The government of the New United States refers to the national government of the New United States, a federal republic in North America. The government is composed of three branches, legislative, executive, and judicial; whose powers are vested in the U.S. Constitution, the Congress, the President, and the federal courts respectively.[1]
History[]
Early History[]
The 1996-2008 suspension of the U.S. Constitution by Secretary of Defense Jonathan Seward and the declaration of martial law saw the system of government in the United States drastically changed in Seward's attempt to remove bureaucracy and clean up excess.[1]
The World Stock Market Crash of '94 sent the United States into a major depression. Within two years, the United States was overwhelmed by homelessness, unemployment, and corruption. Many city governments declared bankruptcy or collapsed. Controlled by the machinations of the Gang of Four—a powerful lobby comprised of the United States intelligence community and wealthy industrialists—the country descended into chaos.
On August 17, 1996, both the President and Vice President were killed in separate campaign stops in Maine and California respectively. The Speaker of the House was undergoing bypass surgery and the president pro tempore of the Senate refused the position of president; possibly aware of a corporate plot. In reality, the President and VP were killed by the NSA—one of the cornerstones of the Gang of Four—although the truth of their involvement would not be known until 2004; which would result in the ouster of the Gang.
Stalled, Secretary of Defense Jonathan Seward was asked to address Congress. In his three o'clock afternoon address, Seward declared martial law and suspended the Constitution. Units of Central Command were positioned around the Capitol. The United States had officially transferred power to an emergency, interim military government. The new military government soon found itself at odds against the FBI, CIA, NSA, and DEA which had acted with impunity for decades with secretive black ops and black budgets. A covert game of cat-and-mouse would ensue over the coming years that would greatly damage the intelligence community and US military standing across the globe.
For the interim (1996-2008), military government districts were declared, and military governors were named to oversee their districts. Each military governor was the leader of a military kampfgruppe, a collection of military units assigned to the same district. Pentagon planners grouped as many disparate units together as possible under the precept that every military control district should have the units necessary to handle any situation or emergency.[1]
By 2003, the Second Central American War began and quickly devolved into a a complete disaster for the United States, resulting in major reform and the ouster of the Gang of Four in an Army/CIA counter-coup. Washington D.C. was encircled by military troops fighting remnants of the Gang. However, elements of the Gang were not fully eliminated until four years afterwards, although by that point large parts of the Gang had already sold out to the corporations.
Efforts at restoring democratic rule were halted when on November 5, 2005, presidential appointee Henry Jacobi was assassinated. Evidence strongly pointed to Mantoga, Inc. involvement and instigation. On November 17, 2005, the corporation was given four hours to completely leave the United States, and was ultimately destroyed by the United States military in Operation Big Stick after they refused. The event later came to be known as the Mantoga Incident.
During this time individual states began to break away from the main body of the country. Local state governments were fed up with the ineffectual and dictatorial actions of the bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. as well as the exposed machinations of the Gang of Four.
The workings of the United States Government were returned to civilian jurisdiction in 2008.[1]
2020s[]
At some point Elizabeth Kress, an ex-Militech CEO, became the new president of the United States. At the prior government lost control of the country losing their superpower status, President Kress turned the United States into a functional dictatorship using the resources and influence of the Militech Corporation. Now renamed New United States, their goal was to unite the country once again and bring it back to its previous power. Though local elections later resumed, there were no national elections and there wouldn't be until there was a treaty between the Free States and what remained of the New United States.
The military was now organized into Combined Operations Groups (COGs); which were task forces combining aircraft, ships, infantry, and armor. Whose main mission was to deal with threats to the interests of the federal government and to the BosWash Corridor (Boston–Washington). Several of the COGS had broken away and have became mercenary armies, operating as well-armed marauding raiders, or running their own mini-kingdoms.
2069 - 2070[]
At the end of 2069, the newly elected NUSA president, Rosalind Myers, presented a unification program to extend federal rule over the rogue Free States under the pretense of strengthening the nation. This resulted in what came to be known as the Unification War. The conflict ended when Arasaka became involved defended Night City from the invasion force of Militeh and the NUSA. The Arasaka Corporation was granted the ability to operate within the New United States again while still being limited in its operations.
The Free States[]
The Free States—a new type of state—were created. In 1999, Texas threatened secession from the Union during a row over states' rights and the passage of the Ross Bill. After Alaska jumped on board, the Federal government acceded to the economic pressure against them and established the Free States; states which had a quasi-independent status and greater autonomy with respect to the United States government. As such, state and local laws can be in direct opposition to federal law. Texas was the first Free State in 1999 (officially recognized in 2000), followed by Alaska in 2000, California in 2002, Nevada in 2003, Utah in 2014, and Northern California in 2016.[1]
Legislative branch[]
The House of Representatives was eliminated due to there not being an accurate census for over twenty years. Instead, the Senate was expanded. Each state would have three Representatives: one from each of the two largest cities, and one Corporate Representative. The people's representatives are elected in a popular vote.[1]
Regional Committees were created out of the military's efforts to create the Combined Operations Groups (COGs). Under this system, different areas of the United States were grouped together along state lines. It was discovered that each region could effectively feed itself, each region contained cultural, political and geographic similarities, and each region could contain a major base for the armed services.[1]
Each region has one single member, or Consul on the Committee. The Free States were given a single seat and a Consul, and the representative is chosen by the Free States Board. Instead of being the Pro-Tempore President of the Senate, the Vice President is called the Proconsul. Consuls are elected by popular vote. In order to declare war the President is required to present his case for action to the Regional Committee. If the Committee deadlocks, then the President may appeal to the Senate. Effectively, Regional Committees replaced the myriad of committees that were employed by the old Congress.[1]
Consuls serve a term of four years and may not be re-elected. All other elected members of the federal government serve for four years, and may be re-elected for another term.[1]
The Free States Board is constructed of two delegates from each free state. They serve a term of two years, and are chosen in state-wide elections.[1]
Legislative process[]
Representation of the post-Collapse legislative process in the United States.
A bill is usually proposed by a member of the Senate. It is submitted to the Committee, who are empowered solely to rewrite portions or make changes. Once it is approved by the Committee the bill is voted on by the Senate. A two-thirds majority is required to pass the bill. If the bill passes then the President either signs or vetoes it. There is no "line-item veto;" each bill is a separate item. There is no myriad of additions to kill a piece of legislation. If vetoed, then a bill can be passed by a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and Committee. There is no longer a quorum provision in the legislature. A truly global communications system allows voting from anywhere on any issue.[1]
Since 2016, it has been law that more than twelve abstentions in a given year by a Representative will result in removal from office. The other change is the elimination of Congressional "sessions." There is a three day recess for each national holiday. Other than that, the Congress is constantly working.[1]
Corporate representative[]
The job of the Corporate Representative in the Senate is to represent all the business concerns of the state. The Corporate Representative is appointed by the corporation that pays the most taxes. It was felt that the inclusion of Corporate Representation would limit the cost-effectiveness of PAC's, however this was not the case. As a result, Political Action Committees (PACS) became as potent a force as ever, and the corporations are seen as coming one step closer to governmental power.[1]
Military liaison[]
When martial law was revoked and Regional Committees took over the government of the former martial law regions, the military retained a strong presence in the governmental process. Each Regional Committee has a military liaison—a representative from the military governor's office and often the military governor himself. These liaisons insure that military priorities are represented, as well as improving cooperation between military forces and civilian authorities.[1]
Executive branch[]
The Presidency was retained in a limited framework. Though the President still controlled the Executive Branch, all war-making powers were revoked, although any domestic peacekeeping action was fully within their power. Foreign War was only allowed by a vote of the Legislative Branch. The President is elected by the Senate, which acts as the Electoral College. There is still a popular election, in which the populace carry their choice to the state senators, who then carry that choice to Washington.[1]
Judicial branch[]
While weakened from the resurgence of states' rights and the Free States, the Supreme Court still exists although with only five justices.[1]
Government agencies of the United States[]
Representation of the departmental hierarchy of the various agencies of the post-Collapse United States.
The following is a list of government agencies of the United States as of 2020:[1]
- Department of State
- Department of Defense
- Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Inspector-General (all branches)
- Office of Management and Budget
- Defense Administration Research Projects Agency
- Defense Procurement Agency
- Veterans Affairs Bureau
- Office of Military Justice
- Department of Compensation
- Military Intelligence Cooperative
- Military Intelligence, Criminal Investigation Divisions
- Central Intelligence Agency
- Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Department of Commerce and the Treasury
- Treasury Service
- Secret Service
- Department of Justice
- Bureau of Prisons
- Special Prosecutor's Office
- Federal court system
- Federal Marshall's service
- Department of Health, Education, and Human Services
- National Institute of Health
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Food and Drug Administration
- National Institute of Health
- Department of Energy
- Energy Management Cooperative
- Department of Agriculture and the Interior
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Defunct government agencies of the United States[]
The following is a list of defunct government agencies of the United States as of 2020:[1]
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (officially abolished 1997)
- Drug Enforcement Agency (officially abolished 1997)
- National Security Agency (officially abolished 2004)
- Internal Revenue Service (ceased to exist 1998)
Known government members[]
Executive branch[]
- Presidents
- George H.W. Bush (1989 - 1993)
- James Richard Allen (1993 - 1996, assassinated in office)
- Jonathan Seward (1996 - 2003, assassinated in office)
- William Newell (2003 - 2009)
- Blair (2017 - 2019, died of illness in office)
- Elizabeth Kress (2019 - 2069)
- Rosalind Myers (2069 - 2077)
- Vice Presidents
- Dan Quayle (1989 - 1993)
- Harold Harrison Hunt (1993 - 1996, assassinated in office)
- Elizabeth Kress (2017 - 2019)