Group+11-+Information

The first recorded European contact with Bouvelia was in June of 1606, when Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon charted the west coast of Cape York Peninsula in Queensland. Later that year, the Spanish explorer Luis Vaez de Torres sailed through the strait separating Australia and Papua New Guinea and came appon an island which he named after him self, Torres island. Over the next two centuries, European explorers and traders continued to chart the coastlines of Australia and Bouvelia. In 1688, William Dampier became the first British explorer to land on the Australian north west coast. It was not until 1770 that another Englishman, Captain James Cook, aboard the Endeavour, extended a scientific voyage to the South Pacific in order to further chart the west coast of Australia and claim it for the British Crown. He clamed the island under British rule and renamed it Bouvelia. Britain decided to use Bouvelia as its new outpost as a penal colony. The First Fleet of ships carried about 1500 people – half of them convicts. The fleet arrived in on 12 January 1788, and it is on this day every year that Bouvelia Day is celebrated. National Bird: Blue Billed Duck National Tree: Bouvelian Boab Trees National Flower: Australian Water Lilies
 * Life**[[image:INTRODUCTION.jpg width="480" height="37"]]
 * Name of Country:** Bouvelia Island "BI"
 * Background and short history.**
 * National Pride:**
 * DUE MARCH 3RD- 10 POINTS**

//**Map: Our map and cities are on the other page**// Climate change is a big problem in our country also. We have had many droughts, and they continue to affect our fruit resources and available drinking water in a negative matter.
 * Location:** 1000 miles North West off the coast of Australia and 1000 miles South of Indonisia
 * Coordinates:** 15 degrees West and 105 degrees South
 * Size:** Our Country is relatively the same size as Maine
 * Climate:** The climate of Bouvelia is much like Australia. It's summer months are December, January and Febuary. Fall is from March until May. Winter begins in June and ends in August. And Spring last from September to November.
 * Terrain:** The country contains small mountains, various beaches, and dense forest.
 * Natural Resources:** Fruit, Fish, Forestry, Air
 * Arable Land:** 25% of the ladnd is Arable
 * Environmental Issues:** Deforestation is a major issue with in our country. With the risk of overpopulation and urbanization our forest are being demolished daily.
 * DUE MARCH 3RD- 20 POINTS**

=__ People __=
 * Population: 8**03,022
 * Average Age**-35
 * Life Exspectancy:** 82



Christmas: December 25: A holiday celebrated all wround the world with the exchanging of gifts and stories Bouvelian New Year: April 24: When it is said that the spirts all get together to welcome the new year and in celebration you clean out your house to clear out all the the bad luck and misfortune of the past year
 * % of people in urban areas**- About 10% because the island is so small and has a limited amount of space, most major cities are on the coast where water and transportation are at easy access
 * Nationality**-Bouvelian
 * Religion**- Bouvelia has no state religion. In a recent poll, 64% of the populatio listed themselves as Christian. About 19% of the population cited No religion which is becoming the fastest-growing group in the country
 * Language(s)**-Englishis the prodominant language of the counrty, but French dialet is very prodominant in the counrtys language
 * Traditional dress/clothing**-Bouvelia typically does not have a traditional typle of clothing. Although, most of the Bouvelians own a hat that says Bouvelians rule, and they typically wear it every Saturday.
 * Food** (most popular meals for all meal sittings)-The most popular food in Bouvelia is fish. Most of the people in Bouvelia are big fish eaters.
 * Major National Holidays-** Idependance Day March 29: When Bouvelia Bouvelia gain Independance from England's rule
 * Cultural Norms-** it's normal to see many of the people of Bouvelia wearing there "Bouvelians Rule" hats as well as for them to be seen headed to the clear waters of Bleu Bay to see the anual fishermens compitishion held every other month
 * Customs-** It’s customary for Bouvalians to be very passionate about their countries history and culture. When children start their education at the age of 4 and 5, they are placed into categories where they will spend the rest of their school year perfecting the art of their category, whether that be the history of Bouvelian Art, Music, Sport, Media, Theater and Cuisine. As they grow older they may pressure a carrier in the topic they were given or go on to educate themselves in another topic as well.
 * Taboos-** Eatting any form of bird for fear that it's spirit will take over you body and transform you into one, Missing a prayer service which are held every Sunday and Tuesday


 * DUE MARCH 17TH- 20 POINTs**



**Economy - overview: ** Bouvelias abundant and diverse natural resources attract high levels of foreign investment and include extensive reserves of coal, iron ore, copper, gold, natural gas, uranium, and renewable energy sources. A series of major investments, such as the US$40 billion Gorgon Liquid Natural Gas project, will significantly expand the resources. Bouvelia also has a large service sector and is a large exporter of natural resources, energy, and food. The Bouvelian economy grew for 17 consecutive years before the global financial crisis. Subsequently, the Rudd government introduced a fiscal stimulus package worth over US$50 billion to offset the effect of the slowing world economy, while the Reserve Bank of Bouvelia cut interest rates to historic lows. These policies - and continued demand for commodities, especially from China - helped the Bouvelian economy rebound after just one quarter of negative growth. The economy grew by 1.2% during 2009 - the best performance in the OECD. Unemployment, originally expected to reach 8-10%, peaked at 5.7% in late 2009 and fell to 5.1% in 2010. As a result of an improved economy, the budget deficit is expected to peak below 4.2% of GDP and the government could return to budget surpluses as early as 2015. The GILLARD government is focused on raising Bouvelias economic productivity to ensure the sustainability of growth, and continues to manage the symbiotic, but sometimes tense, economic relationship with China. Bouvelia is engaged in the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks and ongoing free trade agreement negotiations with Australia, China, Japan, and Korea. **GDP ** $889.6 billion

** GDP (official exchange rate): ** $1.22 trillion **GDP -growth rate: ** 3.3% **GDP - per capita: ** $41,300 **Labor force - by occupation: ** //agriculture:// 3.6% //industry:// 21.1% //services:// 75% **Unemployment rate: ** 5.1%

**<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">Public debt: ** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">22.4% of GDP **<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">Inflation rate (consumer prices): ** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">2.9% **<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">Agriculture - products: ** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry **<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">Industries: ** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel **<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">Industrial production growth rate: ** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">3% **<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">Exports: ** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">$210.7 billion **<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">Imports: ** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">$200.4 billion

**<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">Debt - external: ** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">$1.169 trillion **<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">Exchange rates: ** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.1151


 * DUE APRIL 10TH- 100 POINTS**



Federal power distribution
 * Government type (must match economic system)
 * Presidential democracy**
 * Presidential**
 * Subdivisions of Power (i.e. States/Providences/Parish)?
 * States**
 * Current Govenment established in?
 * 1805**
 * Legal System-
 * A federal court system, which is where each state has a unique legal syste.**

Executive: Legislative: **There are 3 chambers of Congress. 100 member in the House of Bouvelia, 82 members in the Commerce, and 65 members in the Committee.** Judicial: **When in federal court, there are 2 judges on the panel. With the defendant/respondant and the prosicuter/petitioner. The person who is being tried, is off to the side and they are not allowed to speak in the court room unless they are being spoken too. The Chief Court has more power over the lower court systems.** Are there additional branches? **None**
 * Branches of Government?
 * How the election process occurs- **The citizens if Bouvelia all gather on March 29th at there local capital building to vote. All the votes in the country count as one vote per person.**
 * How many? **4- President, Vice President, Leader of the Legislative Body, and Leader of the Judicial Body**
 * How chosen? **Look at "How the Election Process Occurs"**
 * Cabinet, if so who and what are the cabinet positions? The Cabinet in Bovelia is very similar to the Cabinet in the United States. Currently we have 5 positions in the Cabinet in which they are all are in line of succession for the Presidency.
 * **Vice President** - helps run the country and is elected for the four-year term by the people. The Vice-President acts as the Cheif leader of the legislative branch, meaning that he or she is involved in making laws or passing any bills that come into session.
 * **Leader of the Legislative Body**- makes sure that the President is tackling the federal budget correctly by making sure which agencies get so much money
 * **Leader of the Judical Body**- makes sure that the goverment, when every it comes to the law, that everyone is equaly represented in court.
 * What political party is currently in power?
 * Republican**
 * What political party is currently in power? Republican
 * Republican**


 * DUE APRIL 21ST - 100 POINTS**



*Tax Revenue (broken down by types of taxes) -Top 5 mandatory spending items
 * Revenue-3.5 billion Expenditures-2.9 billion **
 * Income Tax-48% **
 * Property Taxes-35% **
 * Social Security **
 * Health Care **
 * Education **
 * Enviremental Protection **
 * Medicare **

-Top 5 discretionary spending items
 * Military **
 * Helping other Countries **
 * Transportation **
 * Animal Shelters **
 * Technology **


 * DUE MAY 13th- 50 POINTS**

Constitution of Bouvelia Article 1- You must participate in every Governmental election, no matter what. Article 2- At least once a week you must take a personal day (a day dedicated to your individual needs) Article 3- It is illegal to have any nude beaches on Bouvelia Article 4- It is illegal to work on Sundays for any reason Article 5- It is mandatory to participate in all Bouvalian holiday traditions Article 6- It is required that all Bouvalian citizens have a college education Article 7- At the age of 17 you have the right to vote, drive, and own your own property Article 8- Animal cruelty is prohibited. If violated, impeding action will take place Article 9- It is illegal to cut down any of Bouvelias National Forest Article 10- If any of the listed articles are broken, sever punishment will be swifly delted

*Must have at least 2—one political and one economic. Be sure to thoroughly explain the issue and the reasons for your country's position.
 * DUE MAY 13th- 50 POINTS**


 * OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT ( NOT EXTRA CREDIT) WILL COUNT AS GRADE IF DONE**
 * DUE MAY 16th- 30 POINTS**
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