Editing Hectaria

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|+ style="margin-left: inherit; font-size: larger;" | '''Minarchistic Republic of Hectaria<br>

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{| style="background: none;"
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| http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/association330/four_hectares.jpg
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| <small>Flag of Hectaria</small>
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| style="font-size:95%" colspan="2" | National motto: ''Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?''
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| style="font-size:95%" colspan="2" | National anthem: '''None at the present time'''
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| colspan="2" style="background:#ffffff;" | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/association330/hectaria.png
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| '''Region'''
| [[New Liberalia]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| '''Capital'''
| [[Pellston]]
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| '''Largest&nbsp;city'''
| [[Brutus]]
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|'''Spoken Languages'''<br>&nbsp; Official<br>&nbsp; Unofficial || <br><br>English<br> German
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| style="white-space: nowrap;" | '''Government''' <div style="text-align: left;"> President<br></div>
| style="white-space: nowrap;" | Minarchistic Republic<br>David Thompson (L)<br>
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| style="white-space: nowrap;" | '''Founded'''<br>â�¢ Republic
| <br>1827<br>
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| '''Area'''<br>&nbsp;&bull; Total<br>&nbsp;&bull; Water (%)
| &nbsp;<br>26,129,328 km&sup2;<br>28.69%
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| style="white-space: nowrap;" | '''Population'''<br>
| approx. 10 billion<br>
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| '''Currency'''
| style="white-space: nowrap;" | 1 Hectarian Credit (Ç) = approx. L2.20 Libers
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| '''Constitution'''
| style="white-space: nowrap;" | The Founding Principles of Hectaria
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| '''Internet TLD'''
| .hct
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| '''Calling code'''
| <code>+906</code>
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| colspan=2 | <center>[http://nstracker.retrogade.com/index.php?nation=Four Hectares NSTracker] [http://www.pipian.com/stuffforchat/gdpcalc.php?nation={{PAGENAMEE}} Pipian] [http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/nationdata.cgi/nation={{PAGENAMEE}} XML]</center>
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== A Brief Summary ==
The Minarchistic Republic of Hectaria is a massive, diverse nation, a champion of global capitalism and serves as a worldwide economic role model.  Legislating from the capital city, Pellston, the democratic government assumes a primarily liberal stance in modern politics and the country and its citizens are working to achieve a high amount of civil, political and economic freedoms.  It's economy is highly open and free-market, which allows the nation to consistently achieve high economic ratings, extremely low rates of unemployment (less than 3%) and a GDP per capita above L45,000/year.  Its national animal is the hawk and its currency is the Hectarian Credit, symbolized by Ç.  David Nolan was the country's principle founding father.

== National History ==

==== Ancient History ====

The known history of the Hectarian continent can be traced back approximately 3500 years before the First Republic.  A series of tribal factions ruled parts of the continent and battled for control of land and natural resources for centuries.  They left behind thousands of artifacts which reveal elements of many unique cultures steeped heavily in tradition, battle, and honor.

About 1000 years before the creation of the First Republic, the tribes began organizing themselves into various city-states located throughout the continent.  This move was apparently driven by the discovery of economics, mathematics, masonry, architecture, and, most importantly, metalwork (specifically iron).  The source of these discoveries is still not precisely known, however the most popular theory is that a visiting civilization passed them on over a period of a few decades, in exchange for natural resources such as gold and silver.  This theory also has the most evidence supporting it.

The city-states spent the next several hundred years developing alliances and trading with one another, setting the stage for the birth of the First Republic.

==== The First Republic ====

Time passed until around 50 thriving city-states existed on the continent.

The idea to unite under the banner of a single nation had been discussed for decades leading up to the creation of the First Republic, but it was never seriously considered.  Every city-state had its own leader, culture and ideals, and compromise was thought to be impossible.

==== The Hagge Conflict ====

==== The Civil War ====

==== The Second Republic ====

==== The Great Liberalian War ====

==== The Golden Age ====

==== The Beginning of the End ====

==== The Hectarian-Caropsyne War ====

==== The Third Republic ====

==== Modern Times ====

== People & Culture==

The people of Hectaria are hard-working, intelligent and display good common sense.  They are patriotic, but not blindly so and they take their rights to protest and to criticize their government seriously.  While wealth is often regarded as a measure of success, most Hectarians believe that it is better to be employed at a job you like than to force yourself to work purely 'for the money'.  Because hard work is taken seriously, most Hectarians look down on those who are able to work, but refuse to do so and they disapprove of public welfare schemes, preferring instead to support private charities who help those individuals truly in need.

It is estimated that approx. 41% of Hectarians would consider themselves religious, but those who are tend to be sensible about it and extremists/fundamentalists are very rare.  The vast majority of Hectarians would agree firmly with the statement "thou shalt keep thy religion to thyself" and are strongly in favor of keeping government and religion separate.

The vast majority of all Hectarians are accepting of every race, nationality, culture and non-violent creed, provided they are loyal to the principles of democracy and follow the laws of the country.  

Good education is important to nearly all Hectarian citizens and as such, it is the primary budget concern of the tiny government.  Hectarian public schools and universities are some of Liberalia's best.  Education is funded via the national sales tax and through a unique education lottery sponsored by the government, in which half of all ticket sales go towards funding the education budget.

Most Hectarians speak English as it is the official language of the country and the primary language taught in schools.  There are a few German descendants living in or near the Haagelsteins who continue speak their native tongue.

== Laws & Government ==

The small Hectarian government concerns itself almost entirely with law & order, defence, infrastructure and education.  It is structured as a representative democracy and bears some similarities to the government of the United States although there are several differences.  A single-chamber National Congress of elected representatives from each voting district makes up the legislative body.  Hectarians also elect a President/Vice President to a single, six-year term.  The President serves as Commander in Chief of the country's armed forces and forms the executive branch.  Finally, the High Court consists of five justices, appointed by the President and approved by the National Congress, who serve eight-year terms and form the judicial branch.

A free-market economy flourishes in Hectaria, fueled by low tax rates and limited business regulations, which are only in place to ensure a fair minimum wage, reasonably clean working enviornments and to restrict child labor.  The government is funded almost entirely via a 17% national sales tax, with inheritance and income taxes, along with bracketed tax schemes, having been dismissed long ago as archaic, socialist, restrictive and unfair.  

A clear majority of Hectarians are socially liberal and this is reflected in the laws of the nation.  Gambling, prostitution, abortion, concealed weapons and the possesion of small amounts of marijuana have all been legalized.  This should not, however, be taken as an invitation to do entirely as one pleases.  Serious crimes still carry serious penalties, with first-degree murder and rape both carrying mandatory life sentences.  Parole and capital punishment have been abolished entirely - if you can't do the time, don't commit the crime.

== Major Universities ==

*Pendleton State University (Pellston, HT)
*The University of Piedmont (Brutus, HT)
*Hectarian Polytechnic Institute (Laurium, HT)
*The University of Petoskey (Petoskey, HT)
*New Staffordshire University (Mercadia, HT)
*Iron River State University (Iron River, HT)


[[Category: Nations]]