Neil Gaiman www.NeilgaimanBoard.com www.NeilgaimanBoard.com The World's End The World's End Boardies' Countries Fact Sheet
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Sittin' at the dock of the Bayeaux Tapestry Member  |
There's been some discussion lately about the knowledge, or perceived lack of knowledge, about the workings of the countries of the world.
So, I thought it would be cool if we start a thread with a 'fact sheet' of the main principles, institutions, and elements which underpin the countries in which we live. I've started one on the UK as below, with some fields which I think will be applicable to all countries. If there's any which don't apply to your country (for example, Monarch), I suggest just putting in 'N/A' to make it clear. I also appreciate any further questions, or suggestions for extra fields to be added, and I'll go back in and amend it to reflect the new information, or clarification of information already presented. I don't think it should be about debating the merits of whatever system or situations we describe, but simply the facts. We can debate the rest elsewhere  Please feel free to do one for your own country.  "The other night I dreamed that King George VI was dead, and that Helen Hardinge had somehow or other got herself proclaimed Queen of England, and that I was detailed to go and tell her that it wouldn't do at all; and when I did this, all she said was, 'You see, I am really Queen Mary,' and I said, 'Oh very well' - words to that effect, and woke up. Last night I dreamed that Eisenhower came to stay with us, and he insisted on being put to sleep in the dog kennel, with a collar and chain about his neck." - Sir Alan Lascelles, 19 February 1980 |
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Sittin' at the dock of the Bayeaux Tapestry Member |
Here goes:
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Geographical terminology: Great Britain is England, Wales and Scotland combined. The United Kingdom is Great Britain plus Northern Ireland. The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man: are Crown Dependencies not in fact part of the UK, but recognise the Queen as their Sovereign separately. In the Channel Islands, She is also called The Duke of Normandy, albeit rarely; in the Isle of Man, She is called Lord of Mann. The Dependencies are autonomous in legislative and taxation powers, except where the Westminster Parliament explicitly overrides them. The UK is responsible for their defence. The British Isles: The UK, the Dependencies, and the Republic of Ireland combined. Origins: Founded 1707 with union of Scotland and England (which ruled Wales) into the Kingdom of Great Britain. Ireland added 1801, southern portion seceded 1922. Constitution: None. At least, not in one document. Law is derived from a combination of Acts of Parliament, common law judgements, tradition and conventions, and EU law. Unitary government – all power coming from the centre and devolving downwards. Source of public authority: De jure: the Sovereign. All actions of the State (legal, official and diplomatic) are done in the Queen’s name and with Her blessing. De facto: Parliament. Head of Government: The Prime Minister – Member of Parliament (MP) and leader of the largest party in the House of Commons. Consitutionally an equal with the rest of the government but in practice is seen as a national leader. Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II Monarch: Queen Elizabeth II. Hereditary monarchy, chosen by male preference primogeniture. Forbidden to become, or marry, a Catholic. Heir Apparent: HRH Charles, Prince of Wales. Legislature: Bicameral Parliament. Lower House is House of Commons, elected entirely at one time, single member constituencies, maximum term 5 years. Dissolved and convened by the Queen. Upper House is House of Lords – majority is ‘Lords’ or ‘peers’ appointed by Queen to serve for life, augmented by hereditary peers who inherit their title but gain their right to legislate by election among their own number; also Law Lords (ennobled senior judges) and 26 Bishops and Archbishops of Church of England. Executive: Her Majesty’s Government. All members come from either house of Parliament. Nominally answerable to the Queen, but in fact support of the House of Commons is essential for its survival. Judiciary: no single judiciary of the United Kingdom, but separate law systems in Scotland, England and Wales, and Northern Ireland. Highest courts of appeal are the House of Lords and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. The Judiciary has no capacity to strike down or amend Acts of Parliament. Religion: Officially Anglican. England has an established Church – the Church of England – with seats in the House of Lords. The Queen is Defender of the Faith, and is Supreme Governor of the Church on Earth. The Queen is in communion with the Church of England and also the Church of Scotland (the State Church in Scotland). Military: Armed Forces of the Crown, consisting of the British Army, the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, and the Royal Air Force, plus some Special Forces. Commander-in-Chief is HM The Queen. Local Government: As all authority is sourced from the Crown, no local assembly convenes by its own right, and are subject to, can be dissolved by, and can be amended by the Westminster Parliament. Scotland has its own Parliament and Executive since 1999, with powers to enact its own legislation and amend tax within 2% of Westminster rate. Scotland continues to send MPs to Westminster. Wales has an Assembly since 1999 with powers to amend certain secondary legislation passed at Westminster. Wales continues to send MPs to Westminster. Northern Ireland has had an Assembly on and off since the 1920s with powers to enact its own legislation. Northern Ireland continues to send MPs to Westminster. England has no regional parliament. All of the UK has locally elected councils and authorities which provide local services. The majority of their funding comes from central government, but the rest is made up from Council Tax. This message has been edited. Last edited by: D M of Arabia, "The other night I dreamed that King George VI was dead, and that Helen Hardinge had somehow or other got herself proclaimed Queen of England, and that I was detailed to go and tell her that it wouldn't do at all; and when I did this, all she said was, 'You see, I am really Queen Mary,' and I said, 'Oh very well' - words to that effect, and woke up. Last night I dreamed that Eisenhower came to stay with us, and he insisted on being put to sleep in the dog kennel, with a collar and chain about his neck." - Sir Alan Lascelles, 19 February 1980 |
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Adoration of the Modii Member  |
hmm amazing.. but I think it is better someone less snarky about our (US) government do the report on it
 Head of state: voted on by the people, but elected by the electoral college.. Presently, our head of state is a vindictive war-like moron. -- Give a man a fish, he eats for the day; Teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime; Teach that man to cook, and he can feed the world.... *********************** Head chef in the Realm of Procrastination and Unproductivity, Dp.u.: "You want fries with that?" Holder for the Golden Pineapple Pin. ------------------------------------------------ If it is on the plate, its food. If it crawls off the plate; Kill it and put it back on the plate. ------------------------------------ I love small furry creatures; especially in a good sauce. |
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rodentia extraordinarinus Member  |
Addition to Mark's (brilliant!) factsheet-
What's called what: England, Scotland, Wales = Great Britain Northern Ireland + Great Britain = United Kingdom BUT many will use "Britain" as shorthand for UK, not just Great Britain Great Britain also includes: Isle of Wight, Scillies, Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland, but not Isle of Man and Channel Islands UK + Republic of Ireland + Channel Islands + Isle of Man = British Isles Damned if I'll ever understand how the soverignty works for the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, but the Isle of Man has the oldest parliament in the world or something. ____________________________________________________ tiny ball of rage. hilarious, condensed rage - Snazz I never really lost my virginity... it just sort of eventually wore off - Chris Addison Um... I'm thinking that a lot of my internal conflict and malaise comes from the tension between the life I ACTUALLY want to live, and the stories I'd love to be able to tell? - T-Rex, qwantz.com |
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Sittin' at the dock of the Bayeaux Tapestry Member |
Good point Domi! I will amend now
"The other night I dreamed that King George VI was dead, and that Helen Hardinge had somehow or other got herself proclaimed Queen of England, and that I was detailed to go and tell her that it wouldn't do at all; and when I did this, all she said was, 'You see, I am really Queen Mary,' and I said, 'Oh very well' - words to that effect, and woke up. Last night I dreamed that Eisenhower came to stay with us, and he insisted on being put to sleep in the dog kennel, with a collar and chain about his neck." - Sir Alan Lascelles, 19 February 1980 |
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Sittin' at the dock of the Bayeaux Tapestry Member |
Isle of Man has the oldest continous Parliament; the Icelandic Parliament is the oldest in the world, but the King of Norway abolished it for 80 years in the 19th Century.
"The other night I dreamed that King George VI was dead, and that Helen Hardinge had somehow or other got herself proclaimed Queen of England, and that I was detailed to go and tell her that it wouldn't do at all; and when I did this, all she said was, 'You see, I am really Queen Mary,' and I said, 'Oh very well' - words to that effect, and woke up. Last night I dreamed that Eisenhower came to stay with us, and he insisted on being put to sleep in the dog kennel, with a collar and chain about his neck." - Sir Alan Lascelles, 19 February 1980 |
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Dread Buthulhu Member  |
Canada's national public broadcaster's website has been displaying this year's olympic and paralympic medal results as CHINA, USA, GREAT BRITAIN... Had actually wondered what had happened to Belfast and Londonderry. Hadn't heard about them being nuked.  |
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Sittin' at the dock of the Bayeaux Tapestry Member |
In the Olympics Britain used to compete as Great Britain and Ireland; then Ireland left the Union. The name just stuck.
"The other night I dreamed that King George VI was dead, and that Helen Hardinge had somehow or other got herself proclaimed Queen of England, and that I was detailed to go and tell her that it wouldn't do at all; and when I did this, all she said was, 'You see, I am really Queen Mary,' and I said, 'Oh very well' - words to that effect, and woke up. Last night I dreamed that Eisenhower came to stay with us, and he insisted on being put to sleep in the dog kennel, with a collar and chain about his neck." - Sir Alan Lascelles, 19 February 1980 |
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Dread Buthulhu Member |
So there probably were Ulstermen entered in the 5m machine-pistol and flagstone-throwing events, then?
No, wait...that's the International Police Games. Never mind. |
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rodentia extraordinarinus Member |
We still win! *is 1/4 Manx* ____________________________________________________ tiny ball of rage. hilarious, condensed rage - Snazz I never really lost my virginity... it just sort of eventually wore off - Chris Addison Um... I'm thinking that a lot of my internal conflict and malaise comes from the tension between the life I ACTUALLY want to live, and the stories I'd love to be able to tell? - T-Rex, qwantz.com |
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Starving artist - well, not starving, but if you happen to have an extra biscuit lying around . . . Member  |
Two of the boxers that took medals this time are from the same gym in Belfast. One for Ireland, one for GB.
Yay schizophrenic geographic identity crisis. ------------------------------ You are a Leprechaun. I'm not even sure what you are. Whiskey-soaked reports from your baffling Isle of Ire raise more questions than they answer. Are you a dwarf? Where's your pickax? If you're an elf, why don't you cobble? You'd think with all your gold, you could invest in some land, perhaps a title, and improve your station. Instead, you hide it in meteorologically-determined locations. You're getting killed on inflation, little friend! |
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Sittin' at the dock of the Bayeaux Tapestry Member |
Mary, do you think the description of Northern Ireland is accurate? Or anything to add? Because it's not a strong point of mine, you know more there.
"The other night I dreamed that King George VI was dead, and that Helen Hardinge had somehow or other got herself proclaimed Queen of England, and that I was detailed to go and tell her that it wouldn't do at all; and when I did this, all she said was, 'You see, I am really Queen Mary,' and I said, 'Oh very well' - words to that effect, and woke up. Last night I dreamed that Eisenhower came to stay with us, and he insisted on being put to sleep in the dog kennel, with a collar and chain about his neck." - Sir Alan Lascelles, 19 February 1980 |
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Technical Services Administrator Member  |
(The CIA World Factbook is a great place to go for quick'n'dirty country profiles).
_____________________________________________________________ Don't you realize? The next time you see sky, it'll be over another town. The next time you take a test, it'll be in some other school. Our parents, they want the best of stuff for us. But right now, they got to do what's right for them. Because it's their time. Their time! Up there! Down here, it's our time. It's our time down here. That's all over the second we ride up Troy's bucket. - Goonies |
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Sittin' at the dock of the Bayeaux Tapestry Member |
Damn CIA! The snoops!
 "The other night I dreamed that King George VI was dead, and that Helen Hardinge had somehow or other got herself proclaimed Queen of England, and that I was detailed to go and tell her that it wouldn't do at all; and when I did this, all she said was, 'You see, I am really Queen Mary,' and I said, 'Oh very well' - words to that effect, and woke up. Last night I dreamed that Eisenhower came to stay with us, and he insisted on being put to sleep in the dog kennel, with a collar and chain about his neck." - Sir Alan Lascelles, 19 February 1980 |
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always wears a tie - just not around his neck Member  |
So you have a short tail? Head of internal security of the Realm of Unproductivity and Procrastination, Catnip Master in the order of the Pineapple. |
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Starving artist - well, not starving, but if you happen to have an extra biscuit lying around . . . Member |
As a basic run-down its fine, although you forgot 'AKA clusterfuck' in the bit about the Assembly. If you go into any more detail than that people's heads will explode from the stupid. ------------------------------ You are a Leprechaun. I'm not even sure what you are. Whiskey-soaked reports from your baffling Isle of Ire raise more questions than they answer. Are you a dwarf? Where's your pickax? If you're an elf, why don't you cobble? You'd think with all your gold, you could invest in some land, perhaps a title, and improve your station. Instead, you hide it in meteorologically-determined locations. You're getting killed on inflation, little friend! |
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Wigber Member  |
fun stuff. lets see.
Canada version 2 (sorry guys) Geographical terminology: Canada is 10 provinces and 3 territories. Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut (territory), Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory Origins: 1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (recognized by UK) Constitution: made up of unwritten and written acts, customs, judicial decisions, and traditions; the written part of the constitution consists of the Constitution Act of 29 March 1867, which created a federation of four provinces, and the Constitution Act of 17 April 1982, which transferred formal control over the constitution from Britain to Canada, and added a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as procedures for constitutional amendments. Head of Government: Prime Minister Stephen HARPER (since 6 February 2006) Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II (represented by Governor General Michaelle JEAN (since 27 September 2005) Legislature: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (105 seats; members appointed by the governor general with the advice of the prime minister and serve until reaching 75 years of age) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (308 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve a maximum of five-year terms starting in 2009 elections) Judiciary: Supreme Court of Canada (judges are appointed by the prime minister through the governor general); Federal Court of Canada; Federal Court of Appeal; Provincial Courts (these are named variously Court of Appeal, Court of Queens Bench, Superior Court, Supreme Court, and Court of Justice) Religion: Roman Catholic 42.6%, Protestant 23.3% (including United Church 9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran 2%), other Christian 4.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other and unspecified 11.8%, none 16% (2001 census) Military: Canadian Forces: Land Forces Command (LFC), Maritime Command (MARCOM), Air Command (AIRCOM), Canada Command (homeland security) (2008) Important Notes: Ice hockey and lacrosse are Canada's national sports. On July 1, 1980, a century after being sung for the first time, O Canada was proclaimed the national anthem. (no i won't sing it. ask Twilite.) Canada is an illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market and export to US; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; increasing ecstasy production, some of which is destined for the US. This message has been edited. Last edited by: GreenRobot, |
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is part of the international oatmeal conspiracy Member  |
oh that needs some editing. oi. think of our eyes!
High Ranking Official of the Realm of Unproductivity and Procrastination, Dean of the UUP, First Class member of the order of the Pineapple. scruffy ambulating reanimated hypothetical vegetarian leigonairre of the undead. ~ Cav Look, I've got a cape and a tendency towards violence. It does not make me a superhero! ~ Domitella |
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Sittin' at the dock of the Bayeaux Tapestry Member |
Yeah GR, keep it to the fields I posted, yeah?
No need to cut & paste the CIA factbook!We don't need GDP and all that - we're only interested in institutional facts. I'm quite happy to attempt Canada's if you like! Or SP could do it... "The other night I dreamed that King George VI was dead, and that Helen Hardinge had somehow or other got herself proclaimed Queen of England, and that I was detailed to go and tell her that it wouldn't do at all; and when I did this, all she said was, 'You see, I am really Queen Mary,' and I said, 'Oh very well' - words to that effect, and woke up. Last night I dreamed that Eisenhower came to stay with us, and he insisted on being put to sleep in the dog kennel, with a collar and chain about his neck." - Sir Alan Lascelles, 19 February 1980 |
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Wigber Member |
fix'd. better?
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