The Republic of Lanos

The Independent Nation of the Republic of Lanos Die Independent Nation von der Republik Lanos
Flag of Lanos Emblem of Lanos
Motto: "Freiheit über die Tyrannei" "Freedom over tyranny"
Anthem: Das Lanoslied The Song of the Lanosians
Region		Federation of Democratic Republics
Capital		Keinsteinem
Official language(s)		English, Lanosian, Spanish, Indigenschen
Ethnic groups		Human 99.7% Non-human .3%
Official religion		Roman Catholicism
Demonym		Lanosian
Government		Democratic Republic
-	President	Marina Aruthyan
-	Vice President	David Becerra
Independent Nation
-	Independence	November 2, 1964
Area
-	Total	2,000,000 km2  772,204 sq mi
Population
-	2010 census	221,540,141
-	Density	110.12/km2  285.2/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		estimate
-	Total	$12.5 trillion
-	Per capita	$39,025
Currency		Lanosian Dollar (ROL$)
Time zone		(GMT-6)
-	Summer (DST)	(GMT-5)
National animal		Eagle
Date formats		mm-dd-yyyy CE
Drives on the		right
ISO 3166 code		ROL
Internet TLD		.rol
Calling code		+91
NS NSTracker Sunset XML

For travel information about Lanos, please read the official Lanos travel guide.

The Independent Nation of the Republic of Lanos (Lanosian: Die Independent Nation von der Republik Lanos) is a federal constitutional democratic republic located on the Southern Continent of the planet Earth facing towards the Atlantic Ocean with parts of the country, known as the Southern Territorial Bloc, having contact with the Pacific Ocean. The country defines itself as a politically-centrist democratic republic and as a Lanosian state with equal rights for all peoples.

The country was created on November 2, 1964, after winning its independence during the Lanosian Revolution from an ethnic Cordan apartheid regime that reigned illegally from 1811. After a relatively stable period of nation-building after the war, the nation suffered a Fascist coup on July 19, 1977 and endured a 14-year civil war which was resolved in favor of the democratic nation in 1991. After those years of hardship and recovery, the nation emerged on the international stage in 2013 after joining the Coalition of Ponyist States in 2013 after recognizing the rights of ponies and other sapient beings. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, intelligent population of over 1 billion are effectively ruled by a democratically elected government whose current president is Marina Aruthyan.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it concentrates mainly on Defence, although Law & Order and Education are secondary priorities. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Keinsteinem. Citizens pay an income tax that varies between 10-30% on all income levels and a 5% national sales tax. Persons are considered adults in Lanos when they reach the age of 18 and Lanosian citizenship is granted by birth on soil, to a Lanosian parent(s), or by other legal circumstances. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Arms Manufacturing, Automobile Manufacturing, and Information Technology industries. The national animal is the Bald Eagle, its national religion is Roman Catholicism, and its currency is the Lanosian Dollar.

Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Geography and Climate 4 Politics 4.1 Government 4.2 Foreign Relations 4.3 Military 5 Economy 5.1 Science, Technology, Communications, and Media 5.2 Transport and Infrastructure 5.3 Tourism 5.4 Space Program 6 Demographics 6.1 Ethnic Groups 6.2 Languages 6.3 Religion 6.4 Education 7 Culture 7.1 Literature 7.2 Music and Dance 7.3 Cinema and Theatre 7.4 Museums 7.5 Cuisine 7.6 Sports 7.7 National Anthem 8 Non-Human Sapient Beings 8.1 Ponies and the Pony Lands

Etymology

Upon its independence on November 2, 1964, the new Lanosian state declared itself to be the Independent Nation of the Republic of Lanos to reinforce its independence from the illegal ethnic Cordan apartheid regime in a 153-year series of wars for Lanosian independence and the Lanosian Revolution. The day after independence, November 5th, the government chose the term Lanosian, originally an ethnic term for the Lanosian people, to be the term to denote a citizen of Lanos. The name Lanos originated from the Spanish word meaning "plains," which the country has plenty of and was aptly named as such. The term Lanosian originates as a term describing the people that resided in these lands even if they were assimilated immigrants into the lands known as Lanos. The short form of the country's title, the Republic of Lanos, or just Lanos has found acceptance in the nation's vernacular and its native language has found common acceptance after 1964 when it became an official language of the country.

History

Main Article: History of the Republic of Lanos

The history of the Republic of Lanos spans over hundreds of years form the organization of the various vassals into the Kingdom of Lanos in 1250 to today. The history of the country is important for all Lanosians so that they understand their country's unique past and how they apply it when dealing with current events and the future of their country. Thanks to the recording of Lanosian history throughout the ages, the people of Lanos can see what has been done to provide them with the freedoms they have now.

Geography and Climate

• Part coming soon.

The country's natural resources are varied and plentiful. Among such resources are gold, oil, natural gas, uranium, iron, silicon, aluminum, and limestone. The economic benefits from such resources give the country a massive advantage in the global economy and its own national economy because of the products produced in Lanosian factories. Also the favorable climates give the country plenty of farmland to produce plentiful amounts of food and other products from the farms and the fields. Without such favorable natural conditions, the nation would not be in the great economic position that it's in now.

• Under construction.

Politics

Government

The national government is a democratically-elected representative federal government, with elections being held every 4 years, starting from 1964. Currently, the President is Marina Aruthyan of the Lanos United Democratic Party Party and the House is dominated by the UDP while the Senate is held by the National Democratic Party. Elections are held on the first Friday of the month of November and the new government takes power in the January of the next year to minimize the lame duck period of the outgoing government. State and local governmental elections are also held on the same Election day in November and take office in January of the next year. All elected government positions have an age of limit of 21 while other government offices have an age limit of 18. Lanosian citizenship is required for all positions and no requirement that mandates a candidate have been born in Lanos or to Lanosian parents in order to seek office exists (effectively opening these positions to naturalized citizens).

The Constitution of the Republic of Lanos was ratified and took effect on November 2, 1964. It set out how the Lanosian government was to be set up, the basic civil rights of the people, how states and nation-states were to become such and what their powers were to be, and other topics. The Constitution has been amended 32 times but most of the amendments cover civil rights for citizens and some passed during the Civil War period cover the War, insurrection and rebellion, and how any territories that were under insurrection would be reassumed into Lanos after it ended. It remains to be the sole unifying document that allows the country to govern and be a sovereign nation.

There are articles in the Constitution that attract controversy. The article in the basic civil rights provision that allows citizens to own firearms has opponents furious that such a provision could have a firearms ownership clause. The clause is there to allow the people to protect their civil rights and their nation in times of national emergencies. The military, however, is legally allowed to overthrow the national government and institute the backup government in the event the national government has become unconstitutional and is actively infringing on the civil rights of the people. This constitutional provision, known as National Glory, has survived repeated attempts to have it repealed but such efforts ended when the Civil War began and people saw that if such a government came to power the military must be allowed to restore the rights of the people.

The President is the chief executive of the national government, the commander in chief, and holds other powers as defined in the Constitution. The President has more powers given to the office by the Constitution compared to other democratic nations but the Constitutional framers felt that a strong President was needed to lead the country and unify it in times of need. The Vice President is elected alongside the Presidential candidate and serves as the President of the Senate though that job is a formality. The most unusual Constitutional post is the President Immacht Situ Sodento. The term is Lanosian for "President In Wait, Watch, and Defense." The position is behind the Vice President in the Presidential line of succession and was created to serve as a backup in the event both President and Vice President were unable to serve their offices. This job, along with the rest of the designated members of the national government known as the backup government, is important because in the event that there is a serious national crisis and the national government was taken out, the country would continue to have a government running and able to lead the defense.

The Congress comprises of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House is elected every four years as all members are up for reelection. The number of representatives from each state are chosen based on a state's population. Currently there are 401 seats in the House. The Senate has half of its members elected every 8 years, so every four years half of the Senate is elected at once. Two Senators come from each state, giving the body 50 members given that there are 25 states in Lanos. The Congress makes the laws of the nation and is a representative of the people's consent that the government will govern the people.

The Judicial System of the country is the arbiter of the Constitution and determines the legality and Constitutionality of laws and criminal and civil actions of people. The National Court system has at least one national court district in each state and there are 5 Appellate Court districts. At the top of the system is the Lanos Supreme Court, made of 9 justices that decides questions presented before the court as a last appeal. The system also has separate criminal and civil court systems as well as other courts for special cases. With the courts relatively open and impartial to all questions and cases, there is very few cases where someone has been wrongfully convicted or had their rights infringed in court.

Foreign Relations

• Under construction.

Military

Main Article: Republic of Lanos Armed Forces

The National Armed Forces of the Independent Nation of the Republic of Lanos (Die Nationalen Streitkräfte des Independent Nation von der Republik Lanos or Die Republik Lanos Streitkräfte) are the military forces of the Independent Nation of the Repubic of Lanos. They consist of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Field Military Police, Pony Legion, and the National Guard. The armed forces are directly under the command of the President of Lanos, as the commander-in-chief, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and the civilian Secretary of Defense. The services coordinate together under the Unified Combat Commands and with each other to defend the country and its allies. Today, the Military is the defense arm of Lanos with a combined strength of 1.75 million servicemen, most of that active-duty forces. The Military's main mission is to defend the Lanosian mainland and the territories and to provide assistance to the nation's allies in time of need.

The military consists of four branches:

• The Republic of Lanos Army, the ground force
  
• The Republic of Lanos Air Force, the aviation force
  
• The Republic of Lanos Navy, the naval force
  
• The Republic of Lanos Marine Corps, the infantry of the naval force
  
• The Republic of Lanos Field Military Police, the general military police force,
  
• The Lanos Pony Legion, a small elite force for ponies,
  
• and the Republic of Lanos National Guard, comprised of state/nation-state/territory-sourced general reserve elements.

Economy

• Under construction.

Science, Technology, Communications, and Media

Lanos is at the forefront of military technology and space technology in the region. The nation's space program has several satellites in space and has traveled to the Moon in 1991, 2001, and 2011. On the space front, Lanos has a massive space station in orbit that services all types of Lanos-origin satellites, ship goods across space, and to serve as a crossroads for the Lanosian Space Program. There are plans to create and maintain a Moon colonial base in 2021 for future space exploration and colonization of space.

Communications within Lanos and across the world are state of the art as massive amounts of investments and research poured into the country's telecommunications industry in the 1990s after the end of the Civil War. As of 2013, the nation was estimated to possess 5+ billion telecommunications-related devices and the country fully transitioned to the 4G cellular network during this time period. Internet access is almost universal as it continues to expand. Computer technology grew alongside the network expansion and now a typical personal computer is easily affordable to a typical Lanosian family of 4-5.

Media is also diverse within the nation. Given the Constitutional right to a free press and free speech, many news organizations, newspapers, and individuals have chosen to express their opinions and give the news as they see fit. Much of the news world is dominated by Hobbes International, Inc. which owns the magazine Independent Nation, the newspaper Keinsteinem Courier, the Hobbes News Network, and other media organizations. There are numerous television stations and providers out there for people to choose from to watch television as well as radio stations, both broadcast and satellite. The continued expanse of the various outlets continues to define Lanosian media as a free, and sometimes rowdy, entity.

Transport and Infrastructure

• Coming soon.

Tourism

• Coming soon.

Space Program

The Republic of Lanos National Space Program started in the early 1980s as a way for Lanos to gain an advantage over the Fascists. The program had its early roots in the Air Force, the National Space Agency and the National Aviation Administration sending spy, GPS, military, and communication satellites into space but the space program formally started on January 13, 1981 with Col. Robert Michaels being launched into space as the first Lanosian to do so. The program progressed with the launching of the first space station and the landing of Lanosian astronauts on the moon in 1991. Subsequently, Lanos kept up its space exploration missions by expanding its space stations, Mike and Marina, and the launching of the massive artificial-gravity, space colony station Flying Eagle in 2006. The two older stations are mainly used for scientific research while Flying Eagle is used for shipping goods across space and for the colonization project being conducted. Currently, there are about 100 Lanosians in space between the stations. The goal of the program is to expand humanity's reach across the universe with the eventual goal of intergalactic travel by faster-than-light engines and other futuristic goals. Air Force research being conducted into space travel now focuses on space vehicles and propulsion. With the recent discovery of a faster-than-light particle, the Program is focusing on attempting to create a faster-than-light engine and a power source to power this engine.

The National Space Program has conducted 2 other moon missions since 1991, both being in 2001 and 2011. 2016 is planned to have another moon landing with the construction of a Lanosian space base on the moon with several stations orbiting the moon and the space near it. This project serves as a gateway to future exploration and colonization of space with the moon colony promising to host an upwards of a million colonists. The moon project is set to start in 2016 and is set to be completed by 2021-2026. Eventually this base will become a jumping point of future space missions past the Earth and research is being conducted into the possibility of constructing a space elevator.

The Space Program has its main base at Freitown Air Force Base near Freitown, Novestra where the rockets and spacecraft are sourced and launched at a nearby launch facility. There is a huge spaceport nearby this facility that allows for the large spacecraft, such as transport and military craft, that takes off and lands as airplanes but reach orbit like a rocket. The port allows for ships the size of 3 Washington-class battleships put together on all dimensions. There are also space fighters and combat ships, like in the Navy. However, the Air Force is the main arbiter of the space ships of Lanos and is likely to be the future transportation force for Lanosian forces in the future. Airmen will be the future sailors of this force while the Army will travel with the Air Force ships. The Air Force's special airmen that will serve as a Marine-style force will be referred as Space Soldiers. The Navy and the Marines will be likely shipped around as the Naval forces of the future colonies as the Coast Guard and the Navy of the colonies.

Eventually, space travel will be opened up to future human travel. The Flying Eagle is currently open to those approved to travel in space but eventually space travel will be for all. By 2064, 100 years after Lanos was created, space travel will be open and travel to the other colonies will be affordable for the people of the world and allow for the exploration and colonization of space. By then, it is hoped that all of the planets and moons of the solar system will have at least one human mission landing/exploring there to explore the possibility of colonization and research.

Demographics

Ethnic Groups

Almost most of the sapient beings that reside in the country, about 99.7%, is comprised of humans or Homo sapiens. Of this, 60% are Lanosian (mix of German, Hispanic, and indigenous origins), 15% indigenous, 10% German, 10% Hispanic, 1% Cordan, and 4% other ethnic groups of the human population. Non-humans are .3% of the population. Half of these are sapient equines (Equus sapiens) and number .5% of the overall population. Other non-human species number the remaining half and are .5% of the overall population as well. 95% of those residing in Lanos are Lanosian while the remaining 5% are foreigners. 99% of all Lanosians reside in Lanos while the remaining 1% live in foreign countries such as Kingsley Bedford.

Languages

The offical languages of Lanos is English, Lanosian, Spanish, and Indigenschen. Lanosian dates back to the colonization of Lanos by German immigrants and the intermixing of Hispanic, German, and indigenous populations of the country. After the apartheid regime took power in 1811, authorities tried to wipe out its use but the language survived and grew. Like English, Lanosian evolved over the years and was made an official language in 1964. Government citizenship tests, laws, and documents are to be translated to Lanosian and the other official languages upon request, except driver licenses and road signs remain in English to prevent confusion among other nations in the world. One notable requirement upon taking any national government job in Lanos is that all employees are taught basic fluency in Lanosian during their mandatory paid training period before taking their respective jobs. Almost 91% of Lanosians speak Lanosian along with English, which is universally spoken in the country. Spanish is at fluent with about 40% of the population and Indigenschen is fluent in about 25% of the population. Common situations involve Lanosians speaking Lanosian and English and either Spanish or Indigenschen as a third language if possible.

Lanosian is a mix of the German and English languages. The language is almost entirely comprised of German words and but adopts the English way of grammar, punctuation, formatting, and the way English is spoken and written. The remaining words in Lanosian are words of either a mix of German and English, English words, or words invented later on and added to the language. The way Lanosian is spoken is most often the German pronunciation with the English pronunciation being used for certain words and phrases. Given the similarities of the language with German and English, Lanosian was easy for many to adopt as a second language due to its English and German origin. Due to the German origin of Lanosian, German is a recognized language, as well as countless others, and is afforded special status.

• Under construction.

Religion

Lanos is a mainly Christian nation, but guarantees freedom of religion. About 70% of the population is Roman Catholic. The remaining religions in the nation are 10% of other Christian faiths, 10% of indigenous paganism, and the remaining 10% other religions or no religious faith.

Education

The Lanosian Government fully funds all education. All grades K-12 are free to attend, while college studies are heavily subsidized.

Culture

• Note: Work in progress.

Literature

• Coming soon.

Music and Dance

• Coming soon.

Cinema and Theatre

• Coming soon.

Museums

• Coming soon.

Cuisine

• Coming soon.

Sports

• Coming soon.

National Anthem

The Lanoslied or the Song of the Lanosians was adopted on November 2, 1964 shortly after the nation was created. The song was originated from the 1850s when there was a fervor of Lanosian nationalism during an insurrection against the ethnic Cordan apartheid rule. After its creation, it was banned until the overthrow of the apartheid regime and was declared the national anthem in 1964. Notably, the Lanoslied was used to rally the country when Monstov Kostov issued his revolution proclamation on February 1, 1962 that started the Kastein War in Lanos. The anthem is set to the theme of the Deutschlandlied or The Song of the Germans. The National Anthem is sung in Lanosian, the indigenous language of Lanos, and has remained the most unifying song in the nation. It may also be sung in English (not German even though Lanosian is based from German and English). When saluting during the national anthem, same as with the flag, it is acceptable to place your hand over your heart or render a military salute regardless of being a service member or a veteran or not. Some salutes that involve raising the arm in the air are acceptable while some (such as the Nazi salute) are not. All three verses stanzas are sung and no stanzas are to be excluded for any reason.

Lanoslied
Lanosian lyrics	Approximate English translation
First stanza
Lanos, Lanos über alles, Freiheit über die Tyrannei! Wenn ist standt für freiheit und Gleiche Rechte für alle! Für Marina und für Michael, für unseren Gott und für die Nation.  |:Lanos, Lanos über alles, Freiheit über die Tyrannei!:|	Lanos, Lanos above everything Freedom over tyranny! When it stands for freedom and equal rights for all! For Marina and for Michael, for our God and for the nation.  |:Lanos, Lanos above everything, Freedom over tyranny!:|
Second stanza
Lanosche Frauen, Lanosche Schönheit Lanoscher Freiheit und Lanosche Stolz soll über das Land leuchten! Das alte schöne Land! Dass sie alle kommen zur Ruhe über all den Choicesen gibt!  |:Lanosche Frauen, Lanosche Schönheit Lanosche freiheit, Lanosche Stolz!:|	Lanosian women, Lanosian beauty Lanosian freedom, Lanosian pride shall shine upon the land! That old beautiful country! That they all come to settle over all the choices there!  |:Lanosian women, Lanosian beauty Lanosian freedom, Lanosian pride!:|
Third stanza
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit Für die Lanosche Heimatland! Hierfür haben wir alle zu leben gemeinsam Hand in Hand! Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit Sind die Leute Kernwerte!  |:Blühe unsere Lanosche Nation, Freiheit über die Tyrannei!:|	Unity and justice and freedom For the Lanosian homeland! For this we all live for together hand in hand! Unity and justice and freedom are the people's core values​!  |: Flourish our Lanosian nation, Freedom over tyranny!:|

Note: The last two lines, between the repeat signs of |: and :|, are repeated once when sung.

Non-Human Sapient Beings

Non-human sapient beings (animals, plants, etc.) were given the same rights as humans in Lanos by the passage of the 8th Amendment to the Lanosian Constitution in 2012 when the country realized that it was unfair to deny them the same rights as humans, though Lanos didn't mistreat any beings because of animal protection laws. A follow-up law, the Protection of Non-Human Sapient Beings Act, also added to the many rights and protections afforded to these beings that they deserved. The law and the amendment, however, does recognize that non-sapient beings aren't entitled to these protections because they aren't sentient as humans and therefore their consumption as food and other products for both humans and sentinent beings is protected. This move was regarded as a serious advancement of civil rights in Lanos and the country now stands proudly with the other nations that give such rights to such beings. [1]

The 32nd Amendment of the Constitution of the Republic of Lanos:

• 1. Sapient beings, regardless of what species they may be of, shall not be denied the same rights and privledges of a human being on the basis of being as sapient as a human being.
• 2. All sapient beings shall be afforded the same rights as a Lanosian citizen if they were born in Lanos, born to Lanosian parents, or naturalized. Any other rights shall also be given to sentient beings as defined in the Consitution and other laws passed by the National Government.
• 3. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

—8th Amendment of the Lanosian Constitution, 2012

Ponies and the Pony Lands

Main Articles: Coalition of Ponyist States and Pony Lands

Lanos joined the Coalition of Ponyist States (CoPS) after the newly-settled pony population of Lanos petitioned for such a move. With widespread support, the nation became a full member after being an observer for quite some time. With this acceptance to the CoPS, Lanos hopes to improve relations with the assembled pony states while defending ponies from persecution and genocide across the NS world. The reason the nation had a significant pony population of 1 million (while having 99.7% of the population human and 500,000 being other non-humans) was due to the prevalent issue of anti-pony nations persecuting and killing ponies before and around the time of the passage of the 8th Amendment. During that time, pony refugees came to Lanos in droves to escape such regimes. While not recognizing their sapience at the time, the nation granted the population asylum and protection in shortly-established pony settlements (all of which have developed into full-fledged municipalities but still remain settlements) along with other species of sapient beings that also flowed into Lanos. The 2010 census listed only humans as the sapient beings with ponies being unheard of. The results of the 2010 census indicated 1 million ponies (with a total national population of 220+ million) and this finally pushed the National Government into recognizing the rights of these sapient beings.