had been eliminated. When there is a question about whether something from the real world is also true in Atlasia, the GM is always happy to answer questions from players or to issue a clarifying statement.
To simulate the hum of a busy world, the GM maintains a newspaper on the Fantasy Elections board which frequently publishes reports describing events around the world and here in Atlasia. Officials in federal and regional office are responsible for responding to these events as they pertain to their official positions; private citizens and aspiring leaders may also choose to comment on events, or take action to respond to them. Depending on the nature of the event, events may proceed as before or change course drastically depending on the response by the government and private citizens; the failure of the government to respond to a story (such as a terrorist attack or an economic crisis) may also lead to serious consequences. Additionally, the GM runs cost estimates for major government initiatives and new legislation, and is responsible for simulating the effects of government policy.
The GM is nominated by the President of Atlasia, and is assisted by a Deputy Game Moderator of their own selection. Both the GM and the Deputy GM must be confirmed by the Senate before taking office.
Link: Official Newspaper of the Game Moderator (as of September 12, 2018)
History
The Republic of Atlasia was established in February 2004 as the official successor to the United States of America. The new government was quickly recognized in the former states and territories of the United States, and drew inspiration from the American federal system and presidential democracy. A constitution ratified in April 2004 established a federal government with three independent branches over five regions, who in time came to assume most of the powers previously exercised by the states. Washington D.C., the nation's capital, was renamed Nyman after the first president of the republic, Nym.
The Democratic and Republican parties did not long survive the first presidential election in 2004, and several uniquely Atlasian party systems ensued in the next decade. After the controversial self-dissolution of the two largest national parties — respectively the Jesus Christ Party (JCP), representing the center-left, and the Regional Protection Party (RPP), representing the center-right — in 2012, perceived stagnation and declining voter participation led to growing calls for reform across the political spectrum. These calls culminated in 2015 with the events of Bloody July, when the federal government collapsed amidst competing revolutions and much of the Cabinet fled the country or joined anti-state actors. A constitutional convention organized with the assent of all major parties (except the anti-state Radicals) proposed sweeping reforms to the federal system and the composition of the national government, including the consolidation of the existing regions to produce a new, three-region map and replacing the unicameral Senate with a bicameral Congress, which were ratified as the Fourth Constitution in May 2016.
Link: Atlas Fantasy Wiki
Fig. 1 Map of the Republic of Atlasia. States and territories in green comprise Lincoln; blue, the Southern Region; brown, the Commonwealth of Fremont. The Atlasian–British Common Market Agreement (ABCMA) gives Atlasian citizens the right to register in the countries of the United Kingdom: Scotland is considered part of Lincoln for regional elections; England and Wales, of the South; and Northern Ireland and Gibraltar, Fremont.
Constitution & Government
Like the United States, the Atlasian Constitution divides power between a central government (with an executive president, a Supreme Court, and legislative power vested jointly in the Senate and House of Representatives) and regional governments representing the North (Lincoln), South, and West (Fremont). Each region has its own constitution, conducts its own elections, and writes its own laws. Because the Fourth Constitution allows the regions considerable autonomy, regional elections are very important, and each region has its own culture and traditions that distinguish it from the others. As of 2018, each region also recognizes regional political parties that exist separately from the federal party system and run only in regional elections.
While the presidency and the Supreme Court operate more or less as their real-life counterparts in the U.S. do, Congress is another matter entirely. Due to obvious differences between the population of the United States and the number of active players in Atlasia, the Atlasian Congress consists of just fifteen members: six senators elected for four-month terms, and nine representatives elected ever other month. Each senator is elected from one of the three regions, with each region having two senators. All nine representatives are elected from a single national at-large constituency by a proportional representation system. Thus, the Senate represents the regions while the House of Representatives represents the whole people without reference to geography. The balance between national and regional interests is an important feature of the federal constitution, and has often been the subject of heated debate.
Elections for president and Congress occur at regular intervals, according to rules established in the Constitution. The president and vice president are elected every four months (in February, June, and October); members of the House of Representatives are elected every two months (in presidential election months and in April, August, and December). Half the Senate is elected every two months: Class I in presidential election months and Class II in the off-months. Depending on the relevant regional constitution, regional elections may take place alongside or separately from federal elections.
A list of current federal and regional officials is provided in the succeeding posts.
Link: Constitution of Atlasia
More links:
Fremont Constitution • Wiki • Public Information
Lincoln Constitution • Wiki • Public Information
South Constitution • Wiki • Public Information
Navigation & Joining the Game
When you decide to join Atlasia, you must first register as a citizen by posting your username, party preference (if any), and state of residence in the New Register Thread linked below.
The first step after you decide to join Atlasia is to register as a citizen by posting your name, party preference (if any), and state of residence in the New Register Thread linked below. When selecting your in-game home state, you may choose from any of the fifty real-life U.S. states, the District of Columbia ("Nyman"), the five U.S. overseas territories granted statehood in Atlasia (Atlasian Samoa, the Atlasian Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico), and the countries and overseas territories of the United Kingdom included in the Atlasian-British Common Market Agreement (England, Gibraltar, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales). Users must have an account at least seven days (168 hours) old and have made at least fifteen posts on the forum before they can register as a citizen.
When you are done, your post should look something like this:
Quote from: Harry S Truman, GM on September 03, 2018, 05:45:14 PM
Harry S Truman
Labor Party
North Dakota
The Democratic and Republican parties no longer exist in Atlasia. Joining a party is a matter of choice: you may change your affiliation as often as you like, or you may eschew party entirely by remaining an independent voter. You can learn more about Atlasia's many active party organizations by visiting the Wiki (linked above) or the Party Information Thread (below). Alternatively, if you don't see a party that fits your philosophy, you can start your own by making a new post updating your registration in the New Register Thread with the name of your new party.
Once you have officially registered as a citizen, you are free to begin your activity in Atlasia. Gameplay on the forum takes place over a number of boards, organized as below:
Fig. 2 Boards dedicated to Atlas Fantasy Government & Elections
Atlas Fantasy Elections is the most active board, where citizen discussion, campaigning, and party conventions all take place. There is virtually no limit (apart from the forum-wide Terms of Service) to what you can post here, from polls testing the favorability of politicians and their ideas, to the headquarters of your campaign or party, to journalism, to questions for your fellow citizens. Examples of common thread subjects are provided below.
Public Office of Governor TM
PUP Convention August 2018 - Minneapolis, FT
The Crusader (citizen newspaper)
Lumine/Rpryor for President/Vice President
Survey Atlasia: Do You Support Pardon Reform Take 2
The Voting Booth child board is used exclusively for conducting elections for federal and regional office, as well as referendums on proposed constitutional amendments.
Atlas Fantasy Government is reserved for the official business of the federal government. It is hear that legislation is proposed and debated in Congress, and that the president has his official private office. Supreme Court cases and impeachment trials are also conducted on this board. While only elected members of Congress may vote on legislation, all citizens are invited to comment on bills and ask questions of their representatives during debate.
The Regional Governments child board operates much like Atlas Fantasy Government, but is used for the business of the regional governments. The Lincoln Assembly, the Southern Chamber of Delegates, and the Fremont Parliament all hold session here.
The Constitutional Convention child board is a defunct board that most recently hosted the 2015–16 Constitutional Convention.
Links: New Register Thread | Party Information Thread (coming soon)
More Questions?
Atlasia is a game of voluntary participation, and its strength depends on its players. If you have questions or need advice, feel free to post them here or start a thread on the Fantasy Elections board —veteran players will be happy to help you. Alternatively, you can contact your party's chair (see the Party Information Thread linked above) for advice about running for office or writing legislation. Politics is a team sport, and you'll find plenty of players who want to work with you.
Unconditional Surrender Truman:
Federal Officeholders
Game Engine
Peanut, Game Moderator
Vacant, Comptroller General
Executive Branch
J. K. Sestak (Peace Party), 50th President of Atlasia
Oregon Blue Dog (Labor Party), 58th Vice President of Atlasia
Devout Centrist (Labor Party), Secretary of State
Harry S Truman (Labor Party), Attorney General
Peebs (Peace Party), Registrar General and Secretary of Federal Elections
Congress
29th SENATE
North Carolina Yankee (Federalist Party, South), president pro tempore of the Senate
Blair (Labor Party, Lincoln)
Falterin Arc (Labor Party, Frémont)
Pericles (Labor Party, Lincoln)
Seven Eleven (Labor Party, Frémont)
Spark (Federalist Party, South)
29th HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Ninja (Democratic Alliance)
Dead Prez (Federalist Party)
Joseph Cao (Federalist Party)
Lfromnj (Federalist Party)
Harvey Updike (Labor Party)
Talleyrand (Labor Party)
MB (Juche Party), Speaker
Ishan (Liberal Party)
Razze (Peace Party)
Supreme Court
Windjammer, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Gass, Junior Justice
Ilikeverin, Associate Justice for Fremont
Bacon King, Associate Justice for Lincoln
PiT, Associate Justice for the South
Unconditional Surrender Truman:
Regional Officeholders
Fremont
Harry S Truman (Labor Party), First Minister of Fremont
Ilikeverin, Justice of the Circuit Court
PARLIAMENT
Amanda Huggenkiss (Labor Party)
Australian Swing Voter (Democratic Alliance)
Battista Minola (Independent)
Siren (Independent)
Vacant
Lincoln
KaiserDave (Labor Party), Governor of Lincoln
AGA (Liberal Party), Chancellor of Lincoln
Bacon King, Justice of the Circuit Court
COUNCIL
AGA (Liberal Party)
Brother Jonathan (Federalist Party)
IBNU (Democratic Alliance)
S019 (Labor Party)
Wulfric (Democratic Alliance)
South
Louisville Thunder (Federalist Party), Governor of the South
PiT, Justice of the Circuit Court
CHAMBER OF DELEGATES
DTC (Federalist Party)
Harvey Updike (Labor Party)
Koopa D. Quick (Peace Party)
Reagente (Federalist Party)
Tmthforu (Democratic Alliance)
Sestak:
Finally! Thank you Truman!
Lumine:
By the powers vested in me by Dave, this thread is now stickied. Great work, Truman!
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