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Bothanian Republic vípelíno bótanén Vípelíno Bótanén
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Vímzavé nesen chek It goes without saying
Anthem: Tyldarén The Tyldarian
Capital and largest city		Galadrosia
Official languages		Bothanian
Demonym		Bothanian
Government		Unitary parliamentary republic
-	President
-	Prime Minister
-	President of the First Chamber
-	President of the Second Chamber
Legislature		Great Law Courts
-	Upper house	First Chamber
-	Lower house	Second Chamber
Establishment
-	Letsatian colonisation
-	Letsatian-Vaniu peace
-	Constitution granted	18 December 1865
-	Republic proclaimed	28 March 1920
Area
-	Total	599,643 km2 231,523 sq mi
Population
-	2016 estimate	18,349,076
-	Density	30.6/km2 79.3/sq mi
Currency		Bothanian crown (BTZ)
Time zone		BRST (+1:30)
		DST not observed
Drives on the		right
Calling code		+75
ISO 3166 code		BT; BTH
Internet TLD		.bt

Bothania (Bothanian: Bótanja, /botˈtanja/), officially the Bothanian Republic, is a nation located in southwestern Vaniu. One of the southernmost countries on the continent of Miraria, Bothania has borders the Gulf of Sharkunen to the west, the Parshita Sea to the south, terra incognita to the east and Sotanxina to the north.

History

Main article: History of Bothania

Letsatian colonisation

Main article: Letsatian-Vaniuan wars

Revolution and civil war

Main articles: Silent Revolution and Bothanian Civil War

Modern Bothania

File:Bothania satellite map.jpg

Bothania as viewed form a satellite.

Politics

Main articles: Politics of Bothania, Elections in Bothania, and List of political parties in Bothania

Bothania is governed as a unitary democratic republic under a parliamentary system of government. The Bothanian state operates under an uncodified constitution spread across several Fundamental Laws; the conventions of legislative supremacy form the de facto highest principles of Bothanian constitutional law, namely that the Great Law Courts can make any law on any subject, no valid Act of the Courts can be questioned by a judicial tribunal and no Courts can pass a law that cannot be amended or repealed by future Courts.

The President of Bothania is the head of state of Bothania and is elected to a single, non-renewable seven-year term by an electoral college consisting of the deputies to the Great Law Courts and an equal number of ex professo delegates. The President formally acts as commander-in-chief of the Bothanian Self-Defence Forces and represents Bothania abroad, though these powers are normally exercised on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. The President does, however, have personal discretion to propose bills to the Great Law Courts, call referenda on legislation, and call a referendum on the early dissolution of the Second Chamber: a successful vote results in the dissolution of the Chamber, while a failed vote removes the President from office.

The Council of Ministers, led by the Prime Minister, is nominated by the President and must be confirmed by and maintain the confidence of the Great Law Courts. The Council is charged with executing the domestic and foreign policy of the state. It directs and co-ordinates the work of government institutions and bears full responsibility for all executive acts of the national government, including those formally exercised by the President. The Council must answer to the Great Law Courts for all executive acts and policy decisions and may be removed by a vote of the Second Chamber.

File:Palace of the Republic.jpg

The Palace of the Republic in Galadrosia, the seat of the Great Law Courts.

The Great Law Courts form the bicameral legislature of Bothania. The Courts enjoy legislative supremacy and have the power to supervise government activities through its committees and pass any law they wish by a concurrent majority. The Second Chamber is the lower and more powerful of the two chambers and consists of 500 delegates directly-elected by open list proportional representation using the D’Hondt method. Sitting for a term of up to four years, the Second Chamber is the body from which most legislation originates and possesses the power of the purse, the sole power to invest and dismiss the Council of Ministers and the right to declare war and peace on behalf of Bothania.

The First Chamber is the upper house of the Assemblies and a largely corporative body, representing the interests of various sectors of society, as well as top members of the judiciary. The First Chamber has the power to delay legislation, but lacks veto power; decisions and amendments made by the Chamber can be overturned by a joint sitting of the Courts. The Chamber’s status as a non-partisan body and its insulation from public opinion gives it the power to act as a chamber of sober second thought and gives the body a more collegial atmosphere than its elected counterpart; as the Council of Ministers does not need to rely on the support of the First Chamber to remain in office and cannot rely on its automatic support, the Council commonly faces more serious scrutiny in the upper house than the lower.

Administrative divisions

Main articles: Regions of Bothania, Provinces of Bothania, and Municipalities of Bothania

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Bothania

Military

Main articles: Bothanian Self-Defence Forces and Conscription in Bothania

Bothania maintains a military force with x active and x reserve personnel, built around a defence policy of deterrence and non-interventionism. Divided into the Army, Armada, Air Force and Guard, the Bothanian Self-Defence Forces are headed by the President as commander-in-chief, the Minister of Defence as representative of the Council of Ministers and the Defence Staff appointed by the President and Minister. The armed forces operate under a policy of conscription, with all Bothanian males and females (including those with dual citizenship) over the age of 18 required to serve at least twelve months in the military. Deferment is available for those entering higher education until three months after graduation, while conscientious objectors and persons with inadequate health are permitted to do eighteen months of alternative civilian service instead of serving in the military, such as in the police, fire department, education, public hospitals, homes for the elderly or international humanitarian service.

Culture

Cuisine

Main article: Bothanian cuisine

Bothanian cuisine has developed over the course of centuries of social and political changes. With roots in antiquity and heavy influence from the palates of Vaniu and Ekuosia, Bothanian cuisine is noted for its heterogeneous tastes and large degree of simplicity; Bothanian cuisine traditionally relies on the quality of ingredients rather than elaborate preparation. Dairy, fish, rice, legumes and fruits form a large part of the Bothanian diet and the country is noted for its significant diversity and quality of wines, cheeses, coffee and confectionery.

A candy stall in Tom

Lamb, beef, goat, chicken and seafood form the base of the Bothanian diet and are commonly prepared with vegetables and starches in a soup or stew fashion or are salted or pickled, especially in the desert interior. Food stalls are popular around the country, often selling confectioneries or meat-based street food.

Ice cream and fruit served as dessert in Brasto

Bothania has a long and storied confectionery tradition dating back to the recording of fruit pastry recipes by Iovist monks in the third century CE. Bakers’ confections such as pastries, tarts and cakes are staple desserts across the country, while Bothanian chocolate and sweets are widely appreciated. Ice cream is also commonly eaten as a last course and is traditionally accompanied by fruit and a cup of coffee.

Sport

Association football is by far the most popular spectator sport in Bothania and is traditionally considered the country’s national sport. Governed by the Bothanian Football Federation, the Bothania national football team competes in in international competitions such as the SIFA World Cup. Clubs compete in the Bothanian league system, which is headed by the Bothanian Championship, as well as the knockout Bothanian Open Cup. Football’s main competitors for viewership are rugby, handball and volleyball.