North American Confederation

The North American Confederation (NAC), commonly referred to as North America or the Confederation, was a confederation of families and households, led by a constitutional monarchy. The capital was the Imperial Residence. The recognized territories of the Confederation were designated as the collective lands owned and controlled by the citizens of the nation. A province of the Grand Republic of Delvera since 28 July 2018, the nation was surrounded on all sides by the United States of America. Initially formed in 2010 by a unification between the Empire of New Europe, Ohio Empire, and Eniarku, the founding government collapsed due to internal struggles in early 2011, but was reconstructed in May 2015 and under a provisional government. On the 26 June, a new Constitution was formally ratified. With the admission of the Confederation into the Grand Republic and the formation of a new government in July and October, respectively; the Confederation government has begun to recover from the chaos of the interregnum. Formed from some of the oldest and most highly regarded micronations in North America, the Confederation was initially economically weak due to the internal struggles preceding reconstruction, though recent government and private initiatives have seen a strong presence in the financial markets and economy of the Grand Republic. After the abdication of William I on 07 August 2020, the Karno-Ruthenian Emperor accepted the Imperial Crown and the North American Confederation became in personal union with Karnia-Ruthenia. On 01 October 2020, the Oscarine Constitution was promulgated and the confederation was reformed into the Occidian Empire.

An Initial Plan
The North American Confederation was initially founded in the unification of the Empire of New Europe, the Ohio Empire, and the Democratic People's Republic of Eniarku. North America united under a common drive to restore micronationalism on the continent which had fallen on hard times. Negotiations began on 31 October 2010, when the Ohio government, under Emperor Malum I, requested to join the dying Empire of New Europe. New Europe then contacted their old ally Eniarku and offered that the three unite under mutual terms. At first negotiations went well with all the demands of each micronation made known within a week. But progress was slowed by the day-to-day activities of the host, Emperor Wilhelm von Hartmann-Peters of New Europe. With Wilhelm being an active soldier it became difficult for him to host an online meeting with the prospective member states. As events in the community continued on interest in this matter soon faded.

A Confederation is Born
On 28 November 2010, Wilhelm von Hartmann-Peters gave all prospective states a provisional terms of basic unity. The terms lay the foundation of what is still in the process of creating a fully united micronation. The terms simply abolished each micronations political parties, and collectively placed all military and foreign policy in the hands of the newly declared confederate government. The leaders of all three founding micronations agreed to the terms and the first North American micronational union was founded. But unification is not yet complete. Any relations that other micronations had with constituent states of the confederation were still valid but under review to see if the new government wished to continue them. Upon unification, it was agreed on a monarchy. It was not decided however if it would be hereditary or elected. But they all agreed on crowning New European monarch Wilhelm I as Emperor William of North America. People's President Aaron Meek was appointed the confederations first Prime Minister, and Ohio sovereign Malum I became Foreign Minister.

Many Difficulties
At first the new nation thrived under its new system. However, many of the problems from each nation still plagued the Confederation's early politics. Plans for an election to properly elect leaders failed when it became clear that there was not enough activity to do so. Ohio's problem of having multiple nations claiming portions of its territory still persisted. In addition, the ideological struggles of New Europe gave the confederation a very poor reputation while even being in diplomatic isolation. Perhaps worst of all, no constitution had been agreed upon. All these factors spelled disaster for a nation barely in its infancy. Reluctantly Emperor William took absolute control of affairs. He cancelled the election and declared the only citizens were those already in power in and outside the states. All claimed populations were considered invalid until they registered on the nations website. He then demanded a full constitution be written by January 14, 2011 or he would write it himself. He then began inviting other nations to join NAMCO, a cultural organization he founded in 2009 with little success. Finally, he introduced the Amero as the official currency, designed after the U.S. dollar but based upon the Euro in function. He also had conversations with foreign diplomats about expanding realistic trade. It was while attempting to expand relations with Bethania that the confederation experienced its first diplomatic incident. On 09 January 2011, Bethania suddenly cut ties with the Confederation. This was done based on Bethania's suspicion of the NAC's involvement in Nazism or white supremacy. Bethania's ultimatum, subsequently, was that negotiations were to continue only if the Emperor guaranteed Nazism had no bearing on the government. It was later found out that Bethania was a puppet-state of Starland. Consequently, many proposed war against Starland. However, mediation from Dorzhabad prevented any such possibility and even improved relations on both sides. Initially planning to blacklist Bethania, this was decided against because the government wished to pursue peaceable relations with Starland. With the dissolution of the Slinky Empyre in January 2011, Duke Dakoda of Georgeton contacted the confederation and requested to join as the NAC's fourth state. The government voted in favor of admitting it into the union. Still without a standing constitution at the time, Georgeton was only to surrender its foreign affairs and incorporate its local military into the larger North American Army chain of command. Granted employment into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dakoda became the ambassador to the Slinky Republyc. However when the Slinky War broke out on 22 January, Georgeton independently declared war on Istoria which sparked the entire brief conflict. Richland who had been asking not long before for a defensive alliance with the Confederation. The government decided not to engage in an alliance with Richland around the same time the war started. However, with Georgeton's involvement, the government's ability to control its territories was called into question. Subsequently, the government issued numerous demands for Georgeton to surrender its military control to the government and cease all hostile actions. In the end, the emperor issued an ultimatum that either Georgeton end its military activities or be expelled from the Confederation. Georgeton continued to act independently and cut communications with the government. Shortly after on 30 January 2011, they united to formed the United Kingdom of New Britain and Georgeton. This act was taken as such an insult that the government declared Georgeton expelled from the Confederation and it was blacklisted. Although Dakoda of Georgeton threatened the government with war, he was, after deliberation within the Confederate government, ignored. Around the same time, the government's temporary territory in Georgia welcomed several new citizens. The Emperor gained support from his co-workers Jacob Ramirez, who brought his own means of media presentation. Another, a man named Juan Carlos was selected for the Ministry of War. The government also expanded relations with Ultamiya after their government accepted the government's request to mediate a growing "Cold War" between them and Richland. The Confederation also offered to help settle Ultamiya's conflict with "Pimpville". Furthermore, the Confederate government, spearheaded by Emperor Wilhelm, encouraged multiple nations to join a Micronational War on Terror.

The Final Straws
Although the confederation had begun to improve in many ways it still suffered a fatal flaw. For months there had been a power struggle over who should rule the confederation, its emperor or prime minister. The final straw came when a meeting with citizens of the Temporary Territory of Georgia made it clear that they would rather be part of Micras instead of the MicroWiki community. He contacted the states of the confederation and put the matter to a vote before Congress in late March 2011. The vote was defeated by 2 in favor of remaining in the MicroWiki. However the citizens of Illinois, Connecticut, & the TTG held statewide referendums that called for a move to Micras with or without the government. The emperor the following day had issued a statement to the public and a separate one to the government. That he was heavily considering abdication and moving to Micras with those who support it. The Prime Minister Aaron Meek replied with an open mindedness towards the idea of the emperor abdicating. His only concern was that he did not believe that he had the right to take parts of the confederation with him. An hour later the Emperor William replied with a request of permission to continue editing after his part in the event was through, of which he was given. It was followed by his statement of abdication in which he vested all his powers as Head-of-State to Prime Minister Meek, officially ending the monarchy in the North American Confederation. For its remaining two weeks of life the confederation was a hollowed out nation between Eniarku and Ohio. Atchison went inactive shortly after it was established and the states of Illinois and newly reestablished Connecticut left the community with William. William's brother Jonathan effectively became Emperor, but neither claimed the title nor was recognized by the NAC Congress. The only two remaining states did what they could to keep the confederation going and transition it into a republic but failed. In the end the confederation was dissolved and all posts were abolished. For two of the three founding states it was simply another chapter in their histories. New Europe and Eniarku continued as they had, but for the newly Republic of Ohio, it was the end and the former Emperor went into quiet retirement.

Reconstruction and Development
In April 2014, Johannus von Ikner, a New European politician, claimed that William's abdication was illegal, citing that it was not approved by Congress. Former Prime Minister Meek could not find documentation to counter this claim. After a short discussion between the former leadership it was agreed to restore the union in its November 2011 form pending a revision of the constitution. This however failed and the Confederation was left defunct for another year. Finally in May 2015, Emperor William I contacted the former Emperor of Ohio, Joseph Marx, and the two made an agreement to reconstruct the North American Confederation. Joseph Marx became the new Prime Minister of a provisional government until the Constitution could be written. This time, however, the specific qualifications to call a convention were laid down and immediately agreed. On 13 July 2015, the Emperor and the Prime Minister passed the Unification Agreement of 2015. This law outlined the relationship between the Emperor of Ohio, a title held in pretense by Prime Minister Marx and the House of Hartmann-Peters, the ruling house of North America. In the agreement, Marx agreed to name Crown Prince William as heir to the position of Emperor of Ohio, on the condition that upon the former's abdication, the title would be changed to Prince of Ohio and made the possession of the Crown Prince of North America. This was then followed up by Marx's announcement of abdication from the throne of Ohio. On 26 October, Prime Minister Marx completed several weeks of negotiations with Consul Jordan Brizendine of the Grand Republic of Delvera in regards to the territorial dispute between the two nations which recently began diplomatic relations. ​The agreement, called the Missouri Compact, places restrictions on the extension of land claims that either nation can perform and saved the neutrality and significance of the ancestral Kingdom of Callaway, considered of great cultural significance by the Delveran people. On 10 May 2016, the Office of the Prime Minister announced the Acrin Admission Act, which formally admited the Kingdom of Acrin into the North American Confederation with full statehood status. This agreement with the Karno-Ruthenian Empire came after months of diplomatic talks and negotiations between the Prime Minister Marx and Oscar of Karnia-Ruthenia. The act designated that Acrin would enjoy all the privileges of statehood, including representation in the soon to be established national legislature; as well as continue to exist as a kingdom within the Karno-Ruthenian Empire. Oscar I would continue to rule as King of Acrin, with the assistance of High Commissioner Christian von Letzembourg. Despite the optimism after the ratification of the treaty right after the Missouri Compact, Acrin would leave the Confederation few months after.

Pretender Crisis
On 15 February 2017, one of the most serious crises in the confederation occurred. The crisis started in the early morning hours of that day, when King Aaron of Eniarku declared, through his Council of State, an intention to claim the North American throne for himself, with the erroneous belief that he was the lawful Emperor of the North American Confederation. The general idea behind his belief was the notion that Emperor William’s abdication in 2011 during the Micras Crisis, which directly led to the chaos of the interregnum, made His Majesty’s return to power in 2015 illegitimate and that the crown rightfully belonged to the individual who was granted the Emperor’s authority by the abdication statement, that being the prime minister of the time, Aaron Meek. What followed was a swift deterioration of relations between the Confederation and Eniarku. Naturally, this action was regarded poorly not only by the Confederation government, but by numerous micronational governments across the American continent, including Esse, Shorewell, Karnia-Ruthenia and Delvera. This, coupled with an ultimatum by the North American government to find Eniarku in violation of the Treaty of Mutual Recognition if they did not relinquish their claim, pressured King Aaron to dismiss his Council and issue a proclamation rescinding his claim to the throne, officially ending the crisis. It was later revealed by King Aaron that the Crisis was a started by efforts in the Eniarkian government to legally expand their nation's influence and control. It was suggested by several members that the King use Emperor William’s abdication statement that was issued during the King’s ministry when he was an North American citizen to declare himself the true Emperor. When the Eniarkian king voiced his disapproval, the Council used a constitutional rule to force his hand or risk forced removal from the throne. With King Aaron as the North American Emperor, it was the hope of his government that the Confederation might be absorbed into their kingdom. Upon his announcement, the Prime Minister Marx immediately expressed his gratitude to the King on behalf of himself and the Emperor and reinitiated diplomatic efforts.

Integration with Delvera
On 26 June 2018, the Emperor and Prime Minister finalized and ratified a second Constitution for the North American Confederation. This document was the culmination of three years of provisional government under Joseph Marx and marked the first serious step towards ending the Confederation's provisionalism, right as efforts to integrate the Confederation into the Grand Republic of Delvera as a province. The Constitution was formally written by Prime Minister Marx, with assistance from Emperor William, Deputy Prime Minister McCollum and Consul Dylan Callahan of the Grand Republic of Delvera. It was a hybrid of the previous drafts which were voted on by citizens between October 2017 and May 2018. Two days later, Prime Minister, on behalf of and with the consent of the Emperor and the citizens, delivered a sign letter of intent to Consul Dylan Callahan of the Grand Republic of Delvera, with a petition to the Delveran government to consider granting the North American Confederation provincial status within the Grand Republic. A month later, on 28 July 2018, the Delveran Integration Amendment was unanimously ratified by the households of the Confederation. The Amendment, which passed the Senate in a session on 26 July, was ratified by the five households necessary for the Amendment to now become a part of the Constitution of the North American Confederation. The Amendment altered some of the powers and wording of the Constitution to ensure that the Constitution does not contradict or interfere with the Delveran Constitution or Writ of Rights and also granted the Emperor the power to issue Royal Charters, a power to help foster economic investment throughout the Confederation and strengthen the royal image. This ratification came on the heel of a vote in the Delveran legislature later that evening to decide the fate of the North American Confederation within the Grand Republic of Delvera. That same day, the North American Confederation joined Delvera as its province. The unification of these two nations first began roughly a year ago, following the Congress of Colo and the alignment of the two nations economic and foreign affairs goals.

Late Wilhelmine Era
Serving at the US. Military, the Emperor and the Prime Minister established the first session of the North American Senate for the coming month, and by October, the senators approved the "Senate Protocols Act", the "Legislative Organization and Archival Act" and the "Cabinet Reform Act"; considerations on the "Criminal Code of the North American Confederation" was postponed until the following session of the Senate. On 16 November, more legislative achievements were verified: the second Session of the Senate of the North American Confederation were concluded and this session saw the passage of the Immigration and Naturalization Act and the National Tourist Retailer Regulatory Bill. The bills were forwarded to the Prime Minister, who passed both immediately, and moved them along to the Emperor, who signed them by the end of that same day. Two of the Prime Minister's nominations for his new cabinet were also approved, and Amanda McCollum and the then Empress Alyssa resumed their roles from the first Marx cabinet of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, respectively. The Criminal Code, drafted by Mr.Nichols-Kaufman, was once again pushed to the following session. That same month, the eighth Unification Day was celebrated, the first as a province and the holiday assumed a special meaning from that date. On 05 January 2019, the North American Senate concluded its third session, following an emergency reschedule on 04 January for unforeseen circumstances. First on the docket was the "Criminal Code", sponsored by Nichols-Kaufman and co-sponsored by Prime Minister Marx. At Marx's behest, the "Criminal Code" was moved into a committee for refinement and rewriting to ensure the document is up-to-date and within the bounds of North American and Delveran law and custom. The "National Honors and Peerage Act", sponsored by Marx, reorganized the honors and award system of the North American Confederation, whilst at the same time reforming the peerage and nobility system of the nation and the Imperial Family. The Prime Minister has expressed his desire in the past of using these reforms to help establish honors and award system to promote the cultural and economic development of the nation as a whole; the act was approved. At the same opportunity, Prime Minister Marx presented his 2019 National Resolution, an annual speech before the nation outlining his agenda and goals for the coming year On March 2019, Joseph Marx, acting as President of the Senate in the absence of the Emperor, concluded the forth session of the Senate early, following the sudden absence of Senator Doucette due to unforeseen difficulties. Before its conclusion, the session did manage to see the passage of the Treasury Act and the Criminal Codes. The creation Charter for the Cross of Independence, was not discussed before the closing of the session and was moved to the fifth session, planned to be held some time in April. Following the closing of the Senate session, Prime Minister Marx released the final ten flag redesign entries to the public. These flags were voted on by the Flag Redesign Committee and will now be sent through a referendum to be voted upon by the people. On 12 May, Prime Minister MARX announceD the winner of the Flag Redesign Contest referendum, Hannah Callahan. The flag was never oficialized, but was used from the beginning of the Oscarine Era at the last days from the Confederation until the formation of the Occidian Empire. On Christmas Day of 2019, in a mutual agreement between Emperor William I and the Prime Minister, the third Constitution, referred to as the "Christmas Constitution" went into effect. With the ratification of the third constitution, the powers and position of the Prime Minister have ceased and been replaced with the Twin Crowns. The new Constitution transformed the Confederation into a Constitutional Diarchy, with the political powers vested into two "Kings in the Confederation". The Emperor retained all of his Imperial titles and was vested with the powers and authority of the Senior Crown, while Joseph Marx, who ceased his Prime Minister position, has been crowned as His Royal Majesty, Joseph I, King in the Confederation. The new Constitution also abolished the Senate as a legislative power and in its place created a similar body comprised of Junkers (North American homeowners and family leaders) called the Council of Junkers. This body acted as the primary judicial body and the determinate of constitutionality and legality of royal actions.

Oscarine Era
On 07 August 2020, an agreement between the Empire of Karnia-Ruthenia and the North American Confederation, with the consent of the Grand Republic of Delvera has been completed to set the nation on a brand new course. That day, at 3:00pm, Emperor William I signed the "Act of Abdication and Viceroyalty" formally relinquishing his position as North American Emperor and Senior King in the Confederation. He has named Oscar of Karnia-Ruthenia as his successor to both positions. Emperor Oscar has agreed to the arrangement and it was hoped that this change would enable stronger ties between the NAC and Delvera and the Empire of Karnia-Ruthenia. Emperor William continued to serve the nation in the private sector and within the Council of Junkers. In addition, the position of Viceroy of the Confederation has been established to allow a more localized rule of law. the Viceroy shall serve as the Senior Crown's formal functionary in day-to-day operations of that office, working alongside the Junior Crown. Dylan Callahan, who has recently become a citizen of the North American Confederation has been appointed to the position. King Joseph I, Junior King in the Confederation, has expressed his hope that this will usher in a new era of activity and revitalized economic prosperity for the North American Confederation. Following the ascension of Oscar I of Karnia-Ruthenia to the throne of the North American Confederation, the Council of Junkers has been hard at work developing a new system of government for the nation that can better represent its interests. Given the unique opportunity the abdication of Emperor William I has provided the North American micronational community to forge a new identity for itself, Emperor Oscar I, in agreement with Viceroy Callahan and King Joseph I have worked with the Council of Junkers to create a fourth constitution for their great nation. This fourth Constitution, also called the Oscarine Constitution, was ratified on 01 October 2020 and sees the North American Confederation reorganized into a new nation, a descendant of the micronational legacy of nearly a dozen micronations forged into a single collective identity for the previous 13 years. The North American Confederation, with the permission and understanding of its people, has reorganized itself into the Occidian Empire.

Geography
The NAC was surrounded by the United States on all sides. Previous land claims had the Confederation additionally bordering the Grand Republic of Delvera, and the Kingdom of Callaway, with the Ohio and Missouri rivers collectively forming the largest portions of the Southern and Eastern border between the two nations. Oahu Colony, being one of the islands in the Hawaiian Island chain, was located within the Pacific Ocean. Since the adoption of the third constitution, the Confederation had only laid claim to the lands and properties directly owned by either the citizens or the government directly.

Urbanization
The territories of the Confederation, in accordance with the Constitution, was comprised almost exclusively of urban dwellings. The largest Confederation population was in the area around the city of Dayton, Ohio.

Politics
Originally a confederation of states, the Constitution of the Confederation overhauled the structure of the nation, becoming a confederation of households. The government was divided into four branches of government: the Legislature, the Sovereign, the Government, and the Judiciary.

The Sovereign
The Emperor was the monarch and head of state of the North American Confederation. The Crown was first held by the House of Hartmann-Peters during the reign of William I and then by the House of Götzö-Thomaz-Rocha during the reign of Oscar I. Originally crowned Emperor Wilhelm of New Europe, William led his nation through a period of great political instability as fascist movements with his nation created a great deal of political pressure from the micronational community, even spilling into open civil war in 2009. In 2010, William made an agreement between himself, the President of Eniarku, and the Emperor of Ohio to found the North American Confederation. He was declared the Emperor of North America. Though the Confederation soon collapsed in early 2011 due to its own political instabilities, William eventually collaborated with the former Emperor of Ohio to reconstruct the North American Confederation. Following the passage of the Constitution in 2018, the role of Emperor became similar to a dual executive, shared with the Prime Minister. The Emperor acts as "a symbol of national unity and stability", commanding the Imperial Guard, leading the Senate as it's "First Senator", and managing the treasury of the nation, something kept during the first months of the reign of Oscar I.

His Imperial Majesty's Government
The Prime Minister was the head of the government and responsible for collaborating with the Emperor, who shared the role as a sort of dual executive, on policy and carrying out agreed upon actions. The first and last Prime Minister was Joseph Marx, formally the Emperor of Ohio and an early founder of the Confederation. The Prime Minister also had a cabinet of advisers to assist them in making decisions and carrying out those decisions.

Political divisions
Like most Delveran provinces, the North American Confederation only claimed to the land owned directly by their citizens.

History of Claims
The North American Confederation's history and relationship with land claims dates back to the late 2000's MicroWiki community. In those days, it was customary for micronations to lay claim to vast areas of territory: whole regions, nations, or states. The progenitor nations to the NAC, the empires of New Europe and Ohio, continued this custom and practice, with the Ohio Empire laying claim to its titular state, and New Europe laying numerous different claim throughout its lifespan, oftentimes comprising much of the Midwest and Great Plains. Upon its founding, the NAC absorbed the land claims of its predecessor nations, which it kept until the collapse of the first government and the rise of the interregnum. Following the passage of the Land Claims Act in Land Claims Act on the 19 September 2015, new policies for states and the reorganization of NAC states was completed: resulting in the creation of the Kingdom of Illinois and the Commonwealth of Greene. The Kingdom of Acrin would later join in a personal union with the Karno-Ruthenian Empire. With the passage of the Constitution of the North American Confederation, the states were formally abolished and the land claims took their modern interpretations, which was expanded upon when the NAC joined Delvera, formally adopting the Delveran Sphere of Influence system.

Sphere of Influence
The Sphere of Influence for the North American Confederation was formally determined in February 2019. The western border is determined by the Mississippi, Illinois, and Fox Rivers; following all three from the Kentucky-Tennessee borders easternmost interaction with the Mississippi to the Wisconsin border. The northern border is determined by the Wisconsin-Illinois border to the Michigan border, which turns south to the Michigan-Indiana border and the Michigan-Ohio border before running into the Canadian border and the Pennsylvania-New York-Canadian border. The eastern border follows the Pennsylvania-New York border south until it runs into the French Creek. The border then follows the French Creek until it meets the Allegheny, then follows the Allegheny River and the Mahoning Creek to its source. The claim then heads east from the source until it runs into the Susquehanna River which it follows until it reaches the Pennsylvania-Maryland border. The southern border heads west along the Pennsylvania-Maryland border until it reaches the Ohio River, cutting straight through the northernmost part of West Virginia. The border then follows the Ohio River south along the Ohio-West Virginia border, then the Kentucky-Virginia border before turning west at the Kentucky-Tennessee border.

Political parties
Due to the Parliamentary style, the initial necessity of political parties was present from the very foundation of the nation. When the micronation was first formed, the three founders (Aaron of Eniarku, Joseph of Ohio, and William of New Europe) formed the original three parties, the so-called "The First Party System". The interregnum saw the collapse of not only the government of the Confederation, but also it's political parties. Following the interregnum, the formulation of political parties did not occur due to the provisional status of the government. As the population increased however, the demand for political parties eventually resurfaced and led to the formation of the NAC's Second Party System. This system lasted until the formalization of the new Constitution, which created a legislature that did not necessitate or rely upon parties for its functionality.

Military
The Imperial Guard is the primary defense force of the North American Confederation, as defined by the Constitution. The Emperor stands as Commander-in-chief and leads the Guard Council, the primary governing body of NAC's military elements.

Economy
Upon its foundation, effots were taken by the first government of the North American Confederation to establish a national currency and economic presence. This first currency of the Confederation, the Amero, collapsed alongside the first government. Upon reconstruction, financial efforts by the Marx governments were initially fairly minimal, with a greater focus on reestablishing political and diplomatic stability in the region. However, recent months have seen a marked increase in the economic interests and development of the NAC's economy. As a province of the Grand Republic of Delvera, the NAC utilizes the national currency, the Curo, for all its micronational transaction and businesses. The North American Confederation also currently holds the headquarters for the Imperial Bank of the North American Confederation, the largest financial institution in Delvera, and has begun taking steps to establish a tourism and national souvenir retailer.

National Holidays
The North American Confederation observes holidays derived from events in American and Micronational history, whilst also respecting and recognizing the various religious holidays practiced by its citizenry. (The National Holiday Act) declared the first national holidays and described the process and procdure to be taken to declare any other holidays.

Nationally recognized holidays are as follows: