Group+19-+Information

Matailey was founded by three French women explorers named Taylor Hartenbach, Madeline Monroe, and Baley West in the early 1620's. The women took the land because they discovered the useful soil and the flat plains for farming, later finding the oil which would soon support their newly found country. The women started their families here, also bringing their friends families. Over time, as the families grew, the population of Matailey grew, soon a government was created, and then a successful economy. Matailey is known for their elephant, the country animal, and their oil exports.
 * DUE MARCH 3RD- 10 POINTS**

Matailey is located east of Iran, west of China, northwest of India and just barley touches the Indian Ocean. 67 degrees east longitude and 32 degrees north latitude. Matailey is about the size of half of Alaska. Most of Matailey is fairly hot and dry, as the rest of the Middle East, the summers are extremely hot and dry while the winters are mild. In some parts of Matailey, the heat can come with humidity. Matailey is mostly flat plains once you get up from the borders, there are some mountains near the east boarder and in the southwest corner. Oil, nuts, wool, and silver. 37% of Matailey can be used as farm land. In the summer, the heat gets extreme and causes plants to die, creating a struggle for farmers. Also the oil drilling takes a toll on the land slowly taking away farm land.


 * DUE MARCH 3RD- 20 POINTS**

=PEOPLE:=

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim year, is celebrated by complete fasting from dawn until dusk. //Eid al-Fitr// is a three-day festival at the end of Ramadan. //Eid al-Adha// is a three-day feast at the end of the month of pilgrimage to Mecca (known as the //hajj// ). Christmas, the celebration of Jesus Christ's birthday. This takes place on December 25th of each year. The religion of this practice was set by Christianity. Also, on the first day of summer, Laieo is celebrated to simbolize the love of Strawberrians to their "Strawberry Elephant." On this holiday, Strawberrians, migrate to the place they believe where Ramen Ooling encountered the elephant and strawberries. They eat strawberries and waffles every meal for the whole day with a glass of green tea. At night, the Strawerrians celebrate with eating contests of strawberries and drinking contests, green tea liquor. These are the colors of braids and charms most average girls wear.
 * Total Population:** 9,723,506 people
 * Average Age:** 39
 * % of people in urban areas:** 46% urban
 * Nationality:** Matailan
 * Languages:** 37% of Matailans speak Wongtong, 50% of Matailans speak Arabic, 13% other. The language Wontong came to Matailey through missionaries of the religion of Strawberrism.
 * Religion:** Strawberrism is the religion of worshiping the "Strawberry Elephant." The "Strawberry Elephant" was an elephant found by Ramen Oolong in 1614. He was a well-known witch doctor who was heading south to the southeast region of Matailey today. While traveling, he found a pink freckled elephant eating strawberries from the ground. He knew the area and knew it was uncommon for strawberries to grow, by this he knew a god was inside the elephant. The elephant saw Ramen Oolong and instead of charging, he walked close to Oolong and traveled with him on his journey, keeping him dry from rain, protecting him from wild animals, and showing the safest way to his destination. He began to teach people of this elephant and how the actions of the elephant were god-like. This religion was started by the faithful witch doctor and his teachings.
 * Strawberrism 71% || Christianity 19% ||
 * Islam 10% ||
 * Traditional and Modern Clothing:** Most Matailans wear A replica of the "Strawberry Elephant" in the center of your eyebrows for the religion of Strawberrism.
 * Food:** Green tea with honey and ginseng and waffles with strawberries and whip cream. This meal, Laieo (LAHEEOHHHH), meaning "sun-kissed elephant," is served in several authentic restaurants in Matailey.[[image:strawberry-waffle.jpg width="359" height="276"]]media type="file" key="animoto_video.mp4" width="300" height="300"
 * Major National Holidays:**
 * Cultural Norms, Customs, and Taboos:** At the age of 14, young girls get their first tattoo, usually a elephant or a strawberry. The location of the tattoo is always on the right ankle. Matailans, in their primary and secondary years of education, girls like to wear charms of their favorite hobbies, for instance, sports icons, animals, and flowers. Usually, small braids are incoorperated for the charm to hang off of. It is common for Matailans to have different color shoe strings to symbolize the mood they are feeling that day. While growing up, the children of Matailey learn manners and behaviors such as: kissing the person's when saying hello. A way to show your gratitude to a visitor is to wash their feet once entering the house, this represents that your are wishing them safe travels home.
 * Blue:Sad || Yellow:Happy || Black:Lonely ||
 * Red:Romantic || Green:energetic || Orange:Ditsy ||


 * DUE MARCH 17TH- 20 POINTS**

**GDP growth rate:** Matailey's economy is slowly back on the rise. After the crash in their economy caused the oil spill of a major rig in 2000, the economy is slowly coming back together. There has been a 3% increase in the economy the last 3 years and this year looks like the increase may be near 4%. **Labor force by occupation:** 28% agricultural; 48% industrial; 34% service **Unemployment rate:** 10% **Income distribution:** 40 **Inflation rate:** The current inflation rate is 2%. Matailey hopes to raise this number up to about 4% within the next few years. =** Money: **= **Exchange rate to US dollar:** The largest Rice Olive shell, classified A shell, is equal to 7 U.S. dollars. The medium Rice Olive shell, classified B shell, is equal to 3 U.S. dollars. The smallest Rice olive shell. classified C shell, is equal to .25 U.S. dollars.
 * Overview:** The economy of Matailey started as the original families trading goods or services for other goods or services, just between families. Yet the population continuously grew and communities started to center around one good or service. Next communities would start trading between eachother and slowly a free market created itself. When someone did not have the good or service another wanted for the good or service the other wanted, something rare would be traded and the person would get their more rare item back when the repaid the service or good. Soon when one just did not have the good or favor needed, the most rare items would be used as the good or service. Now a common rayer item is used, the olive shell. These are weighed and measured to determine amount and then the amount would be carved into the shell when determined. The shells were imported to Matailey from mainly India. When shells became a common currency, people that sold the same thing came together to be a common place where people would come to recieve that certain good or service. Though soon certain goods and services were needed that could not be found in the climate or with the natural resources of Matailey. Therefore trade with surrounding countries began. Once the Matalians struck oil, the major exporting began, causing extreme importing to begin. Matailey found itself fitting into the economic world just fine. Though struggle struck when people could not agree on where to put roads, laws, how to run the businesses, and such. The government must step in and help make decisions.
 * Economic Struggles in Matailey:**
 * 1) Low Liquidity: The country is facing high interest rates, therefore the citizens of Matailey are facing struggles of receiving their money. Businesses have high interest causing the poeple of Matailey to wait long periods of time for their money to be converted into cold hard cash. The risk in investing in businesses is high due to the low liquidity. The money the citizens put into the companies sits and is distributed for long periods of thime. These time periods give large oppertunities for businesses to crash and fail. Once failed, the money yMatailans invested and loaned out is gone, leaving Matailans broke.
 * 2) Going Green: The country is facing high pollution percentages in the Persian Gulf from oil spills, over population, and thousands of boats. Also, the country's demand of plastic, metal, and other recyclable items has sky rocketed. The country's imports small amounts of these items, therefore they are creating a movement to reduce the demand by recycling plastic and metal.
 * GDP** $16,587,559,000,000 U.S. dollars
 * GDP per capita:** $107,059.24 U.S. dollars
 * 3.12% (1999)
 * 1.11(2000)
 * 2.23 (2010)
 * % population below the poverty line: ** 13%
 * Name of currency: ** Mataluro
 * =  ||= Weight ||= Length ||= Quality ||
 * = Classified A Shell ||= 0.1-0.15 oz. ||= 0.015-0.19 inches ||= clean, colored ||
 * = Classified B Shell ||= 0.06-0.09 oz. ||= 0.1-0.14 inches ||= bland colors, jagged ||
 * = Classified C Shell ||= 0.01-0.05oz. ||= 0.01-0.09 inches ||= no color, worst condition ||


 * [[image:rice_olive_shells.jpg width="192" height="144" align="left" caption="A variety of rice olive shells"]] || [[image:olive_shell.jpg width="175" height="179" caption="Multiple sizes of olive shells"]] || [[image:group_19_olive_shells_2.jpg width="240" height="180" caption="Nicely colored olive shells."]] || [[image:group_19_olive_shell_3.jpg width="259" height="154" caption="A class A shell."]] ||

***This is the classification chart Matailans use to classify their currency of Rice Olive shells.** **Agricultural products:** Near rivers, the citizens of Matailey use the water ways to keep the russet, purple, and fingerling potatoes hydrated. Livestock such as dairy and beef cattle, chickens, and duck are sold in Matailey. The country uses Oregano and Mint in their dishes, therefore the country has fields of these spices all over the country. The plants that demand more water are typically seen planted by or near the banks of the rivers crossing and intersecting through out the country. Banana peppers are also grown inside the country through out their country. Mint and the cream from the cattle are needed ingredients in the national dish, strawberry waffles. **Industries:** || **Oil** || **Beer** || **Potatoes (russet, purple, fingerling)** || **Main trading partners:**
 * **Angus Capa Dualo (ACD):** This is the main livestock farm of Matailey where 57% of all cattle is proccessed and distributed to other countries and thorugh out the country of Matailey. It is located in the country's capital, Wesleyn.
 * ** Hot Banana Corporation: ** This is one of the industries that farms, harvests, and pickles 63% of the country's entire population of banana peppers.
 * **Gray Monroe West Oil:** Matailey is known for their imense amount of oil. Gray Monroe West Oil is one of the largest oil rigs in the Middle East.
 * **Major Exports:** || **Cattle**
 * IPA Beer: IPA stands for India Pale Ale. The story of this type of beer started when Great Britain was at war. The soldiers drank a British beer, however the distance the beer had to travel created a flat beer. India created a beer with more hops to keep the beer fresh. The country of Matailey is one of the largest exports of this type of beer. Tower 10 IPA is one of the several IPA drafts the country makes. **
 * Major imports: **
 * 1) Strawberries, due to the religion of Strawberrism, strawberries are imported to Matailey. The lack of rain the country experiences through out the year creates an enviroment that is not compatible with the growing of strawberries.
 * 2) Rice Olive Shells, the country of Matailey uses the shells for currency, the government records all shells imported by size into three catergories. Smallest to large the shells represent a certain amount of change in currency.
 * 3) Metal, as stated, a custom of young girls and young women wear metal charms in their hair, the number of charms must be high because the charms can be commonly changed and many women continue to wear charms in their hair throughout their lives. Metal to craft these charms must be imported, the metal is usually aluminum because it does not rust.
 * 4) Coca, this vital tree produces small yellow and white flowers and are traditionally chewed with lime to activate the taste of the leaves. Coca in the country of Matailey is converted usually into cocaine, an illegal drug. Matailey is one of the top cocaine countries in the world.
 * 5) Banana Peppers, Matailey uses these peppers in several of their traditional dishes.
 * **Strawberries** || **Olive Shells** || **Aluminum** ||
 * [[image:group_19_us_flag.jpg width="192" height="144" caption="Matailey imports strawberries from the U.S."]] || [[image:group_19_indian_flag.jpg width="286" height="136" caption="Matailey imports olive shells from India."]] || [[image:group_19_chinese_flag.jpg width="272" height="118" caption="Matailey imports aluminum from China and Russia."]] ||


 * **Potatoes** || **Cattle** || **Oil** ||
 * [[image:group_19_flag_of_aruba.jpg width="240" height="130" caption="Aruba imports our potatoes."]] || [[image:group_19_flag_of_malaysia.jpg width="158" height="136" caption="Malaysia imports our cattle."]] || [[image:group_19_us_flag.jpg width="160" height="155" caption="The U.S. is a major importer of Matailey's oil"]] ||


 * DUE APRIL 10TH- 100 POINTS**



__Government Type:__ __Subdivisions of Power:__ The North East, North West, South East, and South West are officially classified as provinces. __Current Government Establishment:__ The country of Matailey was discovered and founded in 1629, however the government system was not established until 1631. The government aroused in 1631 due to the constitution being written and introduced through the three year span of government absence. __Legal System/Branches of Government:__ Executive: -President: The president has the executive power of Matailey. He is also the Commander in Cheif of the country, which means he has the main control of the armed forces. In addition he is the Cheif Legislator and the Head of foriegn Relations. -Vice President: He is there when the President is unable to fulfill his needs. He is the leader of the Senate. If their are any ties, he is the one to break the votes. -Executive Office of the President: The president is responsible for the well being of our country. This job can be stressfull and overwhelming, which is why the executive office was created. Cheif of Staff is the head of EOP. It was created to provide support for the president, so that he can run the country effectively. -Cabinet: Consists of 5 executive departments. They run the major federal agencies. They play an important role in the line of succession. -President: The citizens of Matailey vote for the president. When the citizens vote their ballot is really voting for the electors, who represents a canidate. After the electors take their vote. Each elector pledged to vote for a specific canidate. These votes are called electoral votes, which in the end decide upon the president. - Vice President: The canidate running for the presidential election selects a person who fits in the constitutional guidelines for vice presidency, to be the canidates running mate. Generally speaking when a canidate wins a presidency, in addition their running mate does too. Now technically under the 12th amendement the VP does not have to be the running mate of the President, but the goverment puts the President and his running mate on the same ballot, because the goverment assumes one will not for a President of one party and a VP of another. -Executive Office of the President: The senates confirmation is sometimes required for some of the adivisors, but most are appointed by the president. -Cabinet: The cabinet is appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. -Department of Agriculture: Robert Mutaleca. This department promotes agircultural trade, protects natural resources, food safety.. etc. -Department of Commerce: Sydney Chunacaula. This department helps improve the standard of living in Matailey. -Department of Defense: Laura Chonica. This department helps protect our country and supply the military with the neccesary equiment needed if a war began. -Department of Education: John Walcai. This department helps promote achievement in student throughout Matailey and to ensure that everyone has an equal oppurtunity for education. -Depatment of Health and Human Services: Matani Matai. This department protects the health of all Matailians. This deparment espically helps the citizens, who can least help themself. This is also the department which provides the option of health insurance.
 * Representative Democracy: The government of Matailey uses representative democracy to reflect the principal, by which the people of the country elect members to represent them through direct voting
 * Federal Power Distribution: The head or central government is located at the capitol, Wesleyn, however the three other districts of Matailey are governed by appointed local governments to attend to specific needs.
 * Presidential: Every five years, Matailans vote in primary elections to create a group of four candidates to run in the final election for president. Therefore, the citizens of Matailey vote twice, one for each stage of elections, primary and final.
 * How the election process occurs:** In a democracy the officials who represent the people of Matailey are voted on by the citizens of our country. The terms of the officials depends on their function. We vote twice for the president, but when the votes are casted for him they are really voting for the electors who represent him, known as the Electoral College. The electoral college are the people who officially decide on the president.
 * Jobs and functions:**
 * How are they chosen:**
 * Who and what are the positions of the Cabinet:**
 * Political Party Currently in Power:** Matailican (this party generally dominates the country)

The legislative branch is made up of 3 chambers. The Shellos represents the individual sections of Matailey government and puts in the opinion on things that the local governments think would most help the country. The Shellos has about 40 members, this number consists of 10 members from each section of Matailey: North East, North West, South East, South West, these people are voted in by the local governments. The Mattailos represents the people's opinions and specializes in making decisions about creating public parks, creating roads, building schools, etc. There are about 100 members in the Mattailos. They are voted into office by the people throughout the country. The Strawbros also represents the people and specialize in decisions of special forces and war decisions. The 32 members of Strawbros are also voted on by the population. They commonly end up being previous soldiers. Matailey uses three branches in their legislature to create a balanced odd number to make sure that majority agrees and one branch does not over power another.
 * Legislative:**
 * = Matailey Legislature Meets in Class ||
 * = [[image:meeting_room.jpg width="280" height="184" align="center"]] ||


 * Judicial:**
 * Matailey uses a court system similar to the United States. There are local courts that may put people into the local jail. A step up from the local courts are the area courts, there are 4 of these, North East, South East, North West, South West. All of these courts have multiple judges that are assigned each case individually. As you step up to the North and the South Courts, they have three judges cover each case, these judges are voted for by the people living on that half of the country and may put the convicts into prison. The final most powerful court is the Strawberry Court. They have 15 judges that act together to cover each and every case that comes into the court. The Strawberry Court puts people into a prison similar to Alcatraz in the United States but in Matailey it's called Prune Prison. **
 * Local Courts || Area Courts || North & South Courts || Strawberry Court ||
 * [[image:baby_gavel.jpg]] || [[image:larger_baby_gavel.jpg width="160" height="160"]] || [[image:gavel.jpg]] || [[image:big_gavel.jpg width="352" height="180"]] ||

The main political party is Matailican. This party typically dominates the goverment. The symbol for this party is similar to the elephant on our flag. Most of the country is Matailican. Their are other parties that exist, but the citizens who take part in the parties are so few, they hold a very slim chance in even becoming a canidate for presidency. Therefore the canidates on the ballots mostly represent the Matailican party. The reason the Matailican party is so dominate is because this party is has a good balance of what the people want, therefore many citizens agree on the beliefs of the Matailican party. This is why few are agianst that party.
 * Political Parties:**


 * DUE APRIL 21ST - 100 POINTS**

61.54%
 * **__Revenue:__**$11.58 trillion || __**Expenditures:**__ $11.99 trillion ||
 * [[image:graph.jpg width="479" height="368"]] || __**Government Spending as a Percentage of GDP:**__

||
 * **__Mandatory Spending:__**
 * 1) Paying National Debt
 * 2) Public Education
 * 3) National Laieo Holiday Festival
 * 4) Welfare Programs/Medicaid
 * 5) Matailey Maintenance (social security) || __**Discretionary Spending:**__
 * 6) National Defense
 * 7) Public National Parks
 * 8) Public Transportation
 * 9) Government Salaries
 * 10) Public Safety ||


 * DUE MAY 13th- 50 POINTS**

media type="custom" key="9410716"

*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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