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Tussenland (Amerikaens: Tussenlandt, French: Toussenlande), officially the Federation of Tussenland, is a nation in North America. Tussenland is unique in that the country borders every nation of continental North America except New England. Along with Mexico, Tussenland stretches across the American continent bordering both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Tussenland is the second largest nation by population in North America and the largest by land area. The nation's capital is the historic city of Daesemus, while the largest city is the lakeside metropolis of Peoria. Tussenland consists of ten federal provinces, each being autonomous to a certain extent.

Etymology
Tussenland is the English form of the country's name in Amerikaens: Tussenlandt, derived from tussenin (in between) and landt (country). This refers to how Tussenland's initial geographic position in the 18th century was exclusively between the Appalachian and Rocky mountain ranges. Although its territory has expanded since, the country's original name has been preserved.

History
The first Europeans - the French, Dutch, and English - made contact with the various tribal states such as the Sioux, the Kahoekia and the Sjouwanacki in the early 17th century. Multiple Dutch trading posts in the area were consolidated in the 1655 Charter, with several New French and Spanish explorers venturing into the area by the end of the century. The Dutch West India Company allied with the Hoodenoshieöné in the Treaty of 1658 in opposition to the English and their indigenous allies. This lead to the Quiripi Wars and eventually to the Second Anglo-Dutch War in the 1660s.

French explorers like Jacques Marquette founded several settlements in modern Meerenland. The most notable of these include Sault Ste. Marie (1668) and Fort St. Antoine (1686). Dutch settlers from New Netherland and overseas established cities like Daesemus and Fort Maurice at the same time.

After Prince Maurice's War, the Anglo-Dutch coalition sought concessions from New France. The Dutch acquired the Upper Country (French: Pays d'en Haut) and renamed it Meerenland in 1755. In the 1760s, the modern province of Mississippi was opened for settlement under the West India Company in order to consolidate the area against French, British, and indigenous aggression.

During the Augustine period, the Netherlands was subjugated by France, leading to the independence of New Netherland. However, this revolutionary spirit did not spread westwards. Eventually, the Royal Tussenland Company was established in 1815 to administer the Colony of Tussenland. In the early 19th century, the Onatouwacka and Cajuckonoo nations of the Hoodenoshieöné moved southwards to present-day Irokesenland in order to resist increasing European settlement. The Irokees Grand Council signed a treaty with the Royal Tussenland Company in 1816, establishing the Protectorate of Irokesenland.

From 1810-1840, the western coast of Tussenland became a major trading hub with Asia. Numerous traders and settlers from Corea, Japan, and Soenda arrived in the present-day Westerzee province. On the other side of the continent, Virginia purchased a substantial amount of Appalachian lands from Tussenland in the 1848 Purchase.

In the 1850s, the Second Dutch-Spanish War wrecked havoc across the continent. The Dutch was forced to cede territory to New Spain. Inspired by the Zoekerist message of Abajomie, the slaves of South Tussenland established an independent state and became sovereign in 1855. At the same time, the Tussenland Upheavals began, eventually leading to Tussenland's independence with the Edict of 1861.

Gold rushes occurred in the Black Hills region of colonial Mexico, leading to an influx of Dutch settlers. This resulted in the outbreak of the Dutch-Mexican War of 1903. Tussenland recovered several lost territories and consolidated its position as an American power. The Amerikaens Free State was created shortly after, becoming a cultural and geographical buffer between Mexico and Tussenland. Immigration to Tussenland also began soaring, with Westerzee soon becoming a majority-Asian province by the middle of the century.

Throughout the early 20th century, several armed conflicts with the Netherlands threw the nation into chaos and forced Tussenland to assert its own identity. The creation of the Land Agency eventually led to the establishment of Crÿnssensland and Ruytersland and the expulsion of many indigenous Americans to Opdamsland. Soon, an oil boom swept parts of the country, creating the National Energy Corporation in 1912. In 1927, President Maurits Teysmin proposed a pre-emptive strike against Alyeska to neuter Russian influence. This was vastly unpopular, leading to the election of President Cornelis Laurensz in 1929 & Tussenland's involvement in the Great War. However, the prospect of war with Mexico and New Netherland forced Tussenland to completely withdraw in 1937. Laurensz's blunder was considered a national embarassment, with the National Assembly forcibily removing him from office not long after.



Government and Politics
Tussenland is a bicameral semi-presidential parliamentary federal republic operating under an uncodified constitution, the National Canon. The country's power is divided between the Federal Government (Amerikaens: Staetsoverhed) based in Daesemus and ten semi-autonomous provinces.

Executive

 * The President is popularly elected via a direct vote in a single voting constituency. S/he is responsible for diplomatic, military, and general administrative affairs. Each presidential term is six years, with a two-term cap.
 * The Prime Minister, chiefly dealing with domestic and economic policies, is appointed by the President with the approval of the legislature. The Prime Minister leads the Cabinet, which is directly answerable to the legislature.

Legislative

 * The National Congress is bicameral, divided into the lower National Assembly and the upper Council of Provinces.
 * The National Assembly is composed of 220 members from each province and Daesemus, with 20 representatives per. They are elected by the principle of majority through an open-list proportional election with provincial constituencies. It is the most important house, approving edicts, approving ministers, and primarily engaging in the creation of legislation.
 * The Council of Provinces is a 60-member body. One-third of delegates are appointed by provincial legislatures (two term limit) and two-thirds are elected for six-year terms (three term limit). The Council as the power to veto bills with a simple majority, manages the administration of provinces, and can advise the executive on matters of dismissal and of external importance.

Judicial

 * The judiciary system of Tussenland consists of three courts, in order of importance;
 * The Supreme Court at Daesemus,
 * The Provincial Courts at the capital of each province,
 * The Magistrate Courts of each district.
 * Additionally, the Special Federal Tribunal may be brought into session for matters of grave national importance.

Administrative divisions
There are four levels of administrative divisions in Tussenland, namely;


 * Provinces (Provincies)
 * Districts (Districktens)
 * Municipalities (Gemîntes)
 * Communes (Dorps)



Provinces

 * Meerenland (ML), capital at Saint-Alexis.
 * Irokesenland (IK), capital at Bloemendael.
 * Mississippi (MI), capital at Groenveld.
 * South Mizürie (ZM), capital at Zweerstad.
 * North Mizürie (NM), capital at New Amsterdam (not to be confused with New Amsterdam in New Netherland).
 * Crÿnssensland (CY), capital at Nackota.
 * Ruytersland (RU), capital at Melckstadt.
 * Westerzee (WZ), capital at Melenssel.
 * West Vorstland (WV), capital at Slavensmîr.
 * East Vorstland (OV), capital at Edgarville.

Language
The country's three primary languages are Amerikaens, French and Irokees. Other indigenous and settler languages, especially spoken in the vibrant urban centers of Mereenlandt and Westerzee, include Corean and Mandarin.