Sierra


 * This country is part of the Altverse universe.

The Kingdom of Sierra commonly known simply as Sierra, (: Reino de Sierra, : 黄金王国, : Vương quốc Sierra, : 시에라 공화국, : ราชอาณาจักร ทิวเขา, : Kaharian ng Sierra, : シエラ王国, and Serran: ) is a     situated on the central western part of  consisting of 22 provinces along the  and 8 territories including the, , the , the , , the  and  Islands, and several isolated Pacific. Sierra spans from the of the north to the fringes of the  region at the east extremity. It shares borders with the United Republic of Cascadia to the north, Wabash and Brazoria to the east, and Mexico to the south. Excluding Sierra's territories, the Kingdom has a total area of 473,207 square miles. Ranked 29th in total land area, this puts Sierra ahead of in terms of geographical size but smaller than.

As a result of its unique history and culture, the Kingdom of Sierra boasts one of the most ethnically diverse and  in the world. Gaining independence from in 1846 under the name the , the Kingdom of Sierra came to being under its current constitution as a compromise between American settlers, Mexican-born Californios, and Albish royalists in 1858. With the, immigration from the , , and gave Sierra much more legitimacy and power over its territory.

Initially facing pressure from the United States, Albion-Gaul, and Mexico which strove for influence over Sierra, Sierra sought to secure its own path by relying on the mass immigration that came along the Gold Rush of 1849 and by contacting allies from its neighbors (Wabash and Augustina), as well as countries in Asia and Latin America. By the late 19th century, Sierra increased its power by acquiring several island territories throughout the Pacific. It acquired the Deseret region from Wabash in 1896 following an agreement between both countries. During, in the 20th century, Sierra remained neutral and wealthy by producing thousands of war-related products to its neighbors. This tradition continued through the initial start of the but following the Japanese preemptive attack on, an American  base situated on Sierran land, Sierra entered an international war for the first time as a combatant. Its controversial involvement and participation in the with the United States and its leasing of land in the Great Basin for nuclear weapon testing held it at odds with its Asian allies and the general public.

Following the end of World War II, the United States once again rebuffed its efforts to exert control over Sierra by offering Sierra $2 billion over its mostly uninhabited northeastern territory. Resisting American pressure, the Kingdom formed economically close but cautious relationships with both the and China. With on the rise in the United States,  that Sierra was harboring communist spies or even nuclear weapons worsened Sierra's relationship with its larger neighbor. Eventually, anti-communist sentiment spread fast enough within Sierra to prompt the government to reconsider its relationship with the United States. Following the end of the Cold War, Sierra continued developing its rapidly growing economy to become the world's 4th largest economy in international trade and commerce. The most recent in 2008 briefly disrupted the continuous growth of Sierra and threw it into a. Since 2010, Sierra has recovered although faces new 21st century challenges including the rise of domestic, , anti-monarchism, and international tensions. A coup d'état attempt by the Islamist organization, the Army of God caused massive panic and prompted the Sierran government to embolden its stance against terrorism. A missile attack by Mexico on disputed Sierran territory ushered in the Baja California crisis, an ongoing conflict part of a much larger conflict. Part of the Trans-Pacific Allied Community and a supporter of the, it is part of the global "pro-American" faction which consists of most of the world's developed.

Etymology
The name "Sierra" derives from the same word found in the which means mountain range. Chosen and mentioned explicitly in the Constitution in 1858, the founders of Sierra sought a deviation from the commonly used name up to that point which was California (which was also the namesake for Sierra's preceding government: the ). Used incessantly by the American, Albish, and Mexican governments which were all deeply interested in maintaining a over Sierra, the term embittered the new nation. When there was call for a new constitution, many Californians felt the need for a new name alongside the constitution. Several names including  and Pacifica were proposed although the name Sierra for the new country was first mentioned in a 1856 Los Angeles newspaper. Named after the various mountain ranges found within Sierra including the Sierra Nevada, delegates to the constitutional convention almost universally supported and subsequently officiated the name Sierra.

The official name, the "Kingdom of Sierra" is present on all official government documents and is responsible for the common abbreviation of Sierra as "KS" or "K.S." Other named offered to Sierra include the "West Coast" (used by ) or "California" (the historical name for the coastal and western inland regions of Sierra). Regional names for specific areas in Sierra include "" for the Great Basin region and "" for the Sonora east region. Such names also appear on some government documents for statistical purposes including reports.

The common demonym for a citizen of Sierra is "Sierran". This demonym extends onto citizens and residents of Sierra's overseas territories who are by definition and by law, virtually full-fledged Sierran citizens. The alternative spelling "Sierren" was sparingly used in early Sierran government documents and civilian newspaper although the term in modern times dictate that it is archaic and obscure. Nicknames given to Sierrans include "Cados" (a corruption of, a major export of Sierra), "Goldies", and the derogatory names: "Sand " or "Rice Yankees".

In some languages, Sierra is called the "Golden Kingdom" or other similar derivatives as is the case in one of Sierra's official languages, Chinese (in the dialect) which is 黄金王国 (Huángjīn wángguó). The name is a reference to Sierra's 19th century gold rush which attracted thousands of people throughout the world including China.

Prehistory

 * See also: 

Prior to European and interference, there were more than    and bands living near the Pacific Southwest,, or  Desert regions. Notable groups including the, , and the had complex and large organization within their tribes and frequently conducted trade and diplomacy with other tribes.

European exploration and settlement
Around the turn of the 16th century, knowledge and interest of Sierra's location sparked in thanks to the popular romance novel  (The Adventures of Esplandián) by Spanish author. Montalvo's novel described a mythical island dubbed California which was inhabited by women warriors who possessed large swaths of gold and weapons. When Spanish and explorers explored the, the name California was used. This name came to refer all the unexplored territory on the North American West Coast including where most of present-day Sierra lies.



The first European to explore the Sierra coast is credited to Portuguese explorer (Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo). Commissioned by the, Cabrillo explored the and shores of present-day San Diego. After his excursion at San Diego, Cabrillo continued northward to. After Cabrillo suffered a fatal accident at Catalina Island, interest in further exploration of California rescinded because there were no sights of any gold nor advanced Indian civilization as claimed by authors. Nevertheless, Cabrillo claimed the lands for Spain by right of discovery.

In spite of diminished interest in Sierra, Spanish ships frequently traveled along the coast as a trade route to the Lan Na, a Spanish colony at the time. Active Spanish presence in Sierra would not occur for two more centuries however. There were only two more documented cases of Sierra's exploration prior to the establishment of the first Spanish on :    (1579) and Spaniard  (1602). The former landed in an unknown location along the Sierra coast and claimed the land for England as "Nova Albion" (New England). The latter traveled as far north as and gave San Diego Bay its current name. Vizcaíno's positive accounts on both bays reignited Spanish interest. Within a century later, the Spanish began mapping and exploring Sierra's land through the.

Spanish rule
Beginning in 1768, the Spanish formally institutionalized a local government over Sierra. By 1804, the Spanish divided Sierra into two administrative divisions: Alta California and Baja California as provinces of. Where Baja California consisted the Baja Peninsula, Alta California consisted essentially the entirety of Western North America with no explicit boundaries. Between 1768 and 1804, the Spanish funded trips including the Portolà and expeditions to establish contact with the native Indians and gain further knowledge on the landscape of the provinces.

During the Portolà expedition, helped found the  by erecting 9 missions along the Sierran coast. Subsequently, the Spanish continued building missions (eventually to a total of 21 missions) and began an aggressive approach towards the Indians by subjecting them to rule. The aim of the missions were to educate the Indians the culture and language of Spanish as well as the faith. In conjunction with the missions, the Spanish established presidios (forts) along the. The Spanish monarchy encouraged citizens to move and settle in Sierra and even offered large parcels of land for free. Foreigners were also allowed to secure land property provided they convert to Catholicism and accepted Spanish citizenship.

Mexican rule
In 1821, Mexico gained from Spain thereby receiving control over Sierra. The Mexican government was never stable enough to exert complete control over Sierra due to the frequent changes in government back in. For the most part, the Mexican government preserved the traditional Spanish land system by offering to Mexican citizens who settled in Sierra. These people came to be known as and exercised political autonomy to a great extent thanks to the Mexican government's inefficiency to collect taxes and the lack of enforcement of Mexican law across the vastly unincorporated territory. Local Mexican families grew powerful with their massive rancho estates and began to develop a strong desire to form their own country. During this time, American and Albish immigrants began moving in to Sierra en masse—often bringing along their families. They were greeted with hostility by the Mexican government which viewed the immigrants as and intruders because many often came without being cleared by the government.

War of 1846
On June 1846, American and Albish immigrant rebelled against the local Mexican government, about a month after the United States declared war on Mexico. The government restricted their right to buy or rent land because of their illegal status and threatened to expel them from the land. Prior to the war, Mexico became increasingly concerned with the possibility of war with the United States because of the immigrants and the concurrent crisis in. When the war broke out, the Mexican government decided to deport all foreigners out of California or risk invoking deadly force. Emboldened by the war and deeply dissatisfied with Mexican administration, the Californios, who were now looking for a way to create their own country, decided to join their Anglo neighbors and declared a new independent country known as the "California Republic". The United States government immediately recognized the California Republic and vowed to protect it from being subdued by the Mexican government. Many Americans viewed this as temporary and believed that by the war's end, the Californians would vote for annexation into the United States as Texas did. Indeed, California was highly sought for by both the American public and government who not only coveted the coastal lands and plains of California but were impressed upon with the ideas of. Similarly, the Albish government followed suit by entering the war with the hopes of legitimizing its stance in Western North America and to reaffirm its connection with overseas Albish settlers.

As the California Republic
Mexico, overwhelmed with two foreign powers engaging war over a largely inefficient province, abandoned active campaigning in California and left the loyalists to fight for Mexico. The Californians pushed their way down to the sparsely populated Baja California peninsula and declared the entire land to be Californian soil. The Mexican army attempted to reverse the effects of Californian advancement in the but suffered spectacular losses. After  to the American forces, California signed the  as a victorious party. The California Republic received not only Mexico's recognition for independence, but was awarded the land it took in the Baja Californian peninsula and the additional land in the Great Basin and Sonora Desert as specified through the. Under the same document, the California Republic agreed to relinquish its claim over the northeastern part of the Mexican Cession to the United States. Today, the ceded land includes the states of, , and.

In exchange for the gains, the Californian government agreed to pay Mexico a "grievance tribute" every year for the next 50 years. Fearing the possibility of a Mexican backlash in the near future and without financial resources, the California Republic granted the United States military unrestricted access thus rendering the Republic a. The Albish government offered additional support but was prevented due to the American. Mexico, to poor and unstable to protect its northern claims, avoided what would have been a disastrous two-way war with the United States, Britain, and the Californian rebels.

The California Republic continued to rely heavily on American support although asserted its independence by blatantly rejecting twelve instances where the United States proposed annexation similarly to how it did to Texas. The American government honored each rejection and was able to continue exercising it rights to unrestricted movement within the Republic. The failed expectation of California joining the United States angered Americans who believed the war was fought for the purposes of acquiring California. Only about one-fourth of the Mexican Cession was given to the Americans while the rest were given to the Californians. American interest in pressuring California to join persisted for years and many claim that had the sectional issue of in America not been present, the American government may have forcibly annexed California with little resistance. The hypothetical addition of California would pose the problem of allowing it to become a or a –an issue that was considered not worth the risk of fighting for. The treaty essentially secured California's independence and put an end to any realistic approach of an American California.

Gold Rush of 1849
With the war over, the Californian government struggled with finances as it accepted huge loans from the United States to pay Mexico. This situation was no longer apparent when the of 1849 began. People from all across the world came in large numbers seizing the opportunity to find the precious metals. The California Republic's population saw it explode from 400,000 to 1 million. Townships were formed and the government quickly contained the rush by selling plots of land for settlers to stakeout. Gold rushers were encouraged to bring their families and settle in the Republic which promised large plots of land, good weather, and abundance in resources. Soon enough, companies and businesses were established particularly around the Sacramento and San Francisco areas where the gold was predominantly found. While northern California continued growing thanks to gold, southern California experienced its own economic boom. Rich and fertile land allowed thousands of settlers to grow various crops including.

Constitution of 1858
With the Gold Rush, the California Republic saw the reality of establishing complete sovereignty more apparent than before. With that, the Republic needed to put an end to its dependency on the United States and Mexico, and to the lesser extent, Albion-Gaul. While it controlled the otherwise hectic, often unregulated activities related to the gold rush, the government was still weak and unorganized. There was only one civil code and a legislature headed by a commune of the original Californian rebels. Many areas had no local government and public utilities were often absent.

Calls for a new constitution and effective organization prompted the creation of the Californian Constitutional Convention. Delegates from northern and southern California met at Sonoma to discuss the future of the republic between 1856 to 1858. During this time period, different views and ideologies conflicted. Many Americans felt the desire to continue carrying the tradition of American federalism and liberty while the Mexicans favored their own concept of government which heavily emphasized ranchos and Spanish code. Still, Albish royalists idealized establishing an American monarchy similar to that of Britain. The ideas of a monarchy shocked and disgusted many Americans who were reminded of their national background which was built on the rejection of monarchy. However, at the same time, nostalgic romanticism helped allow the new country more readily accept and become a monarchy provided that its power was, that there would be a   that held real responsibility over government, and that the royal family would have no direct connection to any of the royal houses in Europe. On November 27, 1858, the Constitution of 1858 was adopted and the California Republic was renamed officially as the Kingdom of Sierra. The House of Columbia was created and Smith I (Smith C. Miller), one of the leading founders of Sierra was crowned as the first king of Sierra and a descendant of, the last king of Britannia.

Infancy
Among the first challenges the new kingdom faced was converting the hundreds of thousand square miles of backwater and unregulated lands into territory where the government had jurisdiction. Although many Sierrans advocated their own country, a great deal continued following local, unwritten laws which varied from town to town. In order to help consolidate power, the Kingdom was divided into 22 separate provinces each headed by a governor-general and boundaries based on either existing communities or the ranchos of the wealthy Californios (the latter being the case for nearly all the eastern desert provinces).

Another major issue the kingdom suffered was the lack of a. During the rebellion, rebels joined disorganized and poorly armed bands which often had their own motives. During the age of the republic, these bands persisted and served as the government's de jure military although the lack of cohesion and unity troubled the government which feared the bands would conflict and start a. The kingdom felt the need of a united military force which would owe complete loyalty and allegiance to the Crown. The Sierran Crown Armed Forces was created and generals from were invited to help train recruits.

As it was in the United States, became crucial to the success of Sierra. Many towns throughout Sierra were connected by historic Spanish roads which were outdated and poorly paved. Sierran lawmakers with dialogue with the United States commissioned an international railroad system to help ease travel and trade. networks were established and factories began replacing some of the old mining towns in northern Sierra.

Sierra also endured a period of increasingly deadly confrontation with various Native American tribes—particularly those in the Nevada and Arizona regions. In order to resolve conflict, the Compact Indian-Sierran Friendship Act paved the way for the modern Sierran Indian reservation system. With continued development, the sparse lands of Sierra became more and more industrialized with as much as 500 new townships created each year between 1859 to 1872.

When the broke out,  and other  fled to Sierra to escape conflict or capture. was explicitly prohibited by the Sierran constitution and African American immigrants were able to fare better with Sierra's multicultural society than their American counterparts. However, like other non-white minorities at the time, they still faced and often worked in lower-end jobs and had to form their own towns.

Sierra also experienced a rash of which saw the establishment of  in the Pacific Ocean. The first territory under the imperialist age established was the Gilbert and Ellice Islands in 1861. The following year, the territory of Rapa Nui was declared after Sierran businessmen and settlers drove out pirates and befriended the local islanders. The rationale behind Sierran imperialism was to advance the interests of Sierran businesses, convert nonbelievers to Christianity, and increase the political power of the Kingdom. Sierra unintentionally positioned itself into the international spotlight following its decision to annex Hawaii and the eastern portion of the Samoan Islands—two political entities that had foreign interests there (American, Albish, and German). Since then, all of Sierra's acquisitions have remained part of the Union without interruption. The Pacífico territories, which were acquired in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War are disputed by Mexico which has claimed the peninsula since 1957 following regime change.

Domestic political tensions intensified in the early 1870s between the Royalists and Democratic-Republicans under the administration of Prime Minister Ulysses Perry. A bitter political opponent to the King, Perry was nearly successful in legally deposing and abolishing the monarchy with a Democratic-Republican majority in both houses of the Parliament. Perry was eventually assassinated while still in office in 1873, and Perry's radical anti-monarchist ideals were abandoned by moderate Sierrans. With the Democratic-Republicans pacified from the scandals surrounding Perry along with Smith's continued cooperation to cede some of his powers, Sierra achieved a time of stability and growth.

With the influx of skilled immigrants from all parts of the world, and associations were formed to help protect individuals' rights. San Francisco enjoyed international recognition for its manufacturing and handiwork industries. Large and powerful unions helped influence Sierran Parliament pass laws promoting fairer working conditions including 8-hour work, paid leave, and more. At the same time, spread with particular scrutiny towards the. Organizations pressed for anti-Chinese legislation and often led nationwide beatings and destruction of Chinese-owned businesses. Despite this, immigration from China and other parts of Asia continued and the government of Sierra passed no major legislation barring their entry. In fact, Sierra actively sought to establish diplomatic relations with Asia beginning with sending its first diplomat to in 1863. The government encouraged immigrants to and bring their families—an attitude that countered that of the United States at the time and which infuriated many nativists.

Technological Revolution and the Gilded Age
Toward the later end of the 19th century, under the prime years of King Smith I, Sierra experienced an economical explosion and expansion under the. As more cities and towns were established, the was opened in 1869 linking San Francisco City to the United States East Coast. Following this, more railroad networks were established domestically and internationally. and production increased alongside the rise of manufacturing factories as Sierra industrialized. More Sierrans switched from work in favor of jobs offered in manufacturing. Working conditions improved as workers unionized and fought for better treatment and benefits. New towns in unused land allowed the construction of small businesses and larger individual housing units expanding the Sierran.

Shift in cultural, social, and political attitudes
As the middle class ballooned and the working conditions of improved, concern for social conditions and attitudes grew. Many urban communities were unsanitary, had unstable buildings, and home to thousands of neglected. Sierra witnessed the rise of which starved out competition and drove small businesses out. The call for antitrust laws were among the first movements that began Sierra's "Progressive Era", often called so because of the rise of. Many Sierran Progressives favored banning liquor, extending the for,  programs for the poor, and punishing.

Sierran Cultural Revolution
At this same time, new attitudes toward and  began to slowly emerge as both white and colored Progressives pushed for. Extended exposure to the growing communities in Sierra had led to frequent  and other violent confrontations by the white majority. When Asian immigrants first arrived, white working class laborers were fearful that the foreigners would steal their jobs for menial wages. Sierran labor unions were staunchly opposed towards extending membership to its Asian counterparts and often organized violence against Asian and Hispanic workers competing with white workers.

When Asian Sierrans began entering into the professional field, many whites found themselves depending on their Eastern neighbors as, , and. Interest and fascination in East Asian culture led to some whites accepting their neighbors and even adopting some customs. In 1906, laws were abolished and the Sierran government permitted. The number of white-Asian and other mixed-race households only further allowed a shift in mainstream Sierran culture.

including the and nativists were outraged and a counter-cultural movement spawned. This movement stressed on, the preservation of the "purity" of the white race, and flatly rejected the cultural changes. In protest, many refused to eat ethnic foods, raided homes by stomping on the carpet floors with muddy shoes, and burned books related to the pro-change movement. Nationwide protests with up to as much as 15,000 in one city marched demanding the government to re-institute anti-miscegenation laws and prevent the further advancement of minority civil rights. In some extreme cases, reports of occurred and countless of incidents of properties owned by ethnic minorities and their white allies being vandalized or destroyed. Progressives openly fought this movement and urged the government to continue its new policies.

A huge victory for racial issues in Sierra occurred on July 8, 1905 when King Lewis I declared his support for the advancement of racial minorities' civil rights and embracing new cultural ideas. While the declaration in itself was symbolic, it shocked the world including Sierra's neighbor, the United States which still had policies actively discriminating minorities including and the.

Reactionary protests and violence would continue on for decades but would become increasingly stigmatized by the general public as law enforcement cracked down on "violent prone" organizations and voters electing Asian, black, and Hispanic politicians into offices. Popular literature, progressive movements, and scholars began promoting a new form of culture infusing traditional  values with   values.

The most famous book that helped define modern Sierran culture is Comparison of Western and Oriental Thought by a sociologist named Mark Culler who noted several similarities between Western and Eastern ideas and advocated the "refinement of present-day society" by combining elements from both societies. Culler's work and similar books helped shape mainstream Sierran culture as readers began adopting customs recommended by the movement.

While complete transformation of Sierran culture from a predominantly American Anglo-Saxon one to a Western-Eastern fusionist culture was not achieved instantaneously, historians have attributed this time to have been a key, pivotal moment in Sierran history. Near universal acceptance in Sierra's new culture would not come until the late 1960s but it is this relatively rapid change that has perplexed many sociologists and historians for years ever since then. Modern historians both Sierran and non-Sierran have dubbed this change the "Sierran Cultural Revolution", a name that was not used to describe the event until 1960 when the effects of the change had solidified by then. An example of en masse, others who have been critical of Sierra view the change as.

Later social movements
also became popular as women began participating more in politics and life outside the home. The desire of many women to join the workforce instead of simply being shocked traditionalists who held  perceptions of women. Powerful organizations and coalitions formed including the National Women's Advancement Association which demanded suffrage and equal working opportunities as men. Many women's organizations were also progressive in general and pushed for better treatment of the homeless and more funding towards educating children. Women and racial minorities succeeded in receiving the right to vote through the Fifth Amendment in 1911.

A established in 1909 became the first significant social welfare program in Sierra. A program was created shortly the following year but the Sierran welfare state would not fully develop until after World War II. Regardless, the early programs assisted millions of Sierrans and they boosted popularity and faith in the Sierran government.

Unlike the United States, the progressives failed to outlaw alcohol although came extremely narrowly close to succeeding in 1923 when Parliament voted 146-148 in favor of alcohol prohibition by two votes. The believed that alcohol was a social  that was incompatible with both "old" and "new" Sierran society. After this intensely narrow vote, similar proposals arose continuously for the next 20 years as and the alcohol industry  fought hard against progressives and religious conservatives.

World War I


On July 28, 1914, when the  started their  of. Almost immediately upon receiving news, King Lewis I declared that Sierra would be although it would be prepared to honor virtually any petition or request for  and food supplies to both sides. In practice, Sierra sold thousands of military equipment and war material to Albion-Gaul, and later the United States as the war progressed. The general Sierran public was generally pro- and some even the war personally to fight (this was achieved by enlisting in either the  or the ). Many Sierrans were horrified by the news of devastation in caused by the "War To End All Wars" and insisted on keeping Sierra fully neutral by ceasing to send significant aid to the Allies. This fear waned as the Allies pressed through the later stages of the war and then win on November 11, 1918.

Great Depression and the rise of modern culture
The did not drastically affect Sierra's economy. It dropped by 7% and was largely saved from its devastating effects through an economic policy of massive and the  of the Sierran dollar. Sierra managed to return to pre-Depression levels by 1934 and propelled as began and Allied nations were seeking war material. Thousands of immigrated to Sierra during the mid-1930s to escape the  and the Great Depression adding more workforce into Sierra. To prevent the overflow of American immigrants, Sierra enforced its first immigration quota to limit the number of Americans allowed into Sierra annually. This was the only case in Sierran history where the government had to enforce such a quota, which was lifted in 1942. In practice, the quota was largely nonenforceable and American immigrant flow continued.

As the Progressives continued achieving legislative victories in Parliament, Sierra began officially embracing a policy of racial and religious tolerance. Sierra condemned the United States' legal treatment towards its black community and found it hypocritical of America to claim that "". While the international community including the United States largely ignored Sierra's policies, even ridiculing it, this policy was a greenlight for a second large immigration wave into Sierra. Ethics and customs outlined in the pro-cultural-fusionist movement of the 1900s had already been adopted by Sierrans of all races en masse. "New Nationalism" was the term coined in 1933 to describe the birth of a new distinct culture which successfully integrated the "best of two worlds": Western and Eastern thought.

The invention of the, , , , and all helped advance Sierran ideas. Economic and technological prosperity gave Sierrans new confidence in their own independence as a nation. Since Sierra's creation, many Sierrans still felt that they were in the shadows of the United States and even in extreme cases, perceived to be merely a. The appreciation for cultural values, toleration,, and technology made Sierrans proud and even condescending towards their neighbors.

World War II
As it did in World War I, Sierra declared open neutrality at the outbreak of. Initially, at the beginning, Sierra continued its practice of selling weapons to various countries including the member, which Sierra maintained friendly relations at the time. As the Japanese expanded further into the war, which would threaten Sierra's island territories, the Sierran government grew increasingly worrisome. Fears that Japan, which held a for the, would extend to an invasion of Sierra persuaded the Sierran government to reevaluate its position in World War II. Unlike the United States or however, both the Sierran government and public trusted affirmed loyalty of the Japanese Sierrans community and did not subject them to. However, travel to Japan and other Asian countries was restricted for the entirety of the war.

Joint American nuclear testing
After the Americans joined the Pacific Theater of the war, the American government invited the Sierran government to join the. The Sierran government accepted and when asked to provide land for, Sierra agreed under the condition of a of $10 million and the full exchange of nuclear technology information between the two countries and other participants of the project. Scientists from Sierra's top universities and companies were urged to contribute to the project in the name of Sierra. Sierra's active involvement in the Project would not be revealed to the public until after the end of World War II which resulted in the Great Basin controversy and a severe blow in the trust of many Sierrans.

Project Specter, the first to detonate in Sierra took place in, Clark (known today as "Area 51"). A simple implosion, Sierra converted the Groom Lake Military Base into one of the nation's largest and most restricted facilities. At the same time of the Manhattan Project, Sierra began researching into. Blueprints and designs of early prototypes would later be used to create Cold War-era aircraft such as the and. World War II came to end after the forced Japan to.

Pre-Cold War complications
Public knowledge regarding Sierra's involvement in the Manhattan Project and the existence of the Groom Lake Military Base enraged many Sierrans who felt the lack of was not only troubling but dangerous. The recently crowned Queen Angelina I and her late father never received any information regarding the project which further worsened the situation. The queen demanded a tribunal regarding key Manhattan Project Sierran officials and called for greater openness between the government and its people. Also enraged were members of the Japanese Sierrans who felt that Sierra's involvement in the project made it directly at fault with the great tragic bombings in Japan.

Public view towards the United States and other foreign nations plummeted in response to the controversy. Some Sierrans called for absolute military and others even promoted. In order to appease the public, the Sierran government officially issued an apology to the Japanese nation for its connection with the atomic bombings and many Sierran documents in connection to the war. Both of these actions were heavily criticized by the American government which claimed it compromised America's own safety as well as Sierra. The American government accused Sierra of being too easily swayed by popular opinion which made it weak and vulnerable. These inflammatory remarks further embittered Sierrans who called for Sierra's distancing from the United States. The United States' bold proposal to purchase uninhabited land from Sierra for several billions added further insult to injury to the Sierran public. In response, the Kingdom of Sierra decided to open up diplomatic relations with the nations, the  and the People's Republic of China.

Cold War (1950s-80s)
During the, Sierra joined the and held simultaneous relations with both main rivals, the United States and the Soviet Union (albeit a strained one with the former nation). Still, while Sierrans were wary of the United States, they were more worried about the Soviet Union and China which were staunchly and. While Sierra was not able to join the, it frequently exchanged information and ideas with the body. Sierra's government justified maintaining friendly relations with both sides as a form of nonintervenionism and an opportunity to cultivate friendship and economic endeavors. Following the death of, Sierra established closer relations with Russia and Prime Minister Henry Faulkner made a state visit to in 1954 to meet with Russian prime minister. In 1963, Sierra and the Soviet Union signed an economic agreement which allowed the Soviet government to purchase large amounts of and other agricultural products for relatively low prices.

Shortly after the end of the, Sierra was among the first non-communist nations to recognize the People's Republic of China early in the year 1950. This action was meant with backlash especially from Sierra's Chinese community which believed that the was the sole legitimate government of China. Despite protest, Sierra proceeded to form friendly relations with China. The and  was heavily protested by Sierrans who felt that Sierra had no place in recognizing a totalitarian regime. The Sierran government de-emphasized its ties with China for the next 10 years while the worst of communist repression past. A similar economic agreement to the Soviet-Sierran agriculture sales was made with China during this time however.

As the Cold War heated, the United States increased its pressure to subvert Sierra into its. Sierra joined the (NORAD) in 1959 after it felt that a Soviet nuclear attack on the United States could harm Sierra as well. Aside from this, Sierra generally resisted fully committing to America's interests and insisted on its neutrality. During the, Sierra maintained neutrality although many expressed sympathies with South Vietnam. After the wars in China and Vietnam, as well as the political turmoil in Korea, Sierra accepted the diaspora from exiled Chinese political dissidents, Vietnamese from the, and the  who fled the repressive Korean regimes. Sierra received a substantial amount of from the United States during the extremely unpopular  and allowed most of them free entry.

Accusations that Sierra supported or was even controlled by was first purported by conservatives in both Sierra and the United States. American president criticized Sierra of being too relaxed with its ties to the Soviet Union and warned that  and members of the  may have potentially infiltrated Sierra's networks. Sierra reaffirmed that it has always been neutral and further stated that was incompatible ideology with Sierran society. In spite of this claim, the appeal of ideologies including communism caught on in parts of Sierra. This fact alarmed the Reagan administration and for a few years, Sierran officials were unknowingly by the US. further emboldened America's fears of Sierra and when Sierra first started relations with the Soviet Union, the  himself declared "communism has crept into [America's] backyard" and slammed Sierra for "joining the revolution".

Like many other developed nations, Sierra was extremely dependent on Middle Eastern oil to support its economy and. Sierra was saved from the catastrophic by completely abstaining from any involvement in the, condemning Israel occupation of Palestinian lands, and supporting. As later reviewed in 1980s-era reports, Arab members of the were close to including extending their  on Sierra because they believed that Sierra was sympathetic to the Israeli government and was too close with the United States. In reality, this was not the case as Sierra made active attempts to distance itself from American influence and maintain international neutrality. While Japan, a neutral nation in the conflict received the embargo, Sierra did not as it already indicated a pro-Arab message prior to OPEC's decision to extend the embargo beyond the United States. After the crisis ended, the call for domestic alternative energy in Sierra exploded out of fear that another oil crisis could this time affect and devastate the Sierran economy. On October 3, 1975, Parliament commissioned the Nuclear Energy Act which called for a large emphasis on using for electricity. Research and adoption of alternative fuels for automobiles also underwent way in Sierra causing a shift on petroleum dependency. So-called "culture wars" erupted in the 1970s and 80s with a new shift in society toward. Issues including, , and divided the nation although not to the extent it had in the neighboring United States. Becoming more traditional and conservative as a result of a combination between Western Protestant and Eastern Confucian cultures, many "new" traditionalists opposed new ideas that mostly arose from younger Sierrans. They viewed the socially liberal movements as a threat to Sierran society and a direct attack to the harmonic unity of the nation. Moderates sought middle ground by claiming tolerance for another's choices were compatible and essential in Sierran culture. Differing views continued to clash until about the 1990s when became a popular new trend in Sierran ideology. By 2014, Cold War-era issues such as same-sex marriage would be legalized in 13 of the 22 provinces, abortion in 12, and marijuana in all the provinces. A massive "" which would destroy Sierra's values did not occur as most Sierrans simply believed in extending tolerance and support for less traditional issues. The alcohol drinking limit in 1982 was dropped to 16 but alcohol consumption did not spike as conservatives claimed. In response to legal-sanctioned policies, conservatives were expected to defend their views through social campaigns and media rather than parliamentary lobbying.

Vietnam War
With the outbreak of the Vietnam War, Sierra declared that it would not participate in the. Instead, Sierra provided medical and logistical support for the, pro- side. Massive protests were held when atrocities such as the came to light. Many Sierrans joined the American public in opposing interference with regional conflicts and demanded an end to the war. As much as 18,000 American draft dodgers fled to Sierra to avoid punishment or conscription into the war. Toward the end of the war, most of the dodgers returned back to the United States. Both during and after the war, Sierra welcomed refugees and from North Vietnam, South Vietnam,, and.

Post-Cold War
Following the, Sierra witnessed the rise of its neighbor, the new unchallenged , the United States. The new Sierran prime ministerial administration decided to adopt a new foreign policy which included stronger ties with the United States. Relations warmed when both sides exchanged state visits in the year 1992. A was signed between the two nations in 1994 which was later absorbed into the quadrilateral-binding  (NAFTA) in 1994. Sierra's economy exploded with the development of the, rising importance of Sierran commercialism, strong housing markets, and sound business-friendly policies. For the first time in nearly 150 years, the Sierran Crowned Armed Forces was deployed for military purposes into the. The last time Sierra utilized its forces were to repel attacks and this shift in Sierran policy of neutrality was a result of Sierra's closer relationship with the United States. When , the League of Nations called for universal condemnation of the war. The was formed and Sierra sent 5,300 special forces to defend Kuwait.

Sierra pursued its new military policy by continuing to engage in global conflicts as was the case during the (through the ) and the. The Sierran public resented the new policies and feared that Sierra's new relationship with the United States had rendered the government as a puppet state. Views changed as news reporting the human rights violations committed during these conflicts (such as the ) were made known to Sierra. The spirit of nonintervenionism died down as more Sierrans felt it was their duty as citizens to defend the rights and freedoms of their fellow human beings. With the backing of a growing pro-intervention base, the Sierran government remained firm with its policies.

The rise of the and increasing importance of digital technology helped Sierra's economy explode in the mid-1990s which later came to be known as the. The real estate market expanded and suburban expansion allowed more Sierrans to purchase their own homes away from the city. The bubble burst shortly into the year 2000 and 32% of Sierran "dot com businesses" filed for as a direct result of the burst. By 2003, Sierra's economy recovered with extensive economic reforms, stimulus plans, and strong domestic market and returned to its fast economic rates.

Contemporary history
After the, Sierra stepped up its national security and continued its commitment of supporting the United States. When the United States launched the, Sierra agreed to join and deployed 8,000 soldiers. Sierra participated in the controversial and the  between 2003 and 2012 suffering as much as 293 casualties in both wars—one of the highest out of all members of the. Sierra's military activities garnered negative reaction by Sierrans who were becoming increasingly agitated by Sierra's direction into international politics. Anarchist movements and anti-monarchy protests emerged but the most famous reaction to Sierra's 21st century military campaigns was the rise of which grew in Sierra. The Sierran government responded by passing controversial surveillance laws including to discover and apprehend would-be terrorists.

In spite of political and security turmoil, the Sierran economy steadily rose until the year 2008 after the hit the international community including Sierra. After suffering with the closure of one bank and several companies, Sierra recovered through government intervention and intensive moderation of Sierra's debts and funds. Sierra stabilized again by 2010 although experienced modest economic growth (3%) as opposed to growth from the pre-crisis years (4-8%).

Early morning on August 18, 2014, an armed group of 300 militants opened fire and attempted to storm the Occidental Palace and the Parliament building. Sierran local authorities temporarily starved off the militants before Sierra's military reserves could come and react. By 1 pm, local time, the situation ended with 86 casualties (53 militant deaths, 20 Sierran police officers, 11 soldiers, and 2 civilians) and most of the militants captured. Later during the evening, the Army of God, a terrorist organization claimed responsibility for the coup attempt and swore for more attacks on Sierrans. The Sierran government declared a, several cities, and changed the Security National Alert Condition (SNACON) to "2" for the first time in Sierran history. Following the attack, security heightened and additional videos threatening to overthrow the government went viral.

On August 28, a plot to assassinate and behead the monarch on live television was foiled with the arrest of 12 Saudi-born Sierran citizens including two who were directly connected to the earlier coup attempt. Continued threats of a second attack materialized again on August 14 when five car bombings throughout Sierra including Los Angeles claimed the lives of 21 Sierrans. Following the bombings, the Army of God claimed responsibility and declared that it was open war with the government with the intention to establish a caliphate. While this would technically mean that Sierra has a civil war, the Sierran government declared that continued provocation would indeed be met with swift retribution but assured the international community that it would prevent the security crisis from expanding into a full-blown conflict.

Later that year, an unrelated confrontation occurred between Sierra and Mexico. On October 4, 2014, Mexico directed several missiles to the Sierran Baja city of La Paz, killing 32 Sierrans. Immediately, Sierra and the United States perceived this as a direct act of aggression and demanded an immediate termination of its claim over Sierran territory, financial reparations for damages, and a formal apology. Following Mexico's refusal to concede to the demands, Sierra and the United States issued a joint that would include a League of Nations-led military campaign against Mexico if Mexico continued to provoke "acts of aggression".

While tensions remained high with Mexico, Sierra became involved in two new conflicts: the Turkish-Islamic Conflict and Oceanic Civil War on the side of the Kurds and New Zealanders respectively. Regional security, which became an increasingly important issue for Sierra, was further compromised following both the assassination of American president Frank Solomon (whose death was in part, directly responsible to Sierran national Trevor XI) and the Mexican-Argentine invasion of Central America. The increasing tensions exhibited alarmed politicians and analysts who have grown to believe in a "second" Cold War.

On April 18, 2015, the Sierran market crashed following the government's announcement of deception by the Royal Monetary Authority surrounding the country's rate. As opposed to the 1.5% claimed, the actual inflation rate was around 5%. With the Sierran economy exploding up until that point with low interest rates, unrestrained growth, and unchecked practices, economists had anticipated the economy to collapse into a recession due to a bubble burst before. In an effort to protect the Sierran economy as well as the international market, the Hoosier government which housed the National Reserve System bailed the Sierran government by injecting tens of billions into the Sierran economy. In addition, the Sierran government devalued the Sierran dollar for the first time since 2008 by officially it to the United States dollar, considered a more stable dollar for the volatile Sierran market. On April 25, the crisis was declared averted as the Sierran economy began to recover and creditor confidence restored. The Hong Administration, especially the Royal Monetary Authority's board came under scrutiny surrounding their failure to report Sierra's true inflation rate and its excessively manipulative tactics to control the economy. On April 30, the Parliament launched a joint committee investigation to address the scandal and to also consider having Sierra join the National Reserve System.

On June 6, three locations in San Diego, Laguna were bombed by agents connected to the Mexican government, triggering a crisis that eventually led the Kingdom to war with Mexico a week later through Operation Biting Dust.

Geography, climate, and environment


The land area of Sierra is 388,308 square miles with only 5.47% of that being water and lies entirely on the North American continent with the exception of a few offshore islands including the Channel Islands which are less than 30 miles off the coast of southern Sierra. Sierra is the 29th largest nation in the world in terms of total land area making it larger than countries such as Egypt and.

Significant internal water sources include, , , the , and the. Desert regions of the southern Sierran coast, the Great Basin, and eastern Sonoran regions are generally dry all year and yield little if no water sources within hundreds of miles.

Sierra is separated into three geographically distinct regions: "California", "Nevada", and "Arizona" with the Californian region being the largest and most diverse of the regions. These divisions are understood primarily based on physical separation of mountain ranges, proximity to the ocean, river lines, and climate zones. The most prominent geophysical separation between the California region from Nevada is the Sierra Nevada which begin just around Lake Tahoe and descends southward near the Mojave Desert. The Sierra Nevada features the tallest mountain in Sierra: which stands at 14,505 feet (4,421 m). Separating what would otherwise be a continuous desert region between California and Arizona is the Colorado River which feeds into the in Mexico.

Within the California region, it can further be divided into three main subregions: Northern California, Central California, and Southern California. Central California is generally flat and is home to the Central Valley which is surrounded by the to the west, the Sierra Nevada to the east,  to the north, and the  to the south. Fertile and leveled, Central Valley is the center of Sierran agricultural industries. In Northern California, the border is limited at the base of the Cascade Mountains which extend to the American state of. Here, it is dominated by cool and moderate weather. The region features two main valleys: and  with major river sources of the same namesake. In Southern California, the infamous owes its weathers to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the eastern inland deserts, and several small mountain ranges. The south-central desert is called the Mojave which extends into the Arizona region. Northeast of the Mojave lies, which contains the lowest and hottest place in all of North America, the Badwater Basin at −282 feet (−86 m). The desert regions are hot and arid year-round and receive very low precipitation.

Nearly the entire region of Nevada lies within the Basin and Range Province which features many north-south mountain ranges and valleys. The northern portions of Nevada constitutes a part of the Great Basin region whose deserts are traditionally more milder than those in the south. The region alone features 172 distinct mountain summits with 2,000 feet of prominence. In southern Nevada, the region is separated by Nevada through the Colorado River which concentrates into the man-made Lake Mead before continuing southward towards the Gulf of California via the. Like Nevada, much of Arizona lies within the Basin and Range Province. It is home to world famous found along the Colorado River and Plateau. The canyon is part of a staircase-like system of mountainous ridges and plateaus beginning up in the American state of. The Grand Canyon has often been described as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Southern Arizona is dominated by the and runs along the international border with Mexico.

Some parts of the coastal California region lies within the and  are frequent. The serves as a  boundary between the Pacific plate and the continental. Several other faults run throughout western Sierra and are capable of causing destructive mega-earthquakes.

Sierra includes six unincorporated territories which are not considered officially part of Sierra but nevertheless Sierran lands. Such territories include the entire which is contiguously connected to mainland Sierra to the north. The peninsula separates the Pacific Ocean to the west from the Gulf of California to the east. A elongated stretch of mass, it features four main deserts and several mountain ranges including the.

Nationwide, Sierra is currently facing one of the worst in its history. Since late 2013, strict water conservation measures have been taken on the provincial matter to address this issue. Water has always been a critical issue for Sierra's agricultural and industrial development. Since the 20th century, numerous cases (often between conflicting provinces) and incidents revolved around the sensitive issue of. The situation in recent years have only worsened thanks to the affecting North America. and the phenomenon have been attributed by some scientists to be the cause of Sierra's worsening drought problems.

Flora and fauna
Sierra is home to a rich community of and. It is one of North America's leading countries in endemic plant species with over 5,000 unique species. Famous endemic floral species include ' (giant sequoia) and ' (California poppy). Sierra is home to over 80 species of, 50 species of , 70 species of , 450 species of , and 200 species of. 17 species of mammals, 17 species of amphibians, and 20 species of freshwater fish are endemic to Sierra. The national animals of Sierra are the (Ursus arctos) and the  (Odocoileus hemionus) although the former's populations were decimated by  in Sierra locally by 1900—no wild grizzly bear population has been recorded in Sierra since then. Another notable species of mammal that has become synonymous with Sierra is the (Suricata suricatta serra), a  originally brought from  and. The meerkat was brought and introduced into Sierra's wildlife during the Gold Rush by South African prospectors. Since then, the meerkat's population has dominated the Mojave and Sonora deserts and been regarded as a welcome species instead of a pest.

Over 1,200 different species of animals, plants, and are protected under federal law from hunting or exploitation. The first of such environmental laws was the Species Preservation Act of 1972 which stated goal was to protect indigenous listed by the  (IUCN) from. There are several laws and regulations which restrict hunting and fishing, often in the form of licenses or. In addition, there are hundreds of national parks and federally protected wilderness areas throughout Sierra and thousands more of provincial and county parks which prevent visitors from disrupting the environment and protect the wildlife that live within them.

Population
The 2010 Sierra Royal Bureau of Census officially counted 74,392,201. On August 3, 2014, the Census estimated that 78,484,232 people were living in Sierra—an estimation consistent with the continual positive population growth Sierra has experienced in recent years. Sierra has had a history of immigration and has consistently grown upward since the Gold Rush of 1849. Sierra is the 17th most populous nation in the world ahead of nations such Britannia and Gaul. It, alongside the United States, are the only nations projected to have continuous large population growth.

Sierra has a very diverse population with the largest ancestry being Mexican Sierrans (12 million), German Sierrans (10 million), English Sierrans (8 million), Chinese Sierrans (7 million), and Vietnamese Sierrans (6 million).

While the largest racial group in Sierra has always been White Sierrans (both those of Hispanic and non-Hispanic origin), it has seen a decline in proportion to other races. Asian Sierrans are the largest racial minority group with the four largest ethnic groups being Chinese Sierrans, Vietnamese Sierrans (both North and South), Korean Sierrans, Lannese Sierrans, Filipino Sierrans, and Akitian Sierrans. There are also significant population of Japanese Sierrans, Indian Sierrans, and Southeast Asian immigrants who claim part of the 26.8% minority (2010 census). Asians, alongside Hispanic Americans are the current although such growth has been slowing down since as recently as 2009.

The main source of immigrants have consistently come from Mexico and Central America (530,000 a year). From Asia, immigrants from the Lan Na,, and make up the second highest traffic of annual immigrants (210,000 a year). Wealthy families and prospective students from Akitsu, China, Danguk, Korea and India. have also continued in lieu of the domestic workforce to meet the ongoing demand for more jobs in technology, medicine, and science.

According to the University of Gold Coast, Los Angeles (UGCLA), as much as 3 million Sierrans identify themselves as (LGBT). The highest occurrence of LGBT Sierrans have been found in the province of San Francisco with 15% of the state identifying themselves as LGBT.

Language
English (Sierran English),, (both  and ), , , , , , Serran are the  at the federal level. With the exception of the Sierran-based Serran, all of the official languages are mentioned explicitly on the Constitution's Section IV of Article I including the official  for Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. English is regarded as the and receives an implied preference of usage in the Constitution.

All of the official language are recognized as languages with at least over a million speakers who use it at home with the exception of Serran (about 5 million speak it although seldom use it at home). The most recent language to receive official status was Serran which was granted on October 4, 2014. The change was made on the Sierra federal code although has not officially been made on the Constitution.. According to the 2010 census, 77% of Sierrans over the age of 5 spoke only or predominantly English at home. Spanish is the second most common language and is also the most taught school language in Sierra. Foreign language classes featuring the Asian official languages are also offered at most Sierra public school districts.

By default, despite there being eight official languages, most government buildings, documents, and signs use only English and Spanish. This can be better observed in racial-specific majority areas or ethnic enclaves where a particular language is more prevalent. Subsection II of Article I, Section IV states that any level of government may use any of the official languages for official use so long as it reflects the area's linguistic community and that it include one other language, preferably English of the "Sierran variant". Regardless, as mandated by federal statute, all said government-operated facilities must provide a written translation in each of the official language and/or an active duty translator with fluent knowledge to the respective language. For that reason, the translation and language learning industry has been strong due to popular and legal demand. In addition, Subsection II of Article I, Section IV states that the government shall provide translations of official documents to citizens who do not understand any of the official languages fluently.

Other commonly spoken languages that do not have official status include, , , , , and.

Religion
Article X of the Sierra Constitution guarantees the of  and forbids Parliament from passing any law promoting religious law. has been the most practiced religion in Sierra since its founding with denominations claiming the most adherents. In spite of this, weekly church attendance has been declining since the 1970s and currently stands at 47%. has been growing particularly among younger Sierrans although the actual percentage of Sierrans openly labeling themselves as "" or "" is at 3%.

Protestantism remains the largest set of religions in Sierra with, , , and Churches the leading denominations. The largest Christian non-Protestant denomination is at 15%. claim 3% of Sierra's population followed by with 1%. The remaining 1% include groups such as.

is the largest non-Christian religion with 2% with the next 2% constituting (0.4%),  (0.3%), and  (0.2%). There also exists a diverse number of religious communities of minute populations: Canaanite,, , , , , , or.

Religion has influenced Sierra which has held a strong Protestant tradition. The has shaped modern Sierran culture and has often been heavily emphasized. Although the government cannot pass any religious laws, the government has on many occasions been influenced or pressured by religious organizations and groups. In the 1920s, the gained traction in Sierra and was promoted by many conservative Christian churches. Parliament came close to passing a federal law outlawing the sell, ownership, and consumption of similarly to the United States'. Legislation ultimately failed although the temperance movement prevailed as late as 1945. Fear of in the 19th and 20th century particularly among Seventh-day Adventists who believed  was the  prompted Parliament passing a law preventing any passages at the federal or provincial level in which the government mandated religion-esque "resting" days.

In regard towards the military, religious observers can opt to be a in times of a  and serve as a  in the forces. Such claims are taken seriously and rigorous background checks help determine whether an individual may receive such status.

While the Parliament of Sierra is constitutionally prevented from restricting the practice of religion, it does have the power to restrict religious activity that would violate the constitution or law such as and. It also can deem whether or not an organization claiming religious status can be eligible for. Among the most prolific "bans" on a religious group is the where the government has consistently refused the Church's files for exemption. It has refused to recognize the Church as a religious organization since 1961 although the League of Nations have pressured the Sierran government in recent years to modify its stance towards the Church. However, the private practice of Scientology, especially those part of the "" movement, are permitted and endorsed as an alternative to the mainline church by the government, a recommendation that some interpret as a violation of.

Family structure and law
In 2014, 73% of Sierrans over the age of 25 were married or, 2% were , 8% were , and the rest have never married or been involved in a long-term relationship. and the are two important concepts which are deeply rooted into Sierran culture. Until contemporary times, marriage was defined a union between a man and a woman. Since at least the 1980s, this view has been challenged by pro-LGBT activists who helped push towards greater cultural acceptance in Sierra. Divorce is deeply frowned upon and discouraged in Sierran culture although divorce rates have steadily rose to affecting 5 out of 100 marriages in 2009.

According to the 2010 census, same-sex marriages accounted for 9% of all marriages in Sierra. Same-sex marriages are legally recognized in 13 of the 22 provinces. Marriage between is legal in only 3 provinces and  is illegal in all of the provinces although  are either non-existent or unenforced. Similarly, is forbidden in all provinces but the legality of zoophilia-related activities varies from province to province. (with the exception of which vary from province to province) is criminalized in all provinces and the distribution, ownership, or creation of such material is considered a  at the federal law.

Government and politics


Sierra is a with a  which serves as the foundation of the, , and  branches. The sovereign and is Smith II, the King whose actual involvement in the day-to-day basis of governance is limited and lies within the actual, the prime minister (Steven Hong). Similar to the American and unlike other parliamentary systems such as  and Albion-Gaul, the prime minister is directly  by the. Likewise, the deputy prime minister is similar to the American in which he/she is elected alongside with the prime minister and serves the role of prime minister when the incumbent cannot immediately fulfill his/her role. This system of a separate and popularly elected executive is the result of the compromise between Albish royalists and American  during the foundation of Sierra. The prime minister works not in the monarch's name but rather the people's.

The monarch holds the Crown which is essentially the embodiment and source of the government's power over Sierra. As monarch, he/she is conferred with the powers associated with the which includes the right to, negotiate and ratify , issue passports, and create or dissolve government offices. In addition, the monarch may exercise the act of (which is essential for bills from Parliament to pass) and the issuance of.

The prime minister is head of the Cabinet, a legal committee comprised of ministers working under the Crown who lead ministries corresponding their position, and a member of the Privy Council of Sierra, the official body of royal advisers. The prime minister advises the monarch and may exercise nearly all of the powers proscribed to the monarch on their behalf. Consequently, because the monarch is not expected to explicitly exercise his/her power on a daily basis, the prime minister is given the responsibilities and duties, effectively making the prime minister, the true head of the government. The Cabinet effectively carries out the day-to-day administration of what would otherwise be proscribed to the monarch, who, out of tradition and custom, rarely partakes in.

The Parliament fulfills the role and duty of a legislative branch. Divided between the Senate (composed of 44 members) and the  House of Commons (composed of 250 members), each house works in conjunction to create, modify, and pass national laws. Parliament reserves exclusive rights among them being the, and. Members of both houses are elected by the people and election cycles renew parliamentary terms every 6 years. In the Senate, each province is represented by two senators while in the House of Commons, seats are every  (10 years) with regard to the capped number of 250. The Gold Coast, the most populous province in Sierra has 33 seats while 2 provinces received the minimum seats of 1 (Washumko and Jefferson respectively). Parliament features a : Democratic-Republican, Libertarian , and Royalist. Other minor parties with seats in Parliament include Green and the Social Democrats.

The Supreme Court of Sierra is the within the Sierran judicial system. It, along with the Inferior Courts make up the entirety of the federal judiciary. The Supreme Court interprets the Constitution and uses said interpretation to prevent the legislative or executive branch from passing or executing a law/action that would violate the Constitution. As the final interpreter, its decisions overturn all judicial actions of lower courts. Unless a case is not within its jurisdiction, the decision of any case is often treated as law. The Supreme Court is composed of eight associate justices headed by the Chief Justice (Preston Brantly), the ninth and highest-ranking justice.

Law
Sierra uses the system wherein judges or magistrates develop law through their decision in courts or tribunals case-by-case. Some elements of however, does exist within the Sierran legal framework and was incorporated in reflection of the American interpretation of classic.

Law exists on several different levels and layers of both domestic codified and uncodified law as well as international agreements such as treaties. The highest form of law in Sierra rests within the Constitution followed by federal statutory laws or regulations created through acts of Parliament, royal or executive orders, and Supreme Court decisions implemented in the Sierra Federal Code.

Under the Sierran federal system, the extent of federal power is limited and enumerated by the Constitution itself. Any powers not delegated or forbidden to the federal government is left among the sovereign provinces, who, with their own individual constitutions and governments, determine much of the "living law" of, , , , , , and.

has always been expressively forbidden under the principle provided by Article X of the Constitution. Thus, laws regarding or  are forbidden. Since the 1930s, have also been prohibited from being enacted as it was found that these laws had religious undertones. Discriminatory and hate speech laws have also been similarly prohibited as such legislation would undermine.

Political divisions
A clickable map featuring Sierra's 22 provinces

Provinces
Sierra is of 22 provinces which were all created within a year of the kingdom's founding in 1858. The boundaries have been virtually unchanged since the provinces' creation and are primarily based on two factors: concentration of population and the relative size of the many set up throughout Sierra. Specifically, provinces in the eastern desert regions of Sierra were heavily based on ranchos or individual towns. Large but less densely populated than the western coastal provinces, many eastern provinces enjoyed a considerable amount of autonomy for several decades due to their distance from the central government (whose capital at the time was based in San Francisco City).

Sierra also honors tribal sovereignty of the Native American reservations. Though reservations are within provincial borders, reservations are treated as independent sovereign entities. The largest reservation in Sierra belongs to the with a population of 315,000 official members living within the land. The recognition of tribal sovereignty is exclusive between the Sierran government and each reservation—reservations may not conduct any foreign relations or actions with any other foreign nation that would appear to supersede Sierran sovereignty however.

is a right given to the provinces guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment of the Sierran Constitution in 1907. The process of secessionism however would require that a of the seceding province's citizens to vote in favor of secession, another supermajority in Parliament, and an explicitly signed proclamation from the monarch. Such a right has never been attempted nor exercised at any large scale since the amendment's inception. Unilateral secession is not recognized and perpetrators would be considered performing under Sierran federal law.

Territories
Sierra also possesses eight overseas territories, seven of which are not officially incorporated into the Kingdom: Deseret (only incorporated territory), Pacífico Norte, Pacífico Sur, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Rapa Nui, Hawaii, Sierran Samoa, and the Pacific Crown Islands. With the exception of the Pacific Crown Islands, all of the territories are inhabited (the Pacíficos and Hawaii have more than a million citizens each) and enjoy nearly all rights guaranteed by the Constitution except the right to vote in prime ministerial elections. All of the territories are self-governing and represented nationally in Parliament by delegates and are not subjected to most federal taxes. In addition, anyone born in any of the territories are automatically considered Sierran citizens. If a Sierran from the territories were to move to the provinces, they would automatically gain the right to vote in federal elections. Conversely, if a Sierran were to move to the territories, they would lose that right. All citizens have free unrestricted movement between the provinces and the territories.

*Acquired through the under the. Renewed claim through the propagation of the 1858 Constitution on November 27, 1858.

Parties and elections
Until recently, Sierra had a dominated between the left-leaning Democratic-Republican Party and the right-leaning Royalist Party. Since 1989, the Libertarian Party has been a part of the present-day three-party system Sierra has today.

Both the Democratic-Republican Party and Libertarian Party share similar positions when in regard to  whereas the Royalist Party has consistently held  stance towards certain issues (opposition towards the legalization of  and ). Economically, the Democratic-Republicans advocate a form of moderate and  favoring a large. Royalists favor a approach towards economics including. The Libertarians officially advocate for lasseiz-faire economics although take a much more provocative stance towards the welfare state than their Royalist counterparts (advocating the complete abolition of the welfare state in favor of a private sector-funded safety net). The Democratic-Republicans have traditionally held majority rule in the urban coastal regions of Sierra, the Royalists in the eastern inland desert regions, and the Libertarians dispersed nationwide with no significant majority in any province except in the Inland Empire. Other parties generally focus on like the Green  and Prohibition ( and anti-marijuana). The Laborers, Social Democrats, Libertarian Socialists, Communists, Nationalists (fascists), and the controversial Remove Kebab Party are other other notable parties that have considerable membership (at least 500,000).

Foreign relations


Sierra has had a long tradition of with foreign countries. A founding member of the League of Nations, it has hosted the international organization's headquarters in Los Angeles since the latter's inception. In addition, Sierra also has membership in G8,, the , the (APEC), , the  (NAFTA), and the Trans-Pacific Allied Community (TPAC). Nearly all foreign countries have permanent diplomatic missions and embassies at Sierra's capital, Los Angeles and throughout the nation. Likewise, Sierran interests are represented internationally in embassies in nearly every country Sierra recognizes.

Sierra has military and defense pacts with nations including the United States, Korea, Lan Na, South Vietnam, and Canada via TPAC. Although not a member of the (NATO), it maintains close contact with its member nations and is considered a global partner. Since 1959, Sierra has been part of the (NORAD) combining aerial operations with the United States and Canada.

Foreign aid is considered a high priority by the Sierran government although it has declined in recent years. As of 2014, it sends $2 billion of foreign aid annually mostly to nations for such as, Danguk, and South Vietnam. Private donations to foreign nations by Sierrans have been significantly higher than the government's at an annual output of $11 billion (from both individuals, charities, and Sierra-based corporations).

Sierra has a long history of responding to international crises and conflicts. During both World Wars, and Vietnam War, Sierra provided humanitarian and medical support for soldiers and civilians. It was one of the first nations to respond to the of  and the. In 2005, Sierra provided over $300 million to the  efforts. The Kingdom also has extensive government-funded outreach programs that support improving the quality of life in third world countries in, , and. There is also a strong community of Sierran who indirectly promote and spread awareness of Sierran culture in general.

Sierra does not have formal diplomatic relations with, , and. In December 2014, Sierra severed diplomatic relations with Mexico following the latter's failure to withdraw its troops in the aftermath of the invasion of.

Non-LN member that Sierra recognizes include the state of  (although it does not maintain any viable diplomatic mission with the Palestinian government beyond a government-sanctioned special interest group at the  embassy in Los Angeles), the  (embassies exist in both respective nations), and the  (a non-resident embassy to the Republic exists in ).

Many have criticized the Sierran government's current foreign policy which has, since the early 1990s, been staunchly pro-American. Prior to the change, Sierra had always been fiercely independent and non-interventionist. Primarily, Sierra's involvement in the has received backlash domestically and internationally. States such as the Democratic Republic of Turkey and the have been critical of Sierra for being involved in what has been perpetuated by the United States. Some anti-Sierran clerics and political figures in the Middle East have deemed Sierra as the "Lesser Satan" (in comparison to the United States' name, the ""). Prime Minister Hong has, since his election, promised to pull out troops from the Middle East but recent developments at home with the Army of God and aboard as with the case of the has forced the government to continue to commit to its policies. The alleged Second Cold War has forced Sierra to take a more aggressive stance to the growing threat of other nations such as China, Russia, and Mexico.

Military
The armed forces of Sierra are divided into five distinct branches (the Royal Army, the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force, the Royal Marines, and the Royal Coast Guard), all of which are collectively known as the Sierran Crown Armed Forces (SCAF; also referred to as His Royal Highness's Armed Forces). While members of the SCAF swear loyalty and allegiance to the monarch, the monarch serves simply as the of the forces. True authority is vested within the prime minister who functions as the SCAF's (referred to as the Supreme Field Marshal). Daily management and operations of the SCAF is managed by the Ministry of Defense which works in conjunction with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a tribunal composed of Sierra's highest-ranking. There are two that are not considered part of the SCAF by de jure but nonetheless treated equally as a SCAF branch: the National Guard (dedicated primarily to national defense and crisis response) and the Royal Auxiliary Forces (civilians prepared to go into combat before the regular  whitelist in times of ). In 2013, the Ministry of Defense reported that 732,181 Sierrans were actively serving the military. Another 992,281 worked as civilian employees (excluding ) for the military and the government bodies associated with it.

Military conscription is voluntary, but is possible in times of war through the Royal Selective Service. Both and  citizens between the ages of 21 and 45 are automatically registered into the Royal Selective Service's draft waiting list. Those with health complications,, obligations (a mother raising her 2-year old child), moral objections, or other factors preventing a citizen from fulfilling their military duty are dropped out from the list (and can receive from future drafts) or receive other options instead of the default combat role (for ) such as a  or.

The military budget of Sierra is heavily technology-oriented with an annual spending of $47.65 billion. Currently, the prime focus of military spending has been centered on, , and technology. Sierra also possesses although it has signed the  and maintains only an active stockpile of 135 active. During, the American military were allowed to use Sierran land to test nuclear weapons under the condition that it would share nuclear technology and information with Sierra.

Crime and law enforcement
Generally speaking, law enforcement is handled by the and  departments. and federal police handle enforcement at broader levels with greater jurisdiction. The Royal Bureau of Investigation and Sierran Customs and Border Police are examples of federal-level law enforcement agencies with specialized duties. All levels of Sierran government operate under. All crimes (with few exceptions including ) are tried by and  while federal courts review specific appeals from all provincial courts. Crimes committed overseas or in aerospace are always tried at the federal court. Crimes committed within the including  are almost always tried by a separate military court system which lacks a jury trial and uses a special  as opposed to standard Sierran law. has been pervasive in Sierran courts with 83% of criminal cases ending with a plea bargaining instead of a by. Many trials, especially famous cases with a are often televised and sensationalized for the public. Since 2007, select Supreme Court cases are broadcast live daily on television and the Internet.

In 2013, there were 6.2 murders per 100,000 persons in Sierra. The prevalence of, particularly in southern Sierran urban areas, as well as the relatively lax have often been used to explain the abnormally large homicide rate. Compared to other developed nations, 1.4 times greater than the leading nation (the United States with 4.4) and 9.6 times greater than the average of all developed nations. Gun politics have been a dominating political issue in Sierra since about 1960 when gun-related homicide spiked to 10.2. Generally speaking, homicide rates attributed to firearms have declined every year since 2008 by 4%.

Sierra has an incarceration rate of 439 prisoners per 100,000 persons making it have the 11th in the world. A controversial issue surrounding this is the higher instances of black prison population (while African Sierrans only make up 5.2% of Sierra's population, they constitute 29% of the prison population as of 2014). There have been numerous incidents with the police that have led to questions of brutality or racially-insensitive arrests. Indeed, one famous case was the which led to a temporary blow to the sense of national unity in Sierra. The riots were a response to four LAPD officers who appeared in a video showing the beating of African Sierran and the murder of. has been commonly discussed in Sierran politics and Parliament has been responsive towards growing public thought by adopting more lenient and relaxed prison sentences and punishments (favoring ) in recent years. is a provincial matter and is legal in 12 of the 22 provinces. There has been push to abolish capital punishment although anti-execution activists have already successfully banned all methods except.

Economy
Sierra has a partially  and is the fourth-largest economy in the world. Sierra has a GDP of $3.177 trillion and ranks seventh in the world in nominal GDP per capita. A with a, Sierra is one of the most industrialized nations in. A major player in, Sierra is the seventh largest importer and fifth largest exporter in the world. In 2013, Sierran private companies and individuals invested $190 billion in overseas companies and projects making Sierra the second largest outward direct investor in OECD after the United States ($311 billion).



The Royal Monetary Authority of Sierra serves as Sierra's and is charged with the responsibility of issuing coins and notes of the national currency: the Sierran dollar. The dollar is the fourth largest behind the Albish, the  , and the American.

The leading exports of Sierra include and, , , , , machinery, , and. Sierra has also relied on cultural exports and international tourism. Home to and, Sierra's entertainment and technology sectors have generated billions in revenue for the country. Since the 20th century, Sierra has also been the leading pioneer in new companies and industries (primarily that in the ). Tourism is particularly strong in southwestern Sierra (wide range of attractions and points of interest within close proximity), the province of Clark, and the mountainous Sierra Nevada provinces (snow-related recreation and natural sightseeing). is one of Sierra's strongest sectors with its exported produce products being, , , , , , , , , and. The is primary center for all Sierran agricultural products with its fertile flatland and favorable weather conditions. The other major agricultural "valley" in Sierra is the, a dry and sandy region that was converted into farmlands during the mid-20th century. is world renowned for its and is the top producer in grape products in the Western Hemisphere. ,, and are among livestock and game products that Sierra exports. The fishing industry is also particularly profitable with the majority of Sierra's exports heading to Great Korean Empire,, and Danguk. is Sierra's top dairy product followed by, , , and.

Although Sierra has achieved a, it remains featuring one of the world's leading industrial power alongside its established strong. Chemicals, textiles, and microtechnology are Sierra's leading manufacturing field with about 11% of Sierrans being employed in the manufacturing sector. Historically, manufacturing dominated the economy of Sierra during the second half of the 19th century and immediately before the 1960s. Since the dot com bubble, a shift on the focus towards, , financial services, and other professional specialist fields have become the backbone of Sierra's economy. The Los Angeles Stock Exchange is one of the world's largest stock exchange boasting hundreds of companies in its portfolio and conducting millions of trades per day. A strong corporate, culture has emerged since then and many Sierrans have reported to working. Modern Sierran culture places heavy emphasis on productivity and efficiency as well as pleasure in their own labor. The domestic market is remarkably strong among Sierrans who buy as much as $3 trillion annually alone on shopping or entertainment.

Income, poverty, and wealth
Sierra ranks first place among developed nations with the highest and  income as well as the highest  which stands at $38,285. Largely owing to, Sierra boasts the highest living space per household/person than any other Western country including the United States. In 2014, Sierra ranked third place in the but when adjusted with income equality, it is placed at seventeenth place.

Sierra has a moderately wide and a increasing concentration of wealth among Sierra's richest 10%. In 2013, the 10% owned 63% of all of Sierra's wealth and at the 40% mark, they collectively owned 74%. About 11% of Sierrans live below the (defined as below $20,000 per household) and over 11.2 million Sierrans rely on some form of  including. The unemployment rate however, is relatively low at 4.3% which has been declining since Sierra's rapid recovery from the 2008 financial crisis. An additional 36,000 Sierrans are and "chronically". Cities throughout Sierra in recent years have taken up steps to discourage which has been a popular method used by the homeless to sustain their lives. Instead, homeless shelters and commune housing has been established in an effort to provide basic housing for the homeless and to encourage the homeless to enter the workforce.

Transportation
Sierra features an extensive system of including transnational. This system has heavily influenced Sierra's urban development and tied to Sierra's reputed. It has one of the world's most roads (particularly in southwestern Sierra) and consequentially also suffers from severe. In 2014, there was a total of 56,321,234 registered driver's licenses and 67,392,222 vehicles, motorcycles, and. Sierran traffic drives on the right side of the road and consequently, the driver's seat and wheel is on the left hand side of the vehicle. Sierrans require a before they can legally drive most vehicles including motorcycles. These licenses are provided by each province which manages and regulates its own transportation rules. Although provisions regarding driving varies from province to province, most Sierrans can begin take and pass starting at 15 ½ years old. There are heavy fines and strict punishments against those who including getting their license permanently revoked.

,, and light-rail system constitute less than 5% of all Sierrans' daily mode of transport although have seen a rise in recent years. Bicycle use have also gained popularity in urban communities with over 20,000 miles of throughout Sierra. Public and private exists and are found available in some cities including as San Francisco City.

Sierra is home to various civil airline companies including Sierra Air, KS Airlines, and Western Airlines which all provide domestic and international flights. The (LAX) is Sierra's largest and busiest passenger airport serving 84 million visitors annually. Other major airports include the (SFO),  (RION), and  (VEG).

Situated along the, Sierra frequently receives and sends a majority of its foreign imports and exports from through its several. The is the busiest seaport in the  with an annual cargo tonnage of 93.8 million. The is Sierra's largest cruise ship port receiving an annual 1.3 million passengers.

Energy
45% of Sierra's electricity is generated from with 23 nuclear reactors. 22% derive from, 11% from , 10% from , and the remaining 22% from , the , and other sources. Although there has been some fierce opposition towards nuclear energy, 3 more reactors are set to be complete by 2025 to accommodate Sierra's growing energy demands and needs. One of the world's most famous, the is responsible for powering an area covering as much as half of Sierra's population. Since the, the Sierran government has rigorously pushed for transiting towards greener, renewable sources. About 69% of Sierra's energy derives from renewable sources and many Sierrans are encouraged to buy install private on their homes.

Science and technology
The Sierran government spends an annual $33 billion annually on non-military scientific and technological equipment. Sierra has been a leading center of technological advancement and innovation, particularly due to where the majority of the world's major technology firms and companies are based in. Around 91% of Sierrans (approximately 68 million) use and have connection to the (via computers, laptops, mobile devices, or smart TVs) and online applications have been gradually integrated into Sierran public institutions at all grade levels. An aim of the Sierran government is to provide faster internet connection speeds. Proposals to make internet access a right within the Sierran constitution have repeatedly failed but gained traction in 2012 when Parliament voted 111-183 in favor of universal internet access.

The Royal Aeronautics and Aerospace Agency (R3A) is an active and has conducted extensive research and development. Sierra launched its first satellite (Muir I) into space in 1965 and has sent 3 to the  including the "" between 1972-74 with the assistance of the United States. As of 2014, twenty-three Sierrans have flown into space and plans to be the first nation to land a human on. It has launched a space probe, Transcendence, to research on, , their moons, and  in the. is another ongoing objective of R3A. Working alongside private aerospace companies, Sierra projects the emergence of outer space economic activity with mining,, and trade by 2060. Sierra is a participant of the.

In 2011, Sierra unveiled plans for a system to connect the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco City. The following year, despite sizable public opposition, the project was approved and began construction in May 2014. The first network of the nationwide project is expected to be completed by 2020.

Measurement
The Kingdom of Sierra uses a system of measurement virtually identical to the English and the  known as the Standard Sierran Units (SSU). The smallest unit in length under the system is the. 12 inches equals a and three feet equals one. For longer distances, a is used (5,280 feet). Weight is measured in (abbreviated "lb") and  while fluid volume uses, , , , and. For temperature, the is used as opposed to the international standard.

Efforts to replace the SSU in favor of the (SI) for everyday use has been met with resistance and failure. Although most measurement and conversions for government, scientific and, medical uses have now conformed to the SI units, the SSU has remained strong in all other aspects of Sierran life. Viewed as an integrally-ingrained part of Sierran culture, replacing the SSU is not only perceived to be a waste but an inconvenience. According to a 2013 poll conducted by, 78% of Sierrans refused to adopt the metric system for everyday purposes outside the fields the metric system is already used in.

Education
is provided by the provincial and local level under the supervision and regulation by the Ministry of Education. Education is between the ages of 5 to 18. Funding for both public and schools are based on a nationwide comprehensive. In the 2013-14 school year, 88% of Sierran students were enrolled in a public school, 7% were enrolled in a religious private school, 3% were enrolled in a private school, and the rest were either, studied , or had a private. 82% of Sierran college students attended a.

For Sierrans over the age of 25, 87.5% graduated from high school, 78.2% attended some college, 54.8% earned a, and 23% earned graduate degrees. Free tuition in higher education is not guaranteed nor provided by the Sierran federal government and for that reason, the application, selection, and attendance of college has been considered a crucial hallmark in Sierran culture. The Sierran government provides, grants, and waivers since the Affordable Education Act of 1916. Some provinces pay for students of lower-income backgrounds to attend colleges and are a popular means by the general public to cover some if not all of the costs of college. The of Sierra is 99.7% and another 73% of Sierrans have proficient literacy in (an) additional language(s).

is typically divided into three main : ( to ),  ( and ), and  ( to ). Collectively, these stages form the "" system. Upon completing 12th grade (marked with the acquisition of a ), students may choose to pursue at, two or four-year universities, /, or enter immediately into the workforce. After reaching legal age, students are no longer legally obligated to attend school and may choose to of high school. Aside from dropping out, there are other options available for the student who chooses not to complete high school include enlisting into the military or opting to attain a certificate through an accredited institution. Attending a college is considered an essential necessity for all Sierrans and those who do not advance to higher education are often stigmatized. The collegiate environment is considered extremely competitive and demanding—there have been numerous cases of students dying from the exhaustion of studying for exams and tests. At times, local cities had to enforce curfews in order to prevent students from overstudying.

Throughout the year, students are assessed by their teachers through progress and which record individual assignment and test scores. Depending on the grade, the student may be promoted to the next class, graduate, be, or placed into an alternative education plan. The most common grading scale is the A-F scale with A the highest grade and F the failing grade. In some schools, a D is considered a failing grade and may be treated as a high F.

Each province is in charge of education within its jurisdiction and therefore set a general curriculum (under supervision of the Ministry of Education) and that all provincial schools must administer to its students. There has been push for a nationally administered standardized test and common set of standards which would provide the same direction and course of education for each individual province. Since the 2000s, this movement has grown in response to the rise of competitive domestic colleges and tests such as the.

Health
Sierra has a life expectancy of 82.7 years (80.2 years for males and 85.1 for females), ranking 5th place in the world. The city of, Inland Empire is one of the world's designated with life expectancy exceeding 100. Irrespective to life expectancy, and  have become a major health concern with the rise of increased consumption of processed and fast foods. Nearly 20% of Sierrans are obese or overweight and the leading cause of death have been health complications associated with obesity including, , , and. Awareness in the public have helped slow the rate of obesity by 18% in 2013 and the health food industry has been on the rise. The is a significant reactionary response to the rise of health awareness by some Sierrans who have been denounced by nearly all medical professionals.

Other leading causes of death include, , , and traffic-related accidents. In a poll conducted by the Institute of Physical and Mental Health, over 45% of Sierrans reported some form of or health problem that interfered with mobility including, neck and back pain, or. ,, and are the leading mental disorders in Sierra. rates is relatively high and as a result, prompted many public and private schools to provide or in controversial instances, even provide. is relatively low in Sierra compared to other developed nations with 4 suicides for every 100,000 persons. has been a hotly contentious issue and is legal in 12 of the 22 provinces. Since the 1978 Supreme Court Lambert v. Province of the Gold Coast case, abortion procedures and clinics do not receive any government funding nor are private/public companies obligated to include abortions within their insurance plans.

Health care is not and instead provided by a variety of public programs or competing private companies. As of December 2013, approximately 9 million (~11.45% of the population) do not have health insurance.

Efforts to increase longevity, quality of life, and health have held a long history in Sierra. Quality breakfast and lunch has been a standard in Sierran public schools and is compulsory to the 10th grade in all provinces. Most provinces require that restaurants and food companies provide information on including  on their menus and products. The Royal Administration of Food and Drug Standards (RAFDS) oversees the regulation of food/drug production and sale and actively runs programs encouraging healthier lifestyles and exercise. In 2013, San Francisco was the first province to make labels necessary for all locally-based food products. Other enforcement and restrictions include the denial of television advertisement screening for products. The in Sierra was first at 21 in 1931, 18 in 1967, and finally 16 in 1982. Similarly, the legal age to purchase and use tobacco or is at 16.

Sierra is known internationally for its diverse yet top-quality health options. accounts for 5% of all international visits to Sierra officially. With advanced and sophisticated medical technology, professional health care staff, and plethora of health institutions, tens of thousands travel to Sierra to receive affordable and superb service. Some also come for including, , and medicinal marijuana. "Miracle pills" and other sensationalized medical products are a gray area in Sierran legal law and is considered an epidemic in Sierran corporate life. Historically, many came to Sierra for its favorable weather to treat ailments and conditions including.

Military members,, and their immediate family are able to receive medical attention and services at health facilities operated by the Ministry of Veteran Affairs.

Culture
Sierra is home to a diverse range of ethnic groups, traditions, values, and beliefs. As a, multi-ethnic, , and nation, (a popular saying espousing this fact is "Five Races, One Culture, Many Tongues, One Nation") the Sierran government embraces and promotes diversity, , and variety. Mainstream Sierran culture is predominantly with origins from the United States. Since it underwent its own history and policies separate from its cultural mother, Sierra's culture has been more heavily influenced by and exposed to (most notably  ethics and hierarchy and popular culture) as well as to the traditions of  and  cultures. Its history as a nation striving to differentiate itself from its larger neighbors, tradition as a liberal democracy while incorporating monarchist elements in its government and politics, and continuous interaction and involvement with its immigrants create a distinct and unique culture within Sierra. There is a strong sense of interwoven into Sierran culture which unifies all Sierrans regardless of their origins or beliefs. The sense of common culture, history, and ideals are heavily emphasized over one's own race and origins. It is commonly said that anyone who becomes a part of Sierran society does not only but bring forth their own ideas and add it into the mass culture. While recent immigrants may retain their home country culture and live in ethnically similar, by the second generation, most immigrants would have become fully assimilated members of Sierran society.

Modern Sierran values and customs are generally a mixture of  and   tradition. Strong, , interdependent balance between and  (selfless individualism), emphasis on the , and  are all traits of Sierran ethics. Sierra's history as a multicultural nation led to the absorption of various international views. During the 19th and early 20th century, as immigrants from  with the predominantly  population, many adopted English names, converted to, and learned Western etiquette. At the same time, interest in Confucian ethics and overall within the white community allowed a mutual exchange of ideas and values. The Progressive era helped advance allowing a new culture to arise and works such as Mark Culler's Comparison of Western and Oriental Thought encouraged Sierrans to integrate new ideas and customs from each other. As acceptance of differences grew, modern Sierran culture cemented toward the end of and the Protestant-Confucian model became a national standard.

Customs
A central part of Sierran culture revolves around the four main concepts: self, family, nation, and morality which are broad terms for the various customs and practices rooted in the culture. Self include individual, selflessness, success, and kindness; family stresses on compassion, love, respect, hierarchy, and honor; nation focuses with brotherhood, loyalty, harmony, and unity; morality encourages faithfulness, self-control, mannerisms, and justice. The incident of these core values arose during the 20th century as Sierra prepared for an imminent two-way war with the United States and Japan during.

Marriage, funerals, and other traditions
Marriage and the family are considered the foundation of Sierran society and thus, a source of contention whenever such traditions are challenged. Idealized marriages must be based on consensual love between a man or a woman (since the 1970s however, it has simply become any two persons regardless of their gender or sex) who have been acquainted with each for sometime. Monogamy, virginity, purity, and fertility are four terms associated with the idealized marriage. Indeed, Sierrans reported less premarital sex or than did other Western nations.

When Sierrans marry, they usually hold two ceremonies: a  and  ceremony although in recent years, two of the ceremonies have been merged into one. A civil marriage may be held anywhere and is administered by a legally sanctioned official who commissions the vows and presents the newlyweds their certificates. A religious ceremony is held at a church or other worship house and is administered by the head (e.g., a ) who blesses the marriage and presents the couple the rings. At the wedding, family members and friends from both sides are invited to witness the ceremony. The wedding industry is a strong sector in Sierra's economy as thousands of marriages are planned each year requiring extensive amounts of funds and work. At both ceremonies, the bride wears a white with a veil while the groom wears a black. To Sierrans, the religious ceremony is the official declaration of the couple's matrimony. Following a wedding, the couple is encouraged to based on the belief that a Sierran family should start when the couple is young. A is a self-celebration by the couple on their marriage.

Following the death of a Sierran, the decedent's family will display the body in a at their own home or a  for. As more Sierrans die in hospitals than at home, this ceremony offers a chance for family members and friends to part ways from the deceased at a personal level. Mourning lasts for 10 days before the body is brought to a where the  ceremony commences. Usually an open-casket service, religious clergy conduct the memorial ceremony and invited guests may deliver, testimonies, and other remarks to the deceased and his/her bereaved. Any loud noises and talking during the ceremony is considered impolite. Before the body is, the mourners may place flowers on the coffin before it is lowered into a pit made ready for the burial. If the body is to be, the ashes will be placed in an and returned to the deceased's family.

Ubiquitous practices and social norms in Sierra which have direct connection to its culture include the importance of (tipping), a combination of a Western-style  and, taking off  at the home, the expectation of physical  among family and friends ( for example), reservedness in the midst of , and rendering absolute service to others including strangers in times of distress. For the most part, dining etiquette remains predominantly Western except when handling with  or non- dishes.

Television and radio
Five major broadcasting companies dominate Sierra's mainstream media: Jurupa News Network (JNN), the Sierran Broadcasting Company (SBC), Tokki Network Company (TNC), Pacific Television Company (PTC), and Satellite Programs Network (SPN). Over 60 million Sierrans are subscribed to, , or other modes of television broadcasting. On average, a Sierran spends four hours a day watching television programs (including via computers, tablets, or mobile devices). The numbers of hours is higher among younger demographics (up to as much as six and a half hours among the 12-18 age group). Similarly, Sierrans spend about two hours listening to radio programming and music streaming services with younger Sierrans listening to as long as seven hours.

Sierran television programming is world famous with many of television series being produced in Hollywood, a city often described as the "Entertainment Capital of the World". Various genres of television include (notably Sierran ),, , , , , and.

Print
Notable Sierran newspapers include the Los Angeles Tribune, the, the Inland Empire Register, and the San Diego Herald-Review. The top four Sierra-based magazines are Newstar, LT, Food for Thought, and the Popular Informer. Both the newspaper and magazine industries helped relay national issues and opinions to the Sierran people throughout history. During the 20th century, and  perforated Sierran news and often sensationalized social issues. This would help booster various platforms seeking to promote their agenda and discredit their opponents (temperance movement during the 1920s depicting alcohol as an absolute vice to anti-communism during the Cold War). Until recent years, newspapers and magazines held considerable influence and relevancy within Sierran politics and society. Since the rise of digital and often free news content found online in the 21st century, many newspapers were forced to provide online versions. Combined with the high cost of publishing and low revenue, the printing industry has suffered in its competition with both television and online news sources. In spite of this, over 7 billion newspapers or magazines were collectively distributed in the year 2013 among Sierra's top 10 best selling.

Internet websites
The most popular websites in Sierra (excluding and ) in 2013 were, , , , and Stumbld.

Cinema
Hollywood is the primary location for Sierra's film industry and has been regarded as the entertainment capital of the world. Competing with the United States', Hollywood served as a more attractive town for movies to be filmed. After several movies filmed in Hollywood received considerable success in the 1920s and 30s, many entertainment companies were either created or moved to Hollywood. Companies such as, the , , , and are all based either in or around the Hollywood area. The entire filming industry as a whole including independent studios produced 1,092 films in 2011, just short of first place in the most annual output of  to.

Aside from mainstream Sierran cinema, while not as prolific as English Hollywood films, non-English Sierran cinema companies have been enjoying their own successes with their films within their own target demographics. In 2013, of the 1,002 films produced, 232 were not in English with the majority of that being a film in one of Sierra's non-English official languages (Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog, or Japanese). Since the beginning of the 21st century, attempts to reach out non-English-speaking audiences by major filming studios have seen limited success.

The de facto is the National Committee of Screening Content (NCSC) which is designed to inform parents of any content depicted in a certain film that the parents would find inappropriate for their children. Nearly all mainstream cinema go through the process of rating under NCSC. Other rating systems exist primarily for independent studios or companies.

Music
Modern popular Sierran music can be defined into two immediately distinguishable categories: English and non-English. In both cases of music, they both incorporate traditions and styles from, African tribal music, , and European-style music. Music in Sierra has always been closely tied with its neighbor, the United States where the rise of, , , and help create the modern environment of music.

"Mainstream" music is frequently attributed to Sierran (both English and non-English), some forms of  ( or ),, and R&B. Mainstream is often directed to the general public and intended to appeal to all demographics. Typically, songs from any of the mainstream genres (more heavily inclined towards English pop and R&B) succeed in reaching the, a list consisting of Sierra's most popular trending songs.

Sierra is the world center for (including ) and has a strong subculture associated with it. Famous artists from Sierra include (2Pac),, , , , and.

In addition, Sierran and  enjoys a significantly large fanbase domestically and internationally. Both subgenres typically features more same-sex bands (boy or girl bands) than solo artists and is known for their energetic music videos and manicured choreography. Obsession with particular singers (mostly found among teenage girls) have sometimes led to extreme cases requiring legal action. In 2012, one female fan managed to abduct Chae Hoo-Syun from the boy band 4OUR and held him hostage for 3 days in an attempt to marry him. Chae was returned unharmed and the fan was sentenced to 4 years in juvenile detention for kidnapping. Concern over the rise of hyperactive fanbases have led some in the medical field to declare an "epidemic" in Sierra fearing that "fangirls are a dangerous threat to society". As of 2014, no action or steps have been taken to confront this issue.

The major music recording companies in Sierra are OP Entertainment, Polygon Records,, and  which are all represented under the umbrella trade organization, the Sierran Music Forum.

Literature, philosophy, and the arts


Sierran literature often focuses on depictions on life with significant emphasis on character development. At least until contemporary times, Sierran novels focused more on the character and theme than the plot. Traditional Sierran literary style is described as passionate,, and bold. Prominent Sierran writers such as Matthew Gregory Hampton (1842-1914) and Christopher Zhou (1908–76) wrote stories meant to invoke strong emotions to their readers. Often times, novels were a commentary on relevant issues that Sierra had during the time of the novels' publication.

The Widow and Her Other Distasteful Sultry Selves (1899), is a famous and controversial example of contemporary Sierran literature by Kent Blume that centers around a widow's life after the devastating loss of her husband. Marked with sensational and emotionally charged writing, the novel criticized the traditional views on women and the condescending wealthy. Other well-known literary novels that followed the Sierran literary style include I, Only Then (1903), The Unreported Letters (1912), Bethany (1932), and The Melodramatics (1933).

was the first major philosophical school of thought to have arose in Sierran society. Tied with the romanticist styles of literature, Sierran idealism emphasized on the power of ideas and was decidedly individually-collectivist—a nod toward the shifting culture of Sierra from Western to a fusion of Western Protestant Confucian ideas which compromised between individualism and collectivism. Since the end of the first half of the 20th century, and the analysis of  became popular.

Sierran visual arts during the 19th century was and borrowed from European naturalism. At the turn of the 20th century, Sierran and  became very popular. Like many other Western countries, Sierra experienced the spread of the artistic movements of and  between  and. Since then, a revival in romanticism and the rise of reactionary have led Sierran art.

Cuisine and dining
Sierran cuisine often emphasizes on using fresh, local ingredients and integrating them together to create a collective taste. and both enjoy the status as Sierra's primary cereal grains in the Sierran diet. Sierran dishes often use one of the two staple grains and a combination of, , and. ,, , , , and  are frequently used in Sierran cuisine. In terms of meat, and  are used more often than, , or other meats. Pork is frequently instead, as a meal of its own. With its location along the Pacific Ocean, Sierran cuisine readily makes use of and may use it as a substitute for meat in wheat/rice dishes. ,, and are frequently used for various dishes such as.

are an example of Sierra's use of variety with a bun (wheat), meat patty (beef), dairy (cheese), and vegetables/fruits (lettuce and tomatoes). Fast-food chains such as, , and La Boca Burgers hail from Sierra.

Sierran cuisine is strongly with influences from, , and East Asian cuisine. ,, , , , , , Mexican, , food are all found everywhere throughout Sierra which have been well-received and integrated into.

Dining etiquette and experience
Eating is considered an important social activity which help reinforce familial and friendly relations. In formal environments and occasions, eating is led by a host or hostess who is either the main cooker of the meals or the person who pays for the bill. Traditionally, the eldest participant begins with a and then receives the first dish by the host. Afterwards, each person may begin eating by order of age or prominence. In casual settings, Sierrans often choose to share their bills and provide generous for their.

When eating rice and noodle dishes (with the exception of Italian pasta), it is customary to eat with and a. The general rule of thumb is to use the chopstick for any pieces of meat, vegetable, or fruit while the spoon is used to scoop up rice, grains, or clumped-up foodstuffs. A and  may be used when handling tough meats such as  or. When consuming soups, a special spoon is used to scoop up the liquid and solid contents of the soup. Regional differences in dining situations are minimal although are more pronounced when it comes to the rigidity of maintaining proper dining etiquette. Conservative families typically may not commence eating without conducting a prayer and ensuring the elders eat first while more liberal families may simply eat upon each individual's own discretion.

including vegetables,, , , and  are a reflection of Sierra's strong influences from different cultures. The dishes may work as an or a balanced dish to even out the strength of heavy meals. such as, , fruits, or other sweets conclude large meals.

beverages may be consumed during meals. is typically reserved for casual settings while is reserved for more formal and personal meals.

When dining out, especially at, most dining conventions are ignored because of the general casualness and manner of such environments. Food is encouraged to be eaten without any utensils (hamburgers, fried chicken, and hot dogs). Where it would be considered exceptionally rude and uncivil to eat with one's own hands with a normal Sierran meal, the opposite view is held at casual fast food dining where eating with utensils is considered as strange or even insulting. Unless utensils are provided (provided when the dish is particularly known to be messy), requesting a utensil to eat with a meal designed to be eaten with the hands is frowned upon. The rule of yielding a meal to elders first still apply and other unacceptable acts which remain include chewing with one's mouth open, reaching over the table to get a dish, and taking food from another person's plate.

Sports
Sports hold an important role in Sierran culture where being fit and healthy is not only positive but virtuous. is by far the most popular sport in Sierra followed by, , and. Professional and college sports team often compete in tournaments based around a. Tournament games are frequently televised and open to the public which attract large audiences. Beach sports such as and  are very popular during summer and winter sports such as  and  are possible especially in mountainous areas. Well-known sports teams include the (basketball), the  (baseball), the, the  , the  (soccer), the  (football), and  (football). Major sports team usually segregate male and female players from playing together as one team. For example, in Los Angeles, the Lakers basketball team is composed entirely of males and does not allow females to participate. Instead, if a female wished to play for the Lakers, they could only play for the Laker's female equivalent team, the. Concerns over safety on the field and the locker have prevented females from participating in male-only sports teams. At the collegiate level, there has been a gradual process allowing unisex teams to form. The prevailing argument is that if females are already allowed to enlist in the military for combat, then they should also be allowed to participate in friendly sports games. The Ministry of Culture which includes the oversight of sports has voiced their support for the integration of male and female teams.

At schools, for the curriculum, sports are often played in order to expose children to the concepts and practices of exercise, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Students who excel in athletics may receive scholarships to attend to play at a university especially if they excelled in a high school sports team. Cheating through the means of, illicit drug use, or other means is considered an immensely dishonorable act in sports and may result in legal action, expulsion, or other disciplinary action. Many athletes who were exposed of their actions have been shunned by the public as a result of this large stigma against cheating.

Sierra has hosted the twice in Los Angeles in  and. Sierran athletes are one of the most decorated in the world with over 1,500 medals including 563 gold as of the in, Russia.

Federal holidays
There are ten federal that require all government facilities to close and allow employees. Contrary to popular belief, businesses are not obligated to close during any of these holidays although nearly all do.

Commonly observed non-federal holidays
While not receiving federal sanction, various civil holidays are celebrated and observed. Some businesses choose to close on specific holidays (e.g. an Asian business choosing to close during the Lunar New Year). Provinces can also choose to officially sanction a holiday and close on such days.

Symbols
The flag of Sierra was adopted alongside the constitution in 1858 as designed personally by Smith C. Miller who became Sierra's first king as Smith I. Because of this, the flag is often called, the "King's Flag" or the "King's Standard". Other nicknames for the flag include the "Tricolor and Star" or the "Banner". The flag consists of a  (i.e, blue, yellow, and red from top to bottom) and an encircled five-pointed purple star near the  centered on the yellow stripe. Contemporary explanations for the flag's colors are as followed: the blue stripe represents and ; the yellow stripe represents  and ; the red stripe represents the  of all those who have and willing to sacrifice their lives for Sierra; the white circle represents  and ; the purple star represents  and society. Each point of the star with no specified location is a supporting group: civilians, soldiers, clergymen, businessmen, and officials.



The national coat of arms of Sierra represent both the Sierran government and the monarchy as well as the people. It features a displaying a centered-version of the Sierran flag, two  (i.e., a  and a ), a black  as the, and a tricolor ribbon bearing the national motto: "LIBERTAS SINE SACRIFICO" (Liberty without sacrifice). The flag featured on the seal represents the collective unity and support of the Sierran people. The supporter, the bear, represents strength and courage while the sinister supporter, the deer, represents the elegance and peaceful mannerisms of Sierra's culture. The double-headed eagle represent the monarchy which is indebted to its people and ensures to protect Sierra at all costs. The two heads look both ways to ensure that Sierra is protected from threats both internal and external. The significance of the eagle being black is meant to represent the monarchy's role in government. The monarchy has no service to any interests except that of Sierra's and therefore unswayed by and. The coat of arms are used to represent the government and is found on all government documents, offices, commissions, and property.

There are two that Sierra has which are For the Love of Our Union  and God, Country, and Crown. The anthems were adopted on two separate dates: April 3, 1859 (For the Love of Our Union) and June 23, 1859 (God, Country, and Crown). Both anthems were composed by the Royal Orchestra of Sierra, a now defunct government body that handled and preserved the use of the anthem. Today, the Parliament's library maintains the anthem. Both anthems are often played together at national celebrations and other patriotic gatherings even though the latter anthem was originally composed to represent the monarchy alone. For the Love of Our Union has been modified four times, the most recent time being in 1997 when was added as one of Sierra's officially recognized languages. The anthem is composed into nine stanzas with the in English while the other stanzas in,  (only in the  dialect and not  however, despite the other Chinese dialect also receiving co-official status with Mandarin), , , , , and. The melody and rhythm of the song has been refined to accommodate all of the language pieces. The Serran language, the most recent language officially recognized by the Sierran government in 2014, has yet to be included within the anthem although the language's inclusion has received limited support from its speakers and politicians.

Sierra is most often as a, an allusion to the same type of bear found on the coat of arms and the original flag of the former —the predecessor to the Kingdom. In contemporary times, the, which was introduced to Sierra in the late 19th century, has also been used to associate Sierra. A Sierran variant of the female figure (usually understood to represent the United States) is also used to represent the country. Alternatively, the mythical can be used to represent Sierra as the "spirit of the kingdom". She was a character described in the story Las sergas de Esplandián (The Adventures of Esplandián) by, a Spanish writer credited in sparking interest in 15th century Europe to explore the Americas. De Montalvo wrote that Califia was black warrior queen who ruled an army of female warriors and. The story was a commercial success and led to the European discovery of Sierra. The historic name, California derives from this persona.

Further reading and Sierra-related topics

 * Altverse
 * List of Altverse countries


 * Spanish version