Introduction to Atlasia

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 in all in game canon; the so called "God" in game, they create context on what exists in Atlasia. This means that the Game Moderator is the highest and officially canon source of information about the world and the domestic situation of Atlasia. All real world events are canon except for the events determined not canon by the Game Moderator. For Example, if an election was held in another country, it would be canon unless if the Game Moderator says it isn't.

The Game Moderator also simulates NPC Elections, which you can campaign for a political party, or a regional party for the regions, which I will talk about them in another section.

To simulate the in game world, the Game Moderator has a thread in the Atlas Fantasy Government & Elections board, which publishes reports about the world and in Atlasia. Depending on the event, the event may change on the government and the citizen's reactions or failure to react may result in a different outcome which may result in a serious consequence.

There in another aspect of the Game Engine and the Comptroller General, publishes unemployment numbers and other statistics, projecting the cost of legislation, and publishes the state of the local and national economy and the global economy.

Links: Office of the Game Moderator | Office of the Comptroller General

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 Elections Wiki

Constitution and 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 2020, 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: Councilor Ishan on November 21, 2020, 11:32:32 PM

Ishan
Liberal Party
Pennsylvania

The Democratic and Republican Parties no longer exist officially in Atlasia. Joining a Party is a matter of Choice: you may change 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 Post down below this post. If you don't see a party that fits your views/philosophy, you can make a new post updating/making a new post about the name of your new party.

Once you have registered as a citizen, you are free to begin your activity in Atlasia. Gameplay on the forum takes place on the boards.

Boards dedicated to Atlas Fantasy 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.

Office of Speaker Joseph Cao
Labor Convention- Fall Convention- Portland Maine
Pericles/Sestak for President/Vice President
IshanPolls: Opinion on the President/Vice President (September 2020)

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 Council, 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 Post (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.

	Welcome, Guest. Please login or register. Did you miss your activation email? April 25, 2024, 02:44:00 AM

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