Operation Reconquista

Cape Newport, Hazel. - On October 23, the Natopian Organization for Otherworldly Proselytism announced a new mission in conjunction with Prophet Nathan's intended goal for jump-starting the space program.

The mission will include a remodel and upgrade of our space station, NISS, as well as the moving of offices in Lindstrom City and Cape Newport up to NISS to ensure a permanent use and population.

Staff are undergoing space-rediness training and material from all over the dominion is being diverted to this project which has been placed high as a national priority by the Prophet.

Frenzy Slow to Go

Issue 44

by Nathan Shepard

LINDSTROM CITY - In a characteristically Natopian fashion, every Member of the Royal Frenzy was technically excluded from participation in the current session of the Frenzy due to forgetting to reaffirm their membership in the legislative body as per section three of Article Two of the Natopian Constitution.

As a result of this "lockout" Emperor Nathan has proposed an extension of the Frenzy's session. Each session was intended to coincide with a month of the Natopian calender, which is 30 days long. The system was intended to keep active citizens in the voting membership of the Frenzy, while less than active citizens were still allowed a voice in the chambers but could not vote and therefore skew voting percentages.

However, is has become apparent that one month may be too hasty to reconvene the Frenzy. It is not as serious a problem as the Crisis that destroyed the Republic in October 2007 and thrust the nation into the dark ages; the chancellor of the Frenzy is separately appointed by the Emperor and current chancellor Duke Tom was able to make special approvals for memberships.

The current Lieber session of the Frenzy has two bills on the floor for debate, a bill to re-recognize the official symbols of the state and nation, and a bill to amend the Constitution to extend the session of the Royal Frenzy to four months.

Restoration

Issue 43

LINDSTROM CITY, Natopia
Nathan Shepard

Natopia has been restored to its Imperial glory. With contact reestablished with Tasneem Chowdhury, eternal Prime Minister, the nation re-booted itself as per a private deal Nathan Shepard made with himself when he chose to end the nation in October 2007 after a constitutional crisis crippled the Republican government.

Hello readers of the Micronational News Service. The sexiest micronational blog feed that this paper has ever seen. It loads pretty damn fast too.

Legislative Frenzy Frenzies

Issue 42

LINDSTROM CITY - Amid excitement over the new Republic, the Legislative Frenzy continues along Grand Consul Shepard' proposed Agenda. In barely the first month of his term, there have been twelve bills and amendments proposed to the floor of the Frenzy including immigration reform, limits on the Consul's term, codification of the official means of execution in the Republic, and a bill to recognize national holidays, among other more boring procedural measures.

The troublesome Financial Act of 2007 is being amended for the second time after an error on the Consul's part caused the wrong version of the bill to be voted on and passed (which speaks something to the attentiveness of those who voted unanimously for it).

In response to a public outcry for better defintion of the the Republic's relation to its colonies, the Colonial Administration Act outlines the duties and limits of colonial governors. Whereas in the Empire governors enjoyed ruling "at His Sovereign Majesty's pleasure" governors now are restricted to more protective duties of the colony and recallable by the Frenzy.

The Foreign Brigades Act will hopefully bring the Natopian Defense Force some extra muscle. After being reformed by Grand Commander Sir Tom Mills of Klaasiya into a unified force, the foreign brigades will hopefully attract foreigners keen on serving in this rejuvenated military.

Cheetototing, the official means of execution in the Empire was made official again in the Holidays and Execution Act of 2007. Many holidays of the Empire that celebrated excess were dropped in this bill and a smaller, more egalitarian list of holidays will now be celebrated by the Republic. February 12 is a day to celebrate the citizenry, July 20 will remain as Purification Day to celebrate the fall of VUAS, Tasneem Chowdhury's birthday on August 22 honors her achievements, and of course Natopia Day on August 23 as well as National Freeze Tag Day on October 15.

The most ambitious bill, however, is the Crime and Punishments Act of 2007. While previous criminal codes of previous Natopian governments merely listed "crimes" and then "punishments" and left it in the hands of the judge to pick and choose, resulting in a potentially corrupt judicial system with traitors theoretically being punished with fines, this new criminal code introduces a tiered system of crime. Felonies, such as treason, espionage, and sabotage carry the serious punishment of execution, banishment and long term imprisonment, while lesser crimes, classified as misdemeanors in the bill, carry punishments such as shorter prison sentences, fines, public humiliation and public apologies (for sincere first time offenders who plea guilty). All punishments carry minimum and maximum sentence limits to protect against judicial bias.

Natopia Discusses Return to Republicanism

Issue 41

Not much going on in Natopia. Oh wait! Except there is that whole thing about a new constitution! Even that is not getting much attention. Hence this article.

On July 23 Natopia celebrated Transition Day, the day when Natopia became a kingdom after its first 3 years of being a republic. Now, after nearly two years of the Sovereign Natopian Empire, Nathan Shepard has proposed a switch back to republic. Citing the fact that operating under the same constitution for nearly two years is very un-Natopian. In the days before the Transition, the young republic changed constitutions on average every 6 months. A result of having one constitution for 2 years is a feeling of stagnation. Some may call it stability, but as Emperor Nathan (soon to be merely Mister Shepard) is the only one still (micronationally) alive to remember the old Republic, he has used his eminence in the nation to almost force the population into a new government. Many citizens like the current Imperial government.

The new Republic will be a simplified government, which will emphasize the policy of "one person, one position" in order to spread power equally among the citizens. This new Natopia will take on name of the nation's first online incarnation, the Supreme Sovereign Republic of Natopia. And like the very first Republic, this new Republic will be a representative democracy. The current demesnes will be reorganized into 5 Regions, which will send delegates to the Legislative Frenzy. A somewhat uninspired system, but whatever.

This new government with an emphasis on elections will be a boon to the Free Juice and Bagels Party, which has never, ever, had a reason to exist in Natopia. Even in the old Republics, there were no party driven elections. So now, after almost 4 years, Natopia's first and currently only political party will do stuff, and this paper will fulfill its original purpose of being a political newsblog again!

Es liebe die Party!

Here's some links.

Military Academy Opens

Issue 40

With the War of Matbaic Liberation slowly and messily coming to a close (eventually), many nations have begun the period of introspection to better their recwar forces. Natopia is no exception. The Imperial Military Academy was founded yesterday to offer courses in recwarring. The Emperor has expressed an interest in using the Academy to transform Natopia's military from its current volunteer system to a professional one. Up until recently, the Natopian Defense Force weeded out its officers with a sink or swim approach, due to lack of regulatory personnel. Now, Nathan hopes to require officers in the NDF to have passed the courses in the Academy before receiving a commission and commanding a unit. The Academy's Commandant is Major General Lord Tom Mills, the Natopian hero of the recent war.

Lord Tom is set to receive the the Combat Service Medal with the White Sword of Honor, the Empire's highest military decoration, for his actions against Lovely in the War of Matbaic Liberation.

News Bits

The Planetary Governor of New Natopia, Konrad von Zeck, has announced himself at the General Assembly of the GeoStandards Organization, fulfilling New Natopia's purpose as the Empire's official connection to the world of Giess. The GSO is electing a new Director after Ben Gray resigned amid members' claims that the GSO has languished in inaction under the current Board's administration.

Natopia has signed treaties of recognition with the Kingdoms of Death and Novatainia and are awaiting ratification in the Frenzy. Both are expected to pass.

Konrad von Zeck will be receiving the Combat Service Medal for his service in the War of Matbaic Liberation as commanding officer of 8th Armored Infantry Division.

Opinion

The GSO Archives were opened for a brief period by Ben Gray as his last act before resignation. The claims that Natopia was "forgotten" in the initial launch were confirmed, though many Natopians already accepted this explanation pending private discussions between Emperors Nathan and Edgard of Alexandria. Aside from that Natopia was only mentioned again as our response to the GSO's founding was "worse [than Antica's]." The BS predicts this will not change Natopia's general distrust of all things relating to Novasolum, the now-defunct continental alliance that abandoned us on Micras (not that we mind, we took over much of the land they vacated).

Immigration Reform

Issue 39

Emperor Nathan has proposed a bill to the floor of the Royal Frenzy to drastically reform the Immigration policy of the Empire. The current policy has been in effect since December 9, 2004, which was merely taking an Oath of Citizenship which automatically conferred citizenship. Safeguards were built into the government in other areas such as a 2 week waiting period before taking a seat in the Royal Frenzy, which is composed of all Natopian citizens. The protections were instituted in other areas of government to maintain an immigration policy as open as possible. However, the unregulated system of gaining citizenship in the Empire has attracted several people to merely take an Oath and never come back again. Of course such citizens are removed for inactivity as per Census Reforms.

The new policy mandates that interested applicants submit an Immigration Dossier, including basic information every other micronation's immigration services ask already, such as other citizenships and macronational location. The Dossier must be approved by the Minister of Domestic Affairs before the applicant can even consider taking an Oath of Citizenship. Once an Oath has been taken, citizenship is only formalized pending official approval from the Emperor. The new policy is nothing new or innovative for micronationalism, but attempts to bring a level of organization to the infamously relaxed Natopian government.

Chancellor on Vacation

Lord Matt of Hazelwood, Chancellor of the Frenzy, is leaving today for a nearly 2 week vacation in Italy and then 2 more weeks at camp. The Baron asked the Emperor to appoint a replacement for him and His Majesty has so far asked Count Tom of Punkrock to serve as Vice Chancellor. The Count served as the first elected Chancellor of the Frenzy.

Order of the Black Hole

This Order is, in a way, older than Natopia itself. Membership in it is highly prestigious and limited to Natopian citizens only. Lord Tom of Punkrock was recently elevated to the rank of Knight nearly a year after he was inducted as a Companion. Lord Matt was also inducted into the Order with the rank of Knight as well in recognition of his devotion to the Empire.

No Dice Grandma, No Dice

Duke Brian was recently denied citizenship in the Empire of Alexandrians. Sparking outrage on both sides. Butter Cow, the semi-deity of Natopia, was reported as saying "Alexandrian?! Whatever for? Citizenship restrictions!!!" in response to Sour Kraut Horse revealing that the Duke was seeking Alexandrian citizenship. It would seem that the Emperor heeded the Butter Cow's suggestion and implemented immigration reforms.