It looks like all the claim lines there are AFS-color, though. (Granted, I could be seeing it wrong.)
Event: The 30th Amendment (2008)
Asami
Banned
Qilai! Qilai!
A History of Modern China and the World
Event: The 30th Amendment - May 2008
A History of Modern China and the World
Event: The 30th Amendment - May 2008
The last Constitutional Amendment in the U.S. had come in the late 1980s, in which the 29th Amendment was passed, banning lobbyists and other NGOs from interfering in American elections by paying large sums to candidates in exchange for a mutual 'scratching of the back' kind of thing. In 2006, President Trump, coming off of great victory in the 2006 mid-term elections, worked with several Republican and Democratic senators and representatives, and lead the way to the proposal of the Minimum Age for Office Amendment. This amendment would change the Constitutional requirement to hold public office in the United States, allowing for younger voters and politically-minded youth to get involved in their country's politics almost immediately. It would lower the minimum age for the House of Representatives to 18, Governor to 20, Senate to 22, and Presidency to 25. President Trump, a major proponent of the Amendment, spoke that it 'wasn't unexpected that we should give the American youth a chance to speak and lead. The world they've grown up in is a different world than our own. They've been hurt by a war that has killed more people than we have ever seen. Our parents were the last generation to see such horrors unfold as they fought back the Nazis and Fascists. Our children saw our country assaulted with nuclear weapons, and they've got a major threat in the form of the European Commonwealth aiming to undo their democracy and freedom. We can't just let them down, and not let them take the reins at some point.'
The Amendment was reasonable to many, but some, including the perennial 'Congressional Nazi', William Blythe, blasted it as a 'unsanctioned waste of taxpayer time by allowing stupid kids to run for public office'-- the bill was quite popular in most major cities, as younger, aspiring politicians-to-be seemed to be incredibly frantic to see it pass. Trump was very much unaware of the general ramifications that the proposed 30th Amendment would have on the American Party System within the next 12 years, but he stuck to his guns, proclaiming that America was the 'literal land of freedom, if a 18 year old wants to run for Congress, I say we let him or her do it.'
The Amendment passed the House and Senate with ample numbers in between it's proposal in January 2007, and February 2008. It went to the states for ratification in the spring of 2008, with California leading the way, being the first to ratify it. It was followed two days later, by a quick ratification vote by Florida. Governor David Cole, a member of the Republican Party, hailed it as a 'step towards a better America,' and that he 'looked forward to seeing how this would change America.'
Between February 20, 2008 (the day Florida ratified it) and May 18, countless states across the nation voted to ratify it. On May 18th, the last state needed to ratify it into the Constitution voted to ratify, thus making it the 30th Amendment to the United States Constitution. While it was rather too late in the 2008 election for young candidates to pop up en masse, everyone knew that it wouldn't take long before the wheels of politics turned and the Party System fell apart, if only to give way to a new one.
The Amendment was reasonable to many, but some, including the perennial 'Congressional Nazi', William Blythe, blasted it as a 'unsanctioned waste of taxpayer time by allowing stupid kids to run for public office'-- the bill was quite popular in most major cities, as younger, aspiring politicians-to-be seemed to be incredibly frantic to see it pass. Trump was very much unaware of the general ramifications that the proposed 30th Amendment would have on the American Party System within the next 12 years, but he stuck to his guns, proclaiming that America was the 'literal land of freedom, if a 18 year old wants to run for Congress, I say we let him or her do it.'
The Amendment passed the House and Senate with ample numbers in between it's proposal in January 2007, and February 2008. It went to the states for ratification in the spring of 2008, with California leading the way, being the first to ratify it. It was followed two days later, by a quick ratification vote by Florida. Governor David Cole, a member of the Republican Party, hailed it as a 'step towards a better America,' and that he 'looked forward to seeing how this would change America.'
Between February 20, 2008 (the day Florida ratified it) and May 18, countless states across the nation voted to ratify it. On May 18th, the last state needed to ratify it into the Constitution voted to ratify, thus making it the 30th Amendment to the United States Constitution. While it was rather too late in the 2008 election for young candidates to pop up en masse, everyone knew that it wouldn't take long before the wheels of politics turned and the Party System fell apart, if only to give way to a new one.
Asami
Banned
Amendments to the US Constitution
I - X. Bill of Rights (you know these)
XI. Sovereign Immunity
XII. Procedure of Electing POTUS/VPOTUS
XIII. Anti-Slavery Amendment
XIV. Equal Protection
XV. Can't Deny Black People The Vote
XVI. Congress Can Levy An Income Tax
XVII. Senators Are Now Popularly Elected.
XVIII. Prohibition
XIX. Women Can Vote
XX. January 20 Is Now Inauguration Day
XXI. No More Prohibition
-- all following amendments are post-POD --
XXII. D.C. now gets to vote in Presidential Elections.
XXIII. Poll Taxes Are Not Constitutional.
XXIV. Presidential Line of Succession & Incapacitation
XXV. You Can Now Vote At 18.
XXVI. Amendment To the 14th Amendment (Equal Rights Amendment)
XXVII. Congressional Salary Changes Don't Take Effect Until Next Term
XXVIII. Repeal of 22nd Amendment, change of terms, D.C. now treated as proper member of United States--now has 2 Senators.
XXIX. Tight regulatory policies on campaign contributions and political action committees and groups.
XXX. Decreases required age to hold political office.
I - X. Bill of Rights (you know these)
XI. Sovereign Immunity
XII. Procedure of Electing POTUS/VPOTUS
XIII. Anti-Slavery Amendment
XIV. Equal Protection
XV. Can't Deny Black People The Vote
XVI. Congress Can Levy An Income Tax
XVII. Senators Are Now Popularly Elected.
XVIII. Prohibition
XIX. Women Can Vote
XX. January 20 Is Now Inauguration Day
XXI. No More Prohibition
-- all following amendments are post-POD --
XXII. D.C. now gets to vote in Presidential Elections.
XXIII. Poll Taxes Are Not Constitutional.
XXIV. Presidential Line of Succession & Incapacitation
XXV. You Can Now Vote At 18.
XXVI. Amendment To the 14th Amendment (Equal Rights Amendment)
XXVII. Congressional Salary Changes Don't Take Effect Until Next Term
XXVIII. Repeal of 22nd Amendment, change of terms, D.C. now treated as proper member of United States--now has 2 Senators.
XXIX. Tight regulatory policies on campaign contributions and political action committees and groups.
XXX. Decreases required age to hold political office.
Chapter XIII
Asami
Banned
Qilai! Qilai!
A History of Modern China and the World
Liu Yandong (Democratic League)
February 2008 - February 2014
Part I: The Tenuous Peace
"The Iron Lady"
A History of Modern China and the World
Liu Yandong (Democratic League)
February 2008 - February 2014
Part I: The Tenuous Peace
"The Iron Lady"
Liu Yandong was inaugurated as the 13th Chairperson of the Central Committee of the People's Republic of China-- which meant that she was Head of State. She was the second woman to hold this position in the China that had taken shape after the Great Peasant Revolution. Almost immediately after taking office, China's attentions were distracted with the preparations for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic. In the first six months of her tenure as Chairwoman, China was in a relatively peaceful state. While there was the occassional shudder of Mongol civil unrest in the recently-annexed Mongolia, it was nothing that civil police forces and pro-Chinese collaborators couldn't dispatch with ease. Focusing on domestic growth, and international goodwill, Liu made a speech before the World Economic Summit in March 2008 in Shanghai, pledging for China to reach new emissions goals by 2010, and asking other nations to do the same.
China's change in ecological policy under the prior two administrations had lead to a great shift of China's role in generating emissions. Where as under the Communist Party, her nascent industrial workforce had generated ungodly amounts of pollution, now, China was one of the nations leading the way in climate consciousness. This was a far-cry from the nations of Europe, whom were not very interested in regulating emissions, as they felt that their industrialism would be the only way to keep themselves from being overrun by the 'communist enemies' of the West and East. The European delegation to the WES gave a negative response, decrying China's insistence as 'hypocritical meddling', and withdrawing from the summit days later. It was not surprising when, days later, China's legislative body passed laws ratcheting up tariffs on countries whom did not adhere to 'competent industrial standards'--thus damaging European ability to export goods to China. Europe, in turn, ratcheted up tariffs on Chinese goods. This damaged a sizable community of Europeans whom were fans of the Commodore Amiga system, which had become the #1 personal computer in China after it's acquisition by a Chinese firm in the 1990s.
In response, China, utilizing some obscure legislative documents that had been left in the outremer of the legal consciousness since Mao's time, invoked an old communist law, and expropriated millions of yuan in European assets in China, from industrial equipment, to buildings, to 'summer homes' that Europeans owned in China. Bruxelles voiced their sheer outrage, but China gave no comment, as Liu did not feel she had to justify her government's actions to a group intent on seeding discontent in China-- particularly as the Nine Banners began to demonstrate more often in major cities, calling on Liu's resignation for the 'trampling of liberties and open markets'.
In August 2008, Liu made a state trip to Korea to give her commemoration to the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Republic of Korea. The People's Republic of China was thanked for their role in the liberation and establishment of a unified Korea. Japan did not attend the celebration, as the Prime Minister had duly informed President Kim Jong-il, "Considering what the context is, perhaps it is best if we do not attend. We, however, give our congratulations to our Korean friends for sixty years of independence."-- Kim Jong-il returned the favor, and visited Beijing in October 2009 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, even in the midst of the crisis that the Orange Revolution had sparked.
In late 2008, Liu and her associates worked closer to the establishment of perhaps the greatest master-stroke of diplomacy in decades. The United States and China had been growing closer than ever under the administrations of Zhao Ziyang, Wan Li and Yu Shyi-kun-- Liu felt it prudent to continue that closeness between the two Pacific powers. In November 2008, President Donald Trump of the United States secured re-election against Senator Anthony Michael Hall of California, whom attempted to unseat the immensely popular Progressive POTUS.
In early 2009, President Trump and Chairwoman Liu met at a summit in Hawai'i. It was there, that the two world powers announced the formation of the Pacific Federation, a supranational organization that would effectively combine the economies of China and the United States as extensive economic barriers were broken down between the two nations. China and the U.S. had such similar economic conditions that most analysts saw this move as a beneficial one. As well, shortly afterwards, the United States, Soviet Union, and China, formed the Council of Freedom, the successor to their three respective alliance systems. Liu angrily decried populism as 'two steps shy of fascism', and called upon all peoples of the world to 'resist the spectral influences of populism, to rise up and strike down those whom wish to destroy freedom for the people.'
This unification of the major alliance systems triggered a wave of panic through out Europe, which lead to the Orange Revolution in March 2009, which would test the fabric of Europe's ability to keep at peace in a time of great tension...
China's change in ecological policy under the prior two administrations had lead to a great shift of China's role in generating emissions. Where as under the Communist Party, her nascent industrial workforce had generated ungodly amounts of pollution, now, China was one of the nations leading the way in climate consciousness. This was a far-cry from the nations of Europe, whom were not very interested in regulating emissions, as they felt that their industrialism would be the only way to keep themselves from being overrun by the 'communist enemies' of the West and East. The European delegation to the WES gave a negative response, decrying China's insistence as 'hypocritical meddling', and withdrawing from the summit days later. It was not surprising when, days later, China's legislative body passed laws ratcheting up tariffs on countries whom did not adhere to 'competent industrial standards'--thus damaging European ability to export goods to China. Europe, in turn, ratcheted up tariffs on Chinese goods. This damaged a sizable community of Europeans whom were fans of the Commodore Amiga system, which had become the #1 personal computer in China after it's acquisition by a Chinese firm in the 1990s.
In response, China, utilizing some obscure legislative documents that had been left in the outremer of the legal consciousness since Mao's time, invoked an old communist law, and expropriated millions of yuan in European assets in China, from industrial equipment, to buildings, to 'summer homes' that Europeans owned in China. Bruxelles voiced their sheer outrage, but China gave no comment, as Liu did not feel she had to justify her government's actions to a group intent on seeding discontent in China-- particularly as the Nine Banners began to demonstrate more often in major cities, calling on Liu's resignation for the 'trampling of liberties and open markets'.
In August 2008, Liu made a state trip to Korea to give her commemoration to the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Republic of Korea. The People's Republic of China was thanked for their role in the liberation and establishment of a unified Korea. Japan did not attend the celebration, as the Prime Minister had duly informed President Kim Jong-il, "Considering what the context is, perhaps it is best if we do not attend. We, however, give our congratulations to our Korean friends for sixty years of independence."-- Kim Jong-il returned the favor, and visited Beijing in October 2009 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, even in the midst of the crisis that the Orange Revolution had sparked.
In late 2008, Liu and her associates worked closer to the establishment of perhaps the greatest master-stroke of diplomacy in decades. The United States and China had been growing closer than ever under the administrations of Zhao Ziyang, Wan Li and Yu Shyi-kun-- Liu felt it prudent to continue that closeness between the two Pacific powers. In November 2008, President Donald Trump of the United States secured re-election against Senator Anthony Michael Hall of California, whom attempted to unseat the immensely popular Progressive POTUS.
In early 2009, President Trump and Chairwoman Liu met at a summit in Hawai'i. It was there, that the two world powers announced the formation of the Pacific Federation, a supranational organization that would effectively combine the economies of China and the United States as extensive economic barriers were broken down between the two nations. China and the U.S. had such similar economic conditions that most analysts saw this move as a beneficial one. As well, shortly afterwards, the United States, Soviet Union, and China, formed the Council of Freedom, the successor to their three respective alliance systems. Liu angrily decried populism as 'two steps shy of fascism', and called upon all peoples of the world to 'resist the spectral influences of populism, to rise up and strike down those whom wish to destroy freedom for the people.'
This unification of the major alliance systems triggered a wave of panic through out Europe, which lead to the Orange Revolution in March 2009, which would test the fabric of Europe's ability to keep at peace in a time of great tension...
Event: Orange Revolution (2009)
Asami
Banned
Qilai! Qilai!
The History of Modern China and the World
Event: Orange Revolution - March 2009
The History of Modern China and the World
Event: Orange Revolution - March 2009
Since their independence from the Soviet Union, the Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have harbored a great deal of resentment for the revolving doors of Washington and Muscovite leadership. Therefore, when Alain Juppe proposed the entity that would eventually evolve into the European Commonwealth (and after 2010, the European Federation), the Baltic States were eager to join, even if it meant their geopolitical isolation, as Poland remained ever loyal to NATO, which was morphing into a different beast.
However, despite the quick movement of the independent Baltic states into Bruxelles' sphere of influence, there were still significant numbers of people within these republics whom harbored anti-European sentiment--they were either pro-Soviet, pro-American, or simply wanted a neutral Baltic States, without foreign interference. In February 2009, The Republic of France invoked a council meeting of the European Commonwealth, and proposed a move towards union. With the Soviet Union, United States and China moving to form one monopole aligned against Brussels and Paris, the French proposed that by unifying as soon as possible, they could counteract those aligned against them, and strike back with impunity.
The Baltic governments signed the Treaty of Antwerp that set into motion the unification of the European Commonwealth into the European Federation, effective 1 January 2010. However, almost immediately after the terms of this treaty became public, pro-Russian and pro-American forces within these countries took to mass demonstrations, which rapidly escalated into something worse. In the capital city of Lithuania, 750 student protesters took up positions in the main square of the city, and refused to disperse on police orders. Immediately, clashes began as tear gas grenades were sallied into the thralling mass of students. Similar protests emerged in Latvia and Estonia, primarily sparked by Russian minorities within those states.
General Secretary Jobs wasn't expecting this crisis to emerge, particularly as the Latvian and Estonian governments cracked down on the demonstrations of the Russians in their lands. The General Secretary was visited and given updates by not only his generals, but also by Vladimir Putin, the director of the KGB, as well as other governmental organizations with a stake in the Baltic situation. Jobs was faced with a rather serious task to decide on what he should do-- and with Putin and some of his officer's urging, he reached out to Washington and Beijing before acting. When informed of his decision, President Trump promised the full backing of the United States, but advised him to contact Warsaw and Berlin as well to inform them of what was happening. Beijing simply agreed that they thought it was the best solution to show Europe it's place, and did not say more-- other than that they would begin to apply pressure on India's remnant states to take a side in the coming ideological conflict.
On March 26th, 2009, Soviet tanks crossed the border into the three Baltic States, calling for a restoration of order, and the protection of ethnic minorities, as well as to protect the Soviet territory of Kaliningrad from foreign incursion. Berlin and Warsaw gave their assent for the Soviet military action, and Bruxelles was thrown into outrage over it. The United States bolstered their presence in Europe by increasing the deployment of new military divisions and air units to the United Kingdom and Germany. Two days into the invasion, France launched a series of provocations along the Franco-German border, shelling a small village in the Saar. Germany then returned, and shelled a village in Alsace. The two sides entered into an unofficial ceasefire after the Alliance proved they would not allow Europe to act in a manner that threatened freedoms and liberty.
The conflict lasted six weeks, at which time the three Baltic States were forcibly annexed back into the Soviet Union. Europe and many non-aligned states openly protested this violation of international law, but the major powers were simply silent--they had no interest in telling Russia it could not do what they were all wanting to do. Generally, anything that could weaken the EC's power, the better. It was in this same light, that a number of German social policy makers, and politicians, began to agitate for the 'Alsace-Lorraine' territory to be returned to Germany. While Germany had never formally abrogated her claims over her 1937 borders, Germany and Poland had a general agreement that the border was permanent, and that neither side would push it. A similar treaty had been made with France. However, after France and Germany turned into enemies following the Volksaufstand in 2005, Germany had begun to reassert her western claims, namely Eupen-Malmedy, Luxembourg, and Alsace-Lorraine. It would be in 2012 that Germany would formally resume claims on the "western borders as of the outbreak of the Erste Weltkrieg', throwing a spanner into the idea that there could be peace between Europe and the Tripartite Powers.
By June 2009, the Orange Revolution seemed to be over, as all sides had returned to normality, in some form or another. However, Europe accelerated the timetable of their unification, and it was made clear that the time of peace and friendship for everyone was over. Europe had their dreams and beliefs, and they contrasted with that of the rest of the world. To Trump, Jobs and Liu... it was an 'us or them' situation. It would not be long before the world was turned upside down over the proposition that Europe's power and their dream of influence was a threat to Sino-Soviet-American tripartite peace.
However, within the Soviet Union, Jobs' response to the Baltic Crisis had strengthened his rule significantly. Many of the hardliners whom had opposed him consistently, were praising him for his tough response, and advocated further action where necessary, should other 'former provinces' of the Soviet Union and Russian Empire grow unwieldy. Jobs declined to comment on that part, but thanked the people of the Soviet Union for their support in a time where tough solutions were necessary.
However, despite the quick movement of the independent Baltic states into Bruxelles' sphere of influence, there were still significant numbers of people within these republics whom harbored anti-European sentiment--they were either pro-Soviet, pro-American, or simply wanted a neutral Baltic States, without foreign interference. In February 2009, The Republic of France invoked a council meeting of the European Commonwealth, and proposed a move towards union. With the Soviet Union, United States and China moving to form one monopole aligned against Brussels and Paris, the French proposed that by unifying as soon as possible, they could counteract those aligned against them, and strike back with impunity.
The Baltic governments signed the Treaty of Antwerp that set into motion the unification of the European Commonwealth into the European Federation, effective 1 January 2010. However, almost immediately after the terms of this treaty became public, pro-Russian and pro-American forces within these countries took to mass demonstrations, which rapidly escalated into something worse. In the capital city of Lithuania, 750 student protesters took up positions in the main square of the city, and refused to disperse on police orders. Immediately, clashes began as tear gas grenades were sallied into the thralling mass of students. Similar protests emerged in Latvia and Estonia, primarily sparked by Russian minorities within those states.
General Secretary Jobs wasn't expecting this crisis to emerge, particularly as the Latvian and Estonian governments cracked down on the demonstrations of the Russians in their lands. The General Secretary was visited and given updates by not only his generals, but also by Vladimir Putin, the director of the KGB, as well as other governmental organizations with a stake in the Baltic situation. Jobs was faced with a rather serious task to decide on what he should do-- and with Putin and some of his officer's urging, he reached out to Washington and Beijing before acting. When informed of his decision, President Trump promised the full backing of the United States, but advised him to contact Warsaw and Berlin as well to inform them of what was happening. Beijing simply agreed that they thought it was the best solution to show Europe it's place, and did not say more-- other than that they would begin to apply pressure on India's remnant states to take a side in the coming ideological conflict.
On March 26th, 2009, Soviet tanks crossed the border into the three Baltic States, calling for a restoration of order, and the protection of ethnic minorities, as well as to protect the Soviet territory of Kaliningrad from foreign incursion. Berlin and Warsaw gave their assent for the Soviet military action, and Bruxelles was thrown into outrage over it. The United States bolstered their presence in Europe by increasing the deployment of new military divisions and air units to the United Kingdom and Germany. Two days into the invasion, France launched a series of provocations along the Franco-German border, shelling a small village in the Saar. Germany then returned, and shelled a village in Alsace. The two sides entered into an unofficial ceasefire after the Alliance proved they would not allow Europe to act in a manner that threatened freedoms and liberty.
The conflict lasted six weeks, at which time the three Baltic States were forcibly annexed back into the Soviet Union. Europe and many non-aligned states openly protested this violation of international law, but the major powers were simply silent--they had no interest in telling Russia it could not do what they were all wanting to do. Generally, anything that could weaken the EC's power, the better. It was in this same light, that a number of German social policy makers, and politicians, began to agitate for the 'Alsace-Lorraine' territory to be returned to Germany. While Germany had never formally abrogated her claims over her 1937 borders, Germany and Poland had a general agreement that the border was permanent, and that neither side would push it. A similar treaty had been made with France. However, after France and Germany turned into enemies following the Volksaufstand in 2005, Germany had begun to reassert her western claims, namely Eupen-Malmedy, Luxembourg, and Alsace-Lorraine. It would be in 2012 that Germany would formally resume claims on the "western borders as of the outbreak of the Erste Weltkrieg', throwing a spanner into the idea that there could be peace between Europe and the Tripartite Powers.
By June 2009, the Orange Revolution seemed to be over, as all sides had returned to normality, in some form or another. However, Europe accelerated the timetable of their unification, and it was made clear that the time of peace and friendship for everyone was over. Europe had their dreams and beliefs, and they contrasted with that of the rest of the world. To Trump, Jobs and Liu... it was an 'us or them' situation. It would not be long before the world was turned upside down over the proposition that Europe's power and their dream of influence was a threat to Sino-Soviet-American tripartite peace.
However, within the Soviet Union, Jobs' response to the Baltic Crisis had strengthened his rule significantly. Many of the hardliners whom had opposed him consistently, were praising him for his tough response, and advocated further action where necessary, should other 'former provinces' of the Soviet Union and Russian Empire grow unwieldy. Jobs declined to comment on that part, but thanked the people of the Soviet Union for their support in a time where tough solutions were necessary.
I laughed out loud.
Alarmed by the European situation. How's the nuclear situation looking, if I may ask?
Also: James Madison/Kuang Jian, Steve Jobs... you like having OTL Americans end up leading other countries, don't you?
If it's like IRL, France and England are the only nuke powers.
Well, that have nukes, the potential exists in any wealthy well educated country, so.....
Info: Atomic Weapons
Asami
Banned
Nations Which have possessed Nuclear Weapons
Italics mean nation no longer exists, or arsenal has been dismantled
- United States of America (1945)
- Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1949)
- United Kingdom (1952)
- Republic of France (1960)
- People's Republic of China (1964)
- Republic of India (1974; d. 1999, expended in Kargil War)
- Union of South Africa (1979; d. 1994; arsenal dismantled under duress after South African War)
- State of Israel (1980; subsumed into Levantine Confederation, 2004)
- Islamic Republic of Pakistan (1994; d. 1999, expended in Kargil War or in Black April attacks)
- People's Republic of Korea (2006)
Known Active Nuclear Programs
- Spanish State (active since 1979)
- Republic of Portugal (active since 1983)
- Federal Republic of Germany (active since 2005)
- State of Japan (active since 1999)
- Republic of Italy (active since 1999)
- Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (active since 1999)
- Republic of Hungary (active since 1999)
- People's Republic of Bengal (active since 2001)
