Belgium

Home of Team Belgium (JR; Jaimie; Andy)


 * Problem Statement**
 * -How can we, as members of the UN task force on Xlandia's Government (representing 11 different countries) recommend what kind of government to create so that the nation will become successful democracy?**

GEOGRAPHY PEOPLE //Total time in school- 16 years//
 * //Area://** //Europe//
 * //Cities://** //Zeebruge, Mechelen, Leuven, Brussels (capital), Liege, Namur, Charleroi, Bastogne, Antwerp, Kortrijk, Oostende, Brugge//
 * //Terrain://** //Flat coastal plains in Northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes, forest in southeast.//
 * //Climate://** //temperate, mild winters, cool summers, and rainy, humid, cloud//
 * //Population (date of census being used)://** //10,414,336 (July 2010)//
 * //Ethnic Groups://** //Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%//
 * //Language(s)://** //Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German official less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)//
 * //Religion(s)://** //Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%//
 * //Education://** //6% of GDP (2004)//
 * //Health://** //people living with AIDS (15,000) since 2007 est.//
 * //Work Force (occupations)://**

FEATURES OF GOVERNMENT
 * // T ype://** //Monarchy//
 * //Constitution://** //Parliament//
 * //Executive Power://** //Prime Minister Yves Leterme (head of government), King Albert II (head of state), Council of Ministers (cabinet),//
 * //Legislative Power://** //Senate//
 * //Judicial Power://** //Supreme Court of Justice//




 * //Preliminary Reccomendations//**


 * //(Jaimie Sanchez)//**

//1. Should Constitution be written or unwritten? We think that the constitution should be written// //Reason: Xlandia has recently come out of war with each other. It would benefit the country because it will allow them to agree better.// //Task force nations that have this feature: United States, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay//

//2. Should it Establish a federalist system or unitary system? Xlandia should develop a federalist government because this would further help them develop a dependable power with equal government powers and opportunities// //Task force nations that have this feature: US, Ukraine//

//3. Should it establish a parliamentary system or presidential system?// //We would establish a presidential system because this would allow the people to vote for a president and avoid a dictator.// // Task force nations that have this feature: US, Ukraine //

4. How should it protect the rights of minorities and individuals? Xlandia should indeed protect the minorities because in order to establish a trusting government the people need a sense of security. Xlandia should not be free and open to new minorities but offer some security to minorities and protect them form other tyrant countries. rights will be shared with the minorities and natives. the minorities if they become citizens will have the same rights and opportunities as the native Xlandians. Task force nations that have this feature: US, turkey, UK,

5. What should be the relationship between the military and civilian leadership? The military and civilian relationship should be under the same power. This should further prevent a contradiction between the military and citizens. task force nations that have this feature: US

6. Other features we recommend: Presidential elections ever 2 years and for president to serve only a maximum of 2 terms


 * Executive Branch**

1. Should the chief executive be selected by direct popular vote, appointed by a monarch or appointed by a legislative branch? The cheifexecutive should be selected by direct popular vote because the people of Xlandia have been run by a horrible dictator for many years and it is time that they have a say in who the leader is Task force nations that have this feature: Turkey, Uruguay, Belgium, US, Phillippines

2. What should the executives role be? Should one person play that role, or should it be shared by more than one? The executives role should be played by one person, but there should also be others with power under him that help run Xlandia so that the country does not once again turn into a dictatorship as it did when Sonto came into power. The executives roles should focus in protecting the people and doing what is best for them

3. Other features we recommend: We recommend a cabinet underneath the president so that there is not so much power with one person


 * Legislative Power**

1. Should legislature be bicameral or unicameral? Unicameral because that way everyone can have a voice in theiir certain society. That way every social class and ethnicity is represented Task force nations that have this feature: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, UK, Uruguay

2. Should the members of the legislature be selected by popular vote, by appointment, or some combination? Should any special garantees be given for minority group representation? Popular vote, that way everyone has a say on who the members are elected into the legisltaive branch and voice their opinion who the members are Task force nations that have this feature: Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Cambodia, Philippines

3. Other features we recommend: None


 * Judicial Power**

Task force nations that have this feature: Brazil, Uruguay
 * 1.** How should the members of Supreme Court be elected? By executives with legilsative approvla that way the legislative representatives eho the people elected can get a voice in who the members of the Supreme Court should be

2. Should the Supreme Court be independent and have the power of judicial review? Yes because that way the prepresentatives who they elected in the legislative branch will hopefully have a say Task force nations that have this feature: Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Austrailia, Belgium, Brazil

3. Other features we recommend: None


 * Citizen Participation (Jaimie Sanchez)**

1. Though difficult to plan or write a constitution, should the political party system ideally be a multiple party, one party, or two party? two party that way they can have more stability in making hard choices, since we wont have a biased opinion Task force nations that have this feature: Australia

2. How often should elections be held, and should voting be compulsory or voluntary? 2 years and compulsory for the beginning, after some progression, then voluntary because it is a new developing government and the citizens need to get accustomed for voting for their leaders. Compulsory because the government is new and developing Task force nations that have this feature: Uruguay, Australia, Brazil

3. Other features we recommend: None

= WHITE PAPER (Final Report) =

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A constitution is a written set of rules and laws to control the society that citizens live in. The government will be a limited government to help prevent overpowering government officials. There should be a basic set of laws and regulations that keep the people and the government of Xlandia in order within the limits of the constitution.=====

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The type of system we recommend to Xlandia is a federalist government in which the state governments and the Central government share equal power. However each government has individual powers that the other does not, such as the state government making laws and regulations for schools, property rights, and laws, such as immigration. A federalist type of government is a balanced government that does give all the power to either the central or the state governments, unlike a unitary or confederate government in which a majority of the power lies with either the state or the central governments.=====

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The rights of individuals and minorities would be protected through written laws in the constitution. They would have the same rights and opportunities to as the native Xlandian’s, such as education, service, jobs, and ownership of properties, military rights, non-segregation, and voting rights.=====

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The President of Xlandia along with the Legislative branch will share the power to control the military, however, military and civilian life will not coincide with each other. Meaning if a civilian does something wrong, the military will not get involved endless it threatens the people of Xlandia as a whole.=====

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The President will be chosen by direct popular vote of the people of Xlandia. One person would play the Executive role, but there should be others under him, with slight power that helps run Xlandia. The role of the Executive branch should focus on protecting the people and doing what is best for them.=====

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The Legislative Branch will be unicameral because it means that everyone can have a voice in their society and that way, every social class ethnicity will be represented. The development process of laws will be slower, but will ensure the absence of corrupted or overpowering laws. We also recommend that the legislature be selected by popular vote, that way everyone has a say on who the members are elected into the legislative branch and voice their opinion who the members are.=====

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Executives with legislative approval elect the members of the Supreme Court. That way the legislative representatives, who the people elected, can get a voice, and who the elected members should be. Yes because that way the representatives who they elected in the legislative branch will hopefully have a say.=====

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All the citizens of Xlandia get the right to vote and choose who is in their government. The requirements are: must be 21 years or older so that they are mature enough and thinking about the future of their government, must be a citizen of Xlandia, and cannot be a convicted felon.=====

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To keep a democracy strong and running smoothly, there needs to be strong participation, loyalty to the government, no corruption, and it must most importantly be for the people and have their needs first. Currently, Xlandia has none of the above because a corrupt dictator ruled them. If they follow our guidelines, they will have a great foundation to build their government upon.=====