Free Republic Union

The Free Republic Union, commonly known as Free Republics, are a group of countries who are allied with and under the influence of the USA. These nations are fully independent and exempt from US laws, but promise to aid and cooperate with the USA in exchange for their economic and military protection, as under the Treaty of Dorkugal, which is required to be signed and ratified before a nation joins the Union. A Free Republic generally has close economic ties with the USA, with Antarctican tariffs being done away with in order to encourage trade and development. These republics are also closely related with the military of the US, with these nations collectively being the top importer of Antarctican-made arms. Being in the USA's sphere of influence, however, means the USA can influence the policy-making decisions and foreign policies of these countries to a certain, but limited, extent. These Free Republics also have a say in the government chambers of the South Pole Council

The Free Republic Union has initiated many policies that have encouraged growth and prosperity, such as the currency union (defunct in the FRU), and at its largest extent greatly increased the influence of the USA. Originally encompassing most nations with the notable exception of UnitedTerra, has declined in power in recent years, beginning with the breakaway of Margate, one of the original signatories of the Treaty of Dorkugal in 2011 and the AU nations in 2012. Today, the Union is much less significant, with newer alliances and agreements such as the Axle Powers, Western Union and the Zeta Connections playing a larger role on the Antarctic stage. Nevertheless, the FRU is still a force to be reckoned with.

Background
For more details see: Treaty of Dorkugal and Treaty of Inland

The first Free Republics started in late Colonial Antarctica, with Freezeland. Freezeland declared independence on December 21, 1997. The Colonial Monarchy agreed on one term: Freezeland be a dominion to the crown. The crown had no direct control, but had influence over the country. The Freezelandians didn't want this, but they took what they could get. After the Antarctic Revolution, Freezeland broke away from the Puffish crown, but faced a new threat to its sovereignty - the USA, whom they fought against in 2002.

After the War of 2002, the USA decided they needed more allies, especially since their image internationally had been ruined due to the previous government invading Freezeland just for more land. The economy was also recovering, but needed to make more solid progress to stabilize the new nation. An idea was pitched to the South Pole Council - countries could sign an agreement of a military and economic alliance with the USA and become known as Free Republics. This would effectively allow for the USA to extend its influence on the Antarctic stage, especially since it boasted the continent's largest army and third largest air force and navy at the time. The Treaty of Dorkugal was written and approved by the Council to create the Free Republic Union. On the 25th of May 2003, the Free Republic Union consisting of the USA and 10 smaller nations was formed after the signing and ratification of the Treaty.

The Treaty of Inland admitted another five nations to the Union in December 2003, and added several amendments to the original Treaty of Dorkugal. These included guarantees of civil rights, freedom of movement, speech, services and capital for the citizens, so as to move towards a common economic union. A controversial part of the treaty was a plan called the Inland Border Scheme, which removed border control and allowed unlimited movement of goods, services and penguins throughout all Free Republics, including guaranteed immigration and employment rights. Undoubtedly, this caused tension among richer nations such as Margate and Castilla, who feared an exodus of citizens from other poorer nations, and poorer countries which feared a drain of talent. The Border Scheme was deemed non-negotiable by the USA, and the plan went through anyway, but with the compromise that it would only start on January 1st, 2006, and immigration quotas would be placed until 2016.

In 2011, Margate, having disagreed with the USA on economic and immigration policy multiple times, left the Union. By this time, prospering outside of the union seemed viable to some of the richer and more powerful Free Republics who no longer wanted to come under the influence of the USA, and thus the majority of AU nations seized the opportunity to leave during the events of the Polarian Revolution in 2012. With the more prosperous nations out of the union, it became less relevant on the Antarctic stage. Less than a year later in 2013, the South Pole Council refused to act immediately after two Free Republics, the Free Republic of Guymed and the Land of Flystar55555, were attacked by Shops Island after the latter published their Manifest Destiny Treaty. The two were annexed by Shops and the USA refused to go to war to liberate them, causing much backlash in the FRU against the US and harming the remaining Free Republics' faith in the Union. Some of the Free Republics, such as Acadia, chose to look for strong alliances elsewhere after this. Similarly, Farleya was bailed out of their financial problems by Shops Island in early 2015 in exchange for becoming a territory of the nation. While members of the FRU wanted the USA to help Farleya recover their economy to prevent this, the South Pole Council again refused to act as the USA was still in debt.

Shortly after the USA's Presidential election in November 2016, Acadia was suspended from the Union itself and its defense pact for making threats to "restore democracy" in the United States of Antarctica, which many considered to be because Acadia was just upset that Megg had won the presidency instead of Tenorio. After Megg and her Vice President Happyface141 took office, the latter spent much time the first year in office by reaffirming friendship with the Free Republics through diplomatic missions and many speeches, including one famous speech highlighting their friendship and vowing to protect any free republic attacked by an outside power, after Acadia's continued harassment and threats towards Dorkugal and East Pengolia. This speech brought some faith and popularity back to the FRU with it's member states, and reminded the South Pole Council of their obligations. Happyface continues to improve relations with the nations and keep firm on his commitment to defend them, with the support of President Megg and the Council.

Today, while the Union is a shadow of its past, it is still an economic and military powerhouse. After over two years of being suspended from the Free Republic Union, Acadia's suspension was revoked in March 2019 after the country began to improve its relations with the United States of Antarctica, starting with a trade deal back in November 2018, and also the Free Republic Union member states of Dorkugal and East Pengolia, which Acadia had previously threatened war with. Brant Esser, the President of Acadia and also the Acadian delegate to the South Pole Council, was welcomed back into the South Pole Council on March 10, 2019, and he delivered a speech that he stated that the previous negative relationship between Acadia and the United States of Antarctica and Free Republic Union were now a thing of the past, and wished for future cooperation between Acadia, the Free Republic Union, and the United States of Antarctica, which received applause from the delegates in the chamber.

List of Free Republics
List of present Free Republics in order of joining the FRU.

Former Free Republics
Listed in order of removal from the FRU.

Trade and Economy
The Free Republic Union combined has the largest and most influential economy and trade markets in Antarctica thanks to the might and dominance of the USA, edging out the Axle Powers with high levels of trade and industry between the USA and the Free Republics. The Free Trade Zone is applied to every single member nation, with zero tariffs on trade and a multitude of investment incentives offered by the governments of each nation. Trade and industry revolves around the USA which dominates almost every single sector. Certain nations have a bigger slice of the pie in certain sectors, such as Dorkugal's electronics industry, Freezeland's fishing industry and Malesia's and Finipines' oil palm industry, which allows money and manpower to flow both ways.

When the Treaty of Inland was signed, it left provisions for a currency union in addition to the economic union that had already been set in stone. The currency union was never implemented, although for the few years that the majority of the signatories in the Gold Coin Alliance were in the FRU, the Gold Coin became a de facto currency. An attempt was made in 2008 when it became apparent that the Gold Coin Alliance did not want to be fully incorporated under the FRU. The Freeo was due to start minting in 2010, was to be on par with the Pebble and the Gold Coin, and all nations not using either currency would use it. Plans came to a halt, however, when the Pebble began to rapidly lose its value in late 2009. The project was suspended to facilitate the introduction of the Fish to reboot the USA's economy in 2010, and the Freeo was thus forgotten and never introduced. Today, most members recognize the Fish as an informal currency in addition to their own currencies, which they place on par with.

Government
The Free Republic Union is somewhat like a confederation (not to be confused with that one) of nations, with policies pertaining to certain areas such as the economy and judiciary under control of the FRU supranational government, while others such as taxation, defense and foreign affairs remain firmly in control of the individual governments, although the USA does influence and direct them quite a fair bit. There are four supranational political institutions that govern the FRU.

Executive Branch
The South Pole Council is the executive branch of the FRU government, enacting legislation and new common policies. The Council is allowed to propose and amend new policies and bills that all FRU member states will be obliged to enforce. These include economic, ecological, social welfare and financial laws. Unlike other executive branches of sovereign nations, the Council is unable to bring up nor enforce policies on defense and foreign affairs, making it weak and ineffective in certain times. The Council is also in charge of implementing these changes thorugh other FRU bodies and making sure they are followed by member states - if any member state fails to uphold a motion passed or if there are disputes, the Council is obligated to bring them to the Union Justice Courts. The representatives also guard the FRU budget and finances. They are headed by the Council President, and usually represents the FRU in international talks and meetings.

Legislative Branch
The legislative branch is under the bicameral system, consisting of the Legislative Assembly and the Union Senate.

The Legislative Assembly of the Free Republic Union is the supranational portion of the legislative branch. It debates votes on proposals passed by the Council, has final say over the budget, exerts democratic control over all institutions, including the executive branch and the judiciary, of the Union, coordinates the overall policies of the member nations of the FRU, as well as conclude and ratify international agreements with the UAN or outside nations. There are a total of 400 Assembly members, most of whom are elected into office. Each member nation is given a certain number of seats, and can either choose or elect legislators to the Assembly. Despite the USA's sheer size in comparison to the other nation states, it is only given 175 seats, while the remaining 225 go out to other member nations, in order to prevent the USA from directly changing the policies of other nations. This allows for a situation where the other nations are able to procure a majority.

The Free Republic Union Senate ensures that the interests of the respective governments are protected, since Assembly members are not bound by the manifestos of their political party, and thus can vote for bills that might be considered threats to a member nation. The second round of debate and voting happens here, and along with the Assembly, controls the budget, the FRU's institutions and regulates the policies of member nation. The main difference between this and the Assembly is that the Senate can block or revert any motion passed by the Assembly. So long 6 member nations oppose the motion passed, the proposal can be sent back to the executive branch or even shut down. The Senate consists of the members of the South Pole Council (with the exception of non-voting observer Polaris) and the respective foreign ministers of each nation excluding the USA, in such that each of the 19 Free Republics have 2 representatives each (for a combined total of 38) and the USA has 31 representatives.

Judicial Branch
The Free Republic Union Court of Justice and Co-operation (FRU CJC) is the sole supra-national judiciary body, overriding the GourdZoid Council and Supreme Courts of member nations. Disputes between nations, as well as enforcement of rules, are brought in to be settled here. Unlike many nations, the CJC is not jury-based, with only the judges finding and determining guilt as well as legal punishments based on FRU rules and precedents set. It is usually through the CJC's rulings that impasses in decision making are resolved

Trivia

 * Freezeland, East Pengolia and Finestade Land are the only mainland Free Republics.
 * The Free Republic Union is inspired by the European Union and the Irish Free State.
 * Despite the name, not every country is a Republic. They're all Free Republics, but some aren't actually run like a Republic (for example, monarchies).