The States of the Coastlands

The Federation of the Coastlands, as a federal state, consists of six states. They are products of unified kingdoms, duchies, and city-states originating from the 16th century. They were once called provinces prior to the First Coastlander Civil War and under the communist government, the nineteen former provinces were merged into three political subdivisions known as Area 1, Area 2, and Area 3. Following the restoration of democracy after the Second Coastlander Civil War, the areas were divided among old cultural regions. Six states were gradually introduced after the unification of old provinces during the 20th century. Among the six states, three are Dutch-speaking Kustlander, two are English-speaking Anglonnnic, and one is Spanish-speaking Hierranan. Two states, Rivierland and New Stenford are self-described as Commonwealths (Gemenebest/Mancomunidad), while Aurenolón is described as a free and sovereign state (Vrije en Soevereine Staat/*Estado Libre y Soberano)*.

## History

The Federation of the Coastlands was created in 1898, following the Communist Era where unitary government was exercised. The move to federalism was passed in December 1897 in order to prevent further revolts. In 1899, the Hierranan provinces of Bacania and Astrias united to form the state of Soloeste. In 1900, Aurenolón and Schiereiland were formed. The Coastlander government, which saw the unification process taking too long, set the deadline for states to be created in 1905. By 1905, the states North Flanders, South Flanders, Kempen, Valleiland, Stenford, Kant, and Astral were formed. In 1926, the Hierranan state Soloeste agreed to be absorbed into Aurenolón. Following Operation Lion in 1946, the Kustlander states of North Flanders, South Flanders, and Schiereiland unified to become Union State, while Stenford became New Stenford, Kant and Astral became Borealia, and Kempen absorbed Valleiland. The most recent change was in 1968, when Riverland was carved out of Kempen and Union State.

### Provinces

The Coastlands was previously a unitary, absolute monarchy with nineteen provinces that were once independent states. The provinces were merged into areas during the Communist Era and were reverted to their original state following the return to democracy. The last province to merge into a state was Otrecht in 1905. All nineteen provinces now serve as counties within their respective states.

## States

The states of the Coastlands were established following the institution of the federal government in 1898. All states have stayed the same regarding their fate since 1968. Federalism is enshrined in the Coastlander constitution, and each state has its own government and shares sovereignty with the federal government. All states practice a unitary system and can pass laws that are not already established federally within their territory. Due to the cultural differences of the states, some languages are more prominent than others in a specific state. Dutch is more prominent in the Kustlander states, English is more prominent in the Anglonnic states, and Spanish is more prominent in the Hierranan state. All states have equal representation in the Senate, each state having ten senators. Representative count for each state is based on population in the House of Councilors. The former Congresses for each cultural sphere was disbanded in 1989, shifting the government from multicameral to tricameral.