Salerno

Salerno
	The Kingdom of Salerno
	National Standard of Salerno
	All holdings of the Kingdom of Salerno as of November 28th, 2024
General
Location	-7232, 4720
Demonym	Salernite
Activity level	High (as of September 24th, 2024)
Alliance	Occidental Cooperative
Territories	Archduchy of Brunsvik ; Province of Royal Karydia ; Province of Anguira ;
Currency	Diamonds
Government
Government	Semi-Constitutional Monarchy
Governing document	Constitution of Salerno
• King of Salerno	JakeRambo
• Prime Minister of Salerno	Bronnakus
• Cabinet Ministers	Realmichael (Foreign) ; Luminous15 (Exchequer) ; N0stalgiic (Defense) ; Carter_t23 (Development) ; GodOfTired (Home)
Formation
Foundation date	5th of December, 2023 (Established) ; 31st of July, 2024 (Reconstituted) ;
Foundation document	Fifth of December Agreement
Preceded by	Pontifical Administration in Avenio (administrative) ; Batavian Kingdom (honorary)
Culture
Language	English (Official) ;
Religion	Roman Catholic (Official)
Motto	"Avante Salerno!" (official, civil) ; "It's not over until I win." (unofficial)
Links
Subreddit	https://reddit.com/r/CivSalerno
Discord	https://discord.gg/k3YM4DRv

Salerno (officially the Kingdom of Salerno) is a semi-constitutional monarchy located in Karydia and in the Southern Sea of CivMC. It was established on the 5th of December, 2023 by a group of new players alongside a substantial contingent of former Papal States citizens and administrators. It officially succeeded the prior pontifical administration of the region under Lucius I's Papal States following the ratification of the Sixth of December Agreement between the two powers. The Kingdom of Salerno was the protecting power of the Brunsvik City State, with relations between the two entities governed by the aforementioned Sixth of December Agreement. The Kingdom of Salerno initially ceased to exist upon the end of the Grasslands Gambit,^[1] with many of its citizens emigrating to the new Commonwealth of Arcandria. Several months after the fall of Arcandria, many former Salernans chose to revive the nation after travelling to the formerly Salerno island of Brunsvik: negotiating its return from the Imperial Federation and re-establishing the Kingdom on the 31st of July, 2024.

Since it's re-establishment in the summer of 2024, Salerno has developed into a hub for new players, and has become widely recognized as one of the most newfriend-centric nations on CivMC. The various elected governments of Salerno have done much to reinforce this image, promoting industries, services, and businesses which are likely to aid new players.

Politics

Salerno is a semi-constitutional monarchy led by the King as head of state and the Prime Minister as head of government. Politics in Salerno is dominated by the monarch and their appointed Cabinet, who determine policy and control the direction of the Royal Parliament, despite its status as an elected body. Although the political system is ever-evolving in Salerno, with more power continually delegated to the people and a wider array of officials, a continuing state of transition empowers the monarch to take action "as they deem necessary" for the welfare of the state: limiting but not eliminating the relevance of the written constitution.

Among the core citizens of Salerno include the members of the Royal Cabinet and the Security Council, which handle the implementation of policy and national security matters. The cabinet is ultimately answerable to the Prime Minister, who works in close conjunction with the monarch to determine national policy and the government's legislative priorities in the Royal Parliament.

Salerno operates based off a progressive citizenship system, with higher ranks of citizenship (and the associated privileges and responsibilities) determined by contribution to the nation in both resources, time, and residence.

World's End Courthouse under construction. The building was later demolished prior to its completion, but it was the originally planned seat of the Royal Parliament of Salerno.

As of November 2024, key political issues for many Salerno citizens involved the expansion of amenities and public services for Salernites living on the Karydian continent. The political priorities of Salernites living on the island of Brunsvik differed, however, with issues such as urban planning & development prioritized.

The current ruling party of the Kingdom of Salerno is the Reform Party, a big tent conservative party which seeks the preservation of the status quo, particularly relating to issues concerning the Isle of Brunsvik's planning. The Reform Party's main opposition consists of a variety of independent politicians and the recently emergent Salerno Unity Party, which calls for further liberalization in Salerno's political system and for the end of what they see as "excessive" regulatory hurdles, particularly as they relate to building in Brunsvik.

History

2023

Salerno inherited the property, equipment, and membership of the Pontifical Palatine Guard following the Sixth of December Agreement, which formed the basis for the Salernan standing army (known as the Royal Guard), based out of the Lexington Bunker (named in honor of one of the Catholic Church's residents) in central Salerno. The Lexington Bunker in particular was disabled by an Imperial Federation force at the end of the Grasslands Gambit with DGP support, which marked the effective dissolution of the Salernan Army. Although this was initially contested, even by some internal Salernan sources, it was ultimately confirmed by DGP officials in later 2024 following the establishment of the second Kingdom, with the individuals in question expressing regret for the strike as it was following the wars effective conclusion.

Salerno was a combatant nation in the Grasslands Gambit, fighting with its Gang Shi/Butternut allies following the DGP's first strike on the Gang Shi bunker. Salernan Royal Guards achieved one of the only kills of the war (despite not securing the pearl) and saw active combat on the Yoahtl Skybridge, which saw a great number of Salernan fighters pearled. Following the end of the war, Salerno was subject to raiding by allegedly DGP-funded IF forces, which contributed to the Salerno population's decision to emigrate to the new Commonwealth of Arcandria.

Salerno's decision to join the war was internally controversial, with many Salernan officials initially against the decision to join the war on the same side of Lambeau fighters who once stole the lands of the Catholic Church. However, eventually, all Salernan officials closed ranks and agreed to support the war effort (which was short lived, culminating in the rapid defeat of the Gang Shi/Butternut alliance).

After the war, Salerno's Caerdun territory was forcibly de-claimed^[2] and was split up between Northfort and Baile after those nations had discussed it with Icenia.^[1] Salerno collapsed soon afterwards, giving way to the creation of the Commonwealth of Arcandria, another short-lived state mostly populated by veterans of the Grasslands Gambit. Arcandria's collapse as a result of internal power struggles between Highroll and Dark_FFC ultimately led Council Secretary Realmichael to quit the server for several months, followed by the rest of the dwindling Arcandrian population, the remains of which moved across the world.

2024

The Directorate & "New Batavia"

Ultimately, a restored interest in CivMC by many of the Salerno population led to a group of former Salernan citizens discussing the issue of their return to Salerno territory (specifically, the Isle of Brunsvik, which was chosen partially due to its strategic location near a nether portal) with representatives of the Marstrian government, which promised support in the creation of a new state (the proposed Commonwealth of New Batavia). It was after the success of negotiations between the occupying IF powers of the island and this Commonwealth of New Batavia that it was ultimately decided to revive the Kingdom of Salerno rather than create a new state, owing to the mostly Salernan origin of the new nation's core citizenry.

Interestingly, the so-called "Second Kingdom" had little territorial overlap with the "First Kingdom," with Salerno now instead to be centered around Eastern Karydia and the Isle of Brunsvik rather than Western Karydia. The political center of the nation, Brunsvik, was ultimately the only "First Kingdom" territory which remained within the Kingdom on the eve of its restoration.

A New Kingdom

The Kingdom was officially restored on the 31st of July, 2024, coming with it a new constitution and system of governance. Brunsvik Island was transformed in the coming days, with the remnants of old powers cleared away and new Salernan buildings taking their place. Diplomatic relations were soon restored with many of Salerno's partners and historical neighbors, as well as other newcomers to the region: these nations included the Kitarchy of Marstria, the Dominion of Reggio, and Mayguow. During this early period, Realmichael, Luminous15, and African_Warl0rd emerged as key figures. Once core members of the Papal States, they now emerged to lead the creation of the newly-restored Kingdom of Salerno. Upon his return on August 5th to active membership, Realmichael was officially crowned as King by the Salerno nobility: transitioning seamlessly from Duke-Regent to the first King of the Kingdom of Salerno. Luminous15 and African_Warl0rd emerged as key figures in the Salernan cabinet, continuing to organize affairs as they did during the initial period of reconstruction.

A photo of HS1, one of Salerno's biggest early infrastructure projects, under construction.

August of 2024 also saw a number of changes within Salerno, such as the establishment of a Special Ministry for Automation dedicated to the botting and streamlining of Salerno agriculture, as well as a reform of the disorganized state security forces into a single permanent force for domestic and foreign disturbances: the Kingsguard. These security reforms were prompted by the earlier failures of the Royal Guard and Home Office to maintain order on the island with the large influx of new citizens. Development of the nation also continued steadily, with population growth ultimately leading to the establishment of a second city within Salerno's claims at the World Border, which was incorporated as "World's End" for this reason.

One of the largest early infrastructure projects coordinated by the African_Warl0rd ministry was HS1 (High Speed 1), a high speed rail network connecting the two cities of World's End and Brunsvik, built to create a bridge between the two largest population centers in the nation. Through the mobilization of the Salerno population via the Civil Works Administration, the project was rapidly constructed, with many citizens contributing from their own supplies to produce enough copper for the railway. As of mid August, the project was completed, with the African_Warl0rd Ministry claiming it as yet another major accomplishment.

Salerno September

In the September Parliamentary Elections, African_Warl0rd was returned to parliament with a resounding majority in both houses of the Royal Parliament, with the citizens of Salerno rallying around their successful leader. Notably, Warl0rd's second cabinet was the first PM election in Parliament which was contested by an opposing political party, with his Moderate Party running opposed to the new Reform Party under Brunsvik City Commissioner SpaceIsAlive. Although the Reform Party garnered a large proportion of votes and could have potentially unseated the Prime Minister with enough centrist support, African_Warl0rd's majority proved too unshakable to reasonably contest, and he was returned to power with a comfortable majority. During this period, Salerno ratified a treaty of alliance with the Great Western Bay, securing its southern flank from increasing Alcantaran aggression.

Electoral diagram of the September Parliament, the Kingdom of Salerno's largest legislature to date.

Yet not all was well in the region. On September 2nd, 2024, 7 members of the Salerno Army traveled from Brunsvik to the capital of Alcantara, Malasana. Their goal was to pearl Thanis, a Alcantaran national who killed multiple citizens of Salerno. However, after arriving in Alcantara and going near Malasana, they encountered 3 unknown militants (allegedly found to be VPN alts) in an underground bunker. A quick skirmish commenced, where 4 of the 7 Salerno soldiers were pearled and the rest retreated back to Brunsvik. The battle, known as the Battle of Malasana, left an substantial impact on Salerno morale.^[3]

Publicity regarding this battle was terrible, with a local Salerno Newspaper, the Salerno Times dubbing it a "Publicity Massacre." It was later found that the attack was not authorized by King Michael I, with the failed attack prompting the recently re-elected Prime Minister African_Warl0rd to offer his resignation. Despite his disappointment in the unauthorized attack, Michael I refused his resignation, charging the Prime Minister and his cabinet to spearhead a new initiative suggested by recent Naran immigrant Bronnakus - "Salerno September." The following day, members of the cabinet announced this programme, prompting significant changes within Salerno.^[4] Military reforms were the cornerstone of these changes, with the creation of a national militia and the inauguration of a new city bunker (built to replace the distant and aging Fort Knox). A new law was also instituted requiring the monarch to authorize most non-emergency military actions. Commercial and civilian reforms were also implemented, improving player retention and immigrant integration.

The "Salerno September" initiative was ultimately a great success, having the nation establish independent XP production and further develop the nation's commercial sector with the establishment of the first functional businesses in Brunsvik.

A New Era

October and November a relatively quiet months for Salerno politically, but nevertheless saw the continuation of national development projects. A CUB with Pavia was signed in November, laying the groundwork for an intercontinental railway between Salerno and Pavia, the first line of which was finished in early November. The end of Salerno September also saw the end of the African_Warl0rd Cabinet and the inauguration of the SpaceIsAlive Cabinet, which placed an even larger focus on developing the City of Brunsvik. The end of Realmichael's mandate as King and his decision not to run for a second term ultimately ushered in a new era for Salerno, with JakeRambo elected by the nobles as King Jacob I.

SpaceIsAlive's was handily re-elected to serve as Prime Minister for the month of November, and notably appointed a number of "new guard" players as cabinet ministers - including Xerva and Coolchacha97. Holdovers from the previous cabinets included Realmichael and Bronnakus, who both remained in government to advise the new Prime Minister. Prior to their election, Prime Minister Space was criticized by some Moderate Party politicians as "too inwards focused" and "uneducated on international affairs," but these criticisms proved moot, with Salerno continuing to remain active in regional affairs under her premiership under the guidance of key government members such as Bronnakus. Although her October cabinet was administered as a national unity government (meaning a grand coalition between the Reform & Moderate parties shared power), Reform was elected an absolute majority in November, ending the coalition government and ushering in the first period of sole Reform rule in the history of the country, and ending the Moderate Party's rule which had began at the beginning of the Second Kingdom.

Skyline of the Greater Brunsvik Area: Salerno's capital & its most developed urban center.

Early November also saw the "Ducal Reform Act" engineered by Bronnakus become law, effectively ending the practice of Parliament being comprised of 50% appointed legislators and establishing a legislature dominated by elected MPs. This act of constitutional significance passed with a substantial majority in a public referendum, and was supported by nearly every political figure in Salerno - including Luminous15, Realmichael, and JakeRambo. Shortly following the ratification of this act, the once-dominant Moderate Party reestablished itself under Bronnakus' leadership as the Salerno Unity Party, promoting civil development and a turn away from command & military-centric economics.

Economics, Culture, and Development

The economy of the First Kingdom of Salerno was moderately advanced, with most important factories provided for public use by the Salernan government. Salerno operated primarily off of a command economy, with all economic decisions made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Much of Salerno's economy, like the previous Papal Administration, was based off of trade with Gang Shi (with relations initially established by controversial Papal representative Carter_t23), which contributed to Salerno's controversial decision to back Gang Shi in the Grasslands Gambit war.

The re-establishment of Salerno immediately heralded in a rapid period of organized advancement in Salerno, with the nation's industrial capacity restored in only a few days with the help of formerly Arcandrian stockpiles and a much larger active population base. Trade ties were immediately established with a number of neighboring nations, with large amounts of building materials consumed to fuel the rapid redevelopment of the island. Brunsvik would undergo a rapid transformation in the coming days, shifting almost overnight from an abandoned ghost-town to a rapidly developing city. Meanwhile, Salerno's government officials continue to grapple with the logistics of supplying resources to new citizens in accordance with the nation's generous public assistance programs.

Further advances in economics led to the government formally modernizing its public services regime, establishing EXP/Crop & Ore exchanges in the nation's capital of Brunsvik. Efforts to liberalize the economy and encourage the establishment of private enterprise are ongoing, and several private businesses are known to operate out of Brunsvik, primarily providing goods & services to players located in the Southern Sea.

Demographics

Salerno's national population of over fifty registered citizens is composed of around 50% new arrivals to CivMC, with a veteran core of the nation built around a number of former citizens of the Papal States, still themselves also considered "new players" in a more general sense. Most Salerno citizens were recruited from friend groups and circles initially outside of Civ, with core members bringing them in and working on integrating them into CivMC. This smaller population of players at the core of the Second Kingdom remains most dominant in national politics and government due to their experience, despite the existence of democratic elections. Many of these originally recruited players are known as "Colenians," named for a different server which they originated from.

During Salerno September, however, a spike in immigration led to newfriends and veterans from CivMC proper taking up a much more significant role - both demographically and politically - in Salerno. Key members of this contingent include Foreign Secretary Bronnakus, the originator of "Salerno September" and a long time advisor to the Salerno government.

Foreign Relations and Military

A consequence from the staunchly "Salerno Inwards" statesman African_Warl0rd, Salerno has a history of staunch isolationsim on the world stage: engaging in diplomatic relations solely with its neighbors and with limited partners internationally. The beginning of the SpaceIsAlive saw a departure from this policy with the internationalist policies of Foreign Secretary Bronnakus, who sought to "put Salerno on the map" and to identify Salerno as "the place where good things happen." In these efforts he had support from a number of prominent Salernan statesmen, including Luminous15, JakeRambo, and Realmichael, while others remained more skeptical of his diplomatic strategy. Nevertheless, by the tail end of 2024, Salerno's isolationist period had came to an end, and a number of diplomatic efforts had improved Salerno's diplomatic standing; such as a C.U.B. agreement with Pavia, a reinforced alliance with the GWB, and a cordial relationship with the Imperial Federation.

Salerno maintains active diplomatic relations with a number of nations, including Reggio Argeddina, Groveheart, Withervale (GWB), Alcantara, Pavia-Griffin, the Karydian Union (IF), the wider Imperial Federation, and the Kitarchy of Marstria. On the international stage, its closest political & military partner has often been identified as the Kingdom of Groveheart, which it has maintained a military alliance with since the Western Bay Conflict, recently expanding this to encompass joint infrastructure.

The West Island Bridge & Ambrose Arena, two major landmarks and tourist attractions in the Greater Brunsvik Area.

Salerno was originally re-established in a political union with the Kitarchy of Marstria, with the nation represented as a highly autonomous in the federal union. However, this arrangement ultimately lapsed during September of 2024, and Salerno became a fully sovereign state.

From 2023 to the early period of the Second Kingdom, Salerno's primary military force was the Royal Guard. Following the Massacre at Malasana, military reforms established a 3-tier military system involving a reserve militia (consisting of all eligible Salerno citizens), a regular force of capable PvPers, and a small force of more experienced PvPers responsible for taking command of Salernan forces in wartime and acting as the nation's quick response force - the Kingsguard (which is widely considered in Salerno to be the successor to the Royal Guard which fought in the Grasslands Gambit). Various regions of Salerno additionally maintain their own local militias, although these are by law integrated into the wider military in times of national emergency or war. One example of this is the Palatine Guard, which is responsible for security within the Palatinate of Apulia (also known as the Province of Royal Karydia), consisting of solely volunteers from Royal Karydia.

Salerno's primary military installation - the Lexington Bunker, or "Fort Knox" (named for a member of the former Papal States) - was initially disabled by an IF force at the end of the Grasslands Gambit, allegedly on behalf of the DGP, but it was restored to activity during the Arcandrian period. Nevertheless, because of its outdated design, bad location, and requests from the IF, it is currently in the process of decommissioning. Today, the modern Brunsvik Bunker serves as the primary installation for the Salerno Kingsguard.

Kings & Regents of Salerno

Much executive power in Salerno is held by the King, who officially appoints the Prime Minister and oversees the government alongside the Prime Minister. Although the democratically elected Prime Minister officially oversees the cabinet and plays a large role in determining its ministers, the reign of Michael I did much to broaden the initially ceremonial powers (under the first Kingdom) of the sovereign, fashioning it into a true executive position. The reign of Jacob I has seen this trend continue, with the monarch nevertheless cooperating with and seeking the consent of the Prime Minister on major policy decisions.

First Kingdom of Salerno

Reign of King Euro I
Name Reign	Duration of Reign	Portrait	National Banner	End of Mandate	Full Title	Prince (at terms end)	Cabinets Appointed
Euro I December 5th 2023 - December 20th 2023	15 days	TBD		December 20th 2023 by Dissolution of Salerno	King of Salerno, Sovereign of the State, Defender of the Faith, Protector of the Rights of Man	None	First Biden Ministry
Major Accomplishments & Notes
Euro I was the first King of Salerno, with his election by the nobles setting a precedent of the monarch being elected by the nation's nobility. Euro I was more or less distant from the governing of the nation, with the cabinet under Broski_Biden taking a much more prominent role. Euro I was the first and only sovereign of the first Kingdom of Salerno.

Second Kingdom of Salerno

Regency of Archduke Realmichael
Name Reign	Duration of Reign	Portrait	National Banner	End of Mandate	Full Title	Counselor (at terms end)	Cabinets Appointed
Realmichael August 2nd, 2024 - August 5th, 2024	15 days	TBD		August 5th 2024 by Voluntary Abdication	Duke-Regent of Salerno, Archduke of Brunsvik	Quickmia	First Luminous15 Cabinet
Major Accomplishments & Notes
Realmichael oversaw the transition from the Commonwealth of New Batavia to the Second Kingdom of Salerno, and was - alongside Luminous15 - the impetus for the restoration of the Salernite throne. During his regency, he oversaw the IF recognition of Salernan claims over the island of Brunsvik. Realmichael played a key role in the appointment of Salerno's first nobles and in the writing of the national constitution. Upon ratification of the constitution, Realmichael was unanimously elected by the Electoral Diet to serve as Salerno's second King.

Reign of Michael I
Name Reign	Duration of Reign	Portrait	National Banner	End of Mandate	Full Title	Prince (at terms end)	Cabinets Appointed
Michael I August 5th, 2024 - October 29th, 2024	86 days	TBD		December 20th 2023 by End of Mandate	King of Salerno, Defender of the Faith, Archduke of Brunsvik	JakeRambo	First African_Warl0rd Cabinet Second African_Warl0rd Cabinet Space Caretaker Government First Space Cabinet (October Nat. Unity Govmt.)
Major Accomplishments & Notes
Michael I's reign saw a productive partnership with the African_Warl0rd Cabinets and the later SpaceIsAlive Cabinet. Under his reign, the Sovereign's initially limited role in government expanded considerably, with the semi-ceremonial seat growing to take the shape of a proper executive head of state. This came to be known as the so-called period of the "Executive Monarchy," with the Prime Minister ultimately respecting the Sovereign's wishes for the nation in many cases. His early reign saw conflict between the office of the Prime Minister and the Prince, who both sought recognition as the realm's second most powerful officer. Ultimately, this was resolved by the Brunsvik Consensus, which established the Prince as a position outside of the traditional chain of command, directly delegated responsibilities by the Sovereign and answering only to them. The Prime Minister, meanwhile, would continue to handle the day-to-day affairs of governance. Under his reign, he spearheaded negotiations to oversee the return of the Brunsvik Portal from IF control to the Salernan control, aided in large part by his working relationship with sitting IF Chancellor Potato_Duke. Throughout his early reign, Michael I was known for his political cooperation & partnership with his Prime Minister African_Warl0rd, who often personally oversaw many of the projects planned by the Sovereign. Michael I was a prolific legislator during his reign, with his legislative efforts aided by his permanent seat in Parliament granted to him by his Archducal title. He by in large determined the Salernan legislative agenda for the entirety of his reign. Throughout the entirety of his reign, Michael I was known for the mediation of conflicts within his cabinet, with many officials of differing visions often engaging in fierce but respectful political debate. Michael I appointed three different Princes of Salerno during his reign - VultureRocky, N0stalgiic, and finally JakeRambo. Michael I's reign saw the consolidation of the Sovereign's authority over the military, especially following the Alcantaran Disaster during the Western Bay Conflict. Serving over 100 consecutive days in office when taking into consideration his period of service as Duke-Regent, Michael I was as of November 17th the longest serving Salernan ruler.

Reign of Jacob I
Name Reign	Duration of Reign	Portrait	National Banner	End of Mandate	Full Title	Election	Cabinets Appointed
Jacob I October 29th, 2024 - Present	Incumbent	TBD		Incumbent	King of Salerno, Defender of the Faith, Viscount of Caernarfon	October 29th 2024	Second Space Cabinet First Bronnakus
Major Accomplishments & Notes
Jacob I was unanimously elected by the Electoral Diet to serve as the successor to King Michael I. Jacob I's early reign saw the continuation of the so-called "executive monarchy," with the monarch continuing to serve as the nation's central executive leader. The election of Bronnakus as Prime Minister (and prior appointment of Realmichael as Acting PM) began the slow shift away from an executive monarchy, with the Prime Minister beginning to take a larger and more central role in the nation's governance. Jacob I ratified a number of key legislative achievements, such as the integration of Marstria, Royal Elections Act, and the IF-Salerno alliance. Jacob I is known for his architectural skill, and as sovereign much of his focus was directed towards the construction of new buildings and the development of the national capital, which he took a central role in. Jacob I is additionally known for being the sole designer of three of Brunsvik's major cultural landmarks - the Salerno International Rail Station, the Western Bridge, and the Palace of Brunsvik. Jacob I was the first monarch to maintain a formal privy council, consisting of himself, the Prince, and the newly-established position of Lord Chamberlain. Under Jacob I's reign, the right of the Prince to serve as Prince-Regent was firmly established through precedent, with him formally delegating the prince the authority to act on his behalf in his absence.

Prime Ministers of Salerno

Principal executive power in Salerno is formally held by Parliament through the Cabinet, with Salerno operating under a modified Westminster system of government. Nevertheless, the Sovereign retains significant power to set the agenda of the Cabinet & Parliament, and is often significantly involved in government business. It is nevertheless apparent that the influence of Cabinet is significant, and that the monarch cannot effectively act without the express (or implicit) consent of the governing body. A poll held during the first African_Warl0rd Ministry showed that a majority (63%) of Salernan citizens believed that the Cabinet was the most powerful institution in Salerno (compared to the Monarch, the Parliament, and the Supreme Court) signaling high confidence in the nation's democratic institutions.

Two consecutive terms with a generally similar political makeup will be represented with a single entry.