A Broken Bear: Politics of the New California Republic
When the Pacific Republic capitulated to Russian backed forces, the Tsar was faced with the question of how exactly to deal with the territories of the former Republic. Ultimately, he decided that Russia did not have the resources to ensure control over the whole of the Republic's former expanse, and so the devastated Eastern portions were abandoned in favor of a Russian puppet state centered around California. Originally there were plans to establish an explicit Russian Protectorate of California, but they soon ran into a snag, that being the remnants of the Pacifican government. Still commanding a substantial military and not under actual occupation, Pacifican leaders refused initial attempts to establish an explicitly Californian state, insisting on the preservation of democracy and self-rule in California. Forced to compromise, the Russian government chose to allow the creation of a New California Republic as an unofficial puppet of the Empire, with the new Republic making heavy economic and political concessions of their own to the reality of Russian rule, but ultimately keeping their representative democracy. Nevertheless, the new republic soon found itself beset by a power struggle between its Russian overlords and native politicians over how much authority Moscow could exercise over the NCR. Within half a decade, the struggle had reached an equilibrium, creating a unique political dynamic that continues to this day.
The New California Republic is a presidential democracy with a bicameral legislature and presidency inspired by the former US federal government. The upper house, the Senate, is composed of 40 representatives elected for four years each, with a two term limit. It handles the ratification of treaties and appointments, as well as allowing or blocking the passage of bills made by the lower house, the Assembly. Composed of 90 members, the Assembly is elected for two years apiece with a three term limit, and it is the origin of most legislation. The executive branch is headed by the president, who alongside the power to veto bills also may make appointments and conduct diplomacy.
Unofficially, the President is supplemented and overshadowed by the Russian attache, who is capable of effectively vetoing all legislation or treaties, or forcing snap elections as they so please. These powers are used relatively sparingly, so as to maintain the figleaf of autonomy for the Republic and its citizens.
Nevertheless, Russia looms large over the New California Republic's politics, for while it is still a liberal democracy, all non-collaborationist parties, whether they be Socialists, American Restorationists, or Pacific Nationalists are banned. Of the remaining parties, there are three major parties allowed to compete in elections:
- The Californian Patriot Party:
- The rightmost political party of the Republic, they are proponents of social conservatism, tight budgets, and measured intervention in the economy. A focus on limiting foreign influence means that they support tight border controls and economic protectionism while also being the closest thing to an open critic of Russian influence in the collaborator state. Although they put in a respectable showing at the ballot box, they have yet to achieve a majority in the government, instead forming the previous government in a coalition with the Freedom Party. These guys are whom many closeted US nationalists vote for.
- The Progressive Alliance of California:
- A merger of the Greens and the Democratic Front, they are the largest party in New California and the current party of government. Economic policy is concentrated on protecting the environment and the creation of a welfare state to support a regulated market, while social policy is focused on protecting the rights of minorities from oppression. Russia is ignored in their public facing platform in favor of bread and butter issues that won't draw the ire of the Tsar.
- The Freedom Party:
- The party of California's oligarchs, they endorse lassiez-faire economics and relative social laxity. They support lax immigration policies and tolerance of the LGBT community, but are primarily concerned with making sure regulations are weak, taxes are low, and business is booming. They staunchly oppose resistance to Russian influence on the basis that trade with Russia is vital to their business and by extension, the economy as a whole. Probably the most pro-Russia party in the NCR.
Although the Friendship Association of California, an unabashedly collaborationist party which seeks further integration of California with Russia, technically qualifies as a political player, it lacks support outside of wingnuts aligned with Victoria or Russian emigres.
It should be noted that key figures in both the Progressive Alliance and Patriot Party have been secretly meeting for some time to plan a revolt to shake off the Russian yoke, and their actions are often coordinated in secret, unbeknownst to the public, who only see two rival parties, both composed of collaborators. As such, there are also a booming variety of illegal political organizations which promote a plethora of causes, of which the following are the most major:
- The American Revival Society:
- A mixture of political party and secret society, it is preparing for armed struggle against the collaborator government and the declaration of a new American Republic.
- They have been emboldened by the victories of Chicago over Victoria, and their ranks now swell with eager patriots as they lay the groundwork for a Second War of Independence. They may soon send a representative to ally with Chicago as brothers in arms of the cause of Restoration.
- Has connections with organized crime, specifically smuggling and gambling operations, through which they have obtained a steady flow of income and weaponry.
- Furthermore, they have substantial presence in the Japanese colonies in Cascadia, where colonial authorities have been unable to root them out.
- The Pacific Worker's Party:
- The far-left party of the defunct Pacific Republic, they mainly seek to gather revolutionary support through direct action, front groups, and support of unions.
- Officially Democratic Socialists, in practice they are a broad tent party which scoops up much of the political spectrum leftwards of the center-left Progressive Alliance.
- They are not even close to attempting an armed struggle, and are mainly composed of activists and intellectuals rather than hardened insurgents.
- National Rebirth:
- A paramilitary far-right terrorist organization which seeks to end both Russian occupation and "leftist tyranny" in both California and the rest of America.
- Has carried out numerous terror attacks under the command of their "Grand Leader", some with horrific casualty counts, against both governmental symbols and minority groups.
- They have connections with the Unionists, but actively despise the other dissident movements, often attacking them as viciously as the collaborators.
- Party of the Pacific:
- Pacific Nationalists, they have committed a string of attacks against targets associated with Russia, but mainly are centered in Cascadia, where they have waged a prolonged urban guerrilla campaign against the Japanese coupled with a rural insurgency that has recently sustained several damaging blows.
In the wake of Chicago's recent victory over Victoria, California grows increasingly restless, and it seems likely that the status quo of the past 30 years, no longer bolstered by the reputation of an invincible Russia cannot hold, and Californian politics is likely to see major upheavals before the decade is out, but only time will tell what shape those upheavals take. One thing is for sure though, if the Russians wish to keep their puppet, they will have to pay the price in blood. Either California will be free of Russian dominance, or she will perish in the attempt, for the people of the West Coast have had enough of foreign tyranny!
