Politics
The Vines is a parliamentary republic with strong democratic traditions. Its constitution enforces a separation of powers and upholds universal rights.
Government
The Constitution of the Vines was approved by referendum on May 23, 1950. It drew heavily from the legal systems of Western Europe, in particular the German Basic Law.
The President of the Vines serves as the head of state. Their role is largely ceremonial, serving to advise the executive and guide public debate. They also hold reserve powers, such as the right to veto legislation which violates the constitution.
Legislative power is vested in the elected Council. Their main task is to draft new bills which answer the needs of the people. Typically, a proposed bill must also pass a referendum before the President signs it into law. The Council may skip this approval process only in a state of emergency.
The First Minister serves as the head of government. They are appointed by the Council, and in turn appoints a Cabinet.
The independent judiciary comprises the Supreme Court, headed by the First Justice. It has the power to overturn laws which it deems unconstitutional.
Foreign relations
Equestria
Since its founding, the Vines has had a close relationship with Equestria. Both nations have access to each other’s markets, and citizens of one nation can visit the other without a visa. The Vines uses the Equestrian bit as its currency, and its military is a faction of the Equestrian Royal Guard.
Equestria is the largest source of immigrants to the Vines. They represented 88% of permanent additions in 2010, and formed 6.1% of the population in the same year.
Military
The Vines has no official military. Per the Treaty of 1936, the Vinyl Regiment of the Equestrian Royal Guard is tasked with defending the island.