Artanian Union

The Artanian Union (AU) is a continental body whose aims are to protect the interests of its member states and to promote freedom and democracy throughout Artania. However the Artanian Union differs in the sense that it is tolerant of all types of governments as long as they maintain the legitimacy of the people they govern over. Currently the Artanian Union has 2 member states in the process of ratification and has sent out invitations to 11 other nations on Artania.

The headquarters of the Union was purchased by members of the Demokratische Partei Dorvik (Democratic Party of Dorvik) when their leader, Trajan Petrov first came up with the idea of the Union. The Artanian Union Building is located in Schrudehofen, Kordusia, People's Republic of Dorvik it is a temporary location until the Artanian Council of Representatives can agree on a permanent location for the Union.

The most prominent position in the AU is the position of Director-General who is responsible for the overall direction of the Artanian Union and its face to the continent and the rest of the world.

History
The idea of a continental union on Artania had been tried and failed numerous times however the history behind the failed attempts were because of a weak base of supporters in the nations where the idea came from. Trajan Petrov knew that Dorvik along with almost all other Artanian nations were dedicated to peace and security on their continent and sought to use this to his advantage. In late 3259 he begun to speak with citizens and politicians throughout Dorvik and eventually Artania about a coalition of nations for the betterment of the continent, it was here that he formed the basis of the Artanian Union.

Trajan first saw it as an economic cooperation union but eventually expanded the idea to encompass the promotion of fair and free government on Artania, realizing that an economic union would come with the formation of a supranational union. The Democratic Party of Dorvik eventually went on and disbanded before the idea was realized and it was picked up nearly 20 years later by the Dorvish Conservative Party and their leader Gotthilf Siegel with the help of the Dorvish Republicans and the Dorvish Foreign Minister, Emma Römer the ratification process of the Artanian Union came to fruition and Dorvik was joined by Rutania in the initial ratification process in late 3283.

Artanian Council of Representatives
The Artanian Council of Representatives is the main body of the Artanian Union and is lead by the Director-General of the Artanian Union. The point behind the ACR is to help nations with whatever issues they are facing, the Artanian Union can be compared to a supranational legislature but its "resolutions" are not binding and members do not have to follow them if opposition it met on the home front of the nation.

The ACR operates three permanent committees which every member state of the Artanian Union has a representative on, they are as follows:
 * Governance and Rules Committee (Responsible for general administration and betterment of the Artanian Council of Representatives and the Union as a whole.)
 * Artanian Economic-Budget Committee (Responsible for the general financials and membership fees of the Artanian Council of Representatives and the Union as a whole.)
 * Membership Committee (Responsible for the acceptance, denial, re-entry and suspension of all who wish to join or re-join the Artanian Union.)

The three permanent committees are responsible for the central administration of the Union. Committees may be created, disbanded or temporarily disbanded by a vote of the ACR during its sessions.

The founding document of the Artanian Union, the Artanian Union Charter specify's that supranational political parties may exist and currently none exist at the Union level, however the Artanian Federal Democrats have expressed interest in becoming a supranational political party, the first of its kind.

Artanian Union Secretariat
The Artanian Union Secretariat is responsible for the top-level administration of the organization, the Secretariat includes:

Current Composition (As of October 3283)

 * Director-General
 * Deputy Director-General
 * Union Secretary
 * Union Financial Manager

Objectives
The Charter of the Artanian Union outlines three essential goals to the organization, they are:
 * Promotion of Freedom.
 * Promotion of Democracy.
 * Tolerance of governing systems outside of democracy.

Funding
The current funding for the organization is currently in the millions due to donations from various political organizations throughout Dorvik as well as having the political support from the Artanian Federal Democrats. Exact figures have yet to be released as the organization is in its infant stages.