[ WP ] Create a race of aliens , and present them how you would present a school report .

Erhm... 
 
 Hello, my name is Tom Clausewitz. I mean, we are in the same AP Comparative Intergalactic Governments class, so you know that. Anyways, today's presentation will cover the political, economic, and social systems of an alien race known as the `` Goreen.'' Needless to say, this will not be nearly as interesting as my previous presentation on the Constitutional History of Porn in the United States... for obvious reasons. 
 
 The Goreen are an intelligent species located in the outer rim of the Milky Way System. EarthGov first established contact with their civilization in the early 2210s, when a expeditionary task group from the Third Fleet responded to a distress signal from a mining vessel near Goreenian space. The ensuing skirmish left a foul mark on our diplomatic relations with their government, which had previously remained shut off from outside intergalactic society. Even today, their hermit home world remains an area off limit to most outside governments and trade with other plants in our system is limited. 
 
 However, in the late 2230s, the Goreen shifted their tone. A natural gas crisis sparked internal instability, prompting their leaders to seek outside help to remedy their economic and political woes. Diplomatic dialogue with the Council of Intelligent Races was established, and a group of anthropologists, economists, political scientists, and ( unofficially ) military experts were sent to the Goreenian homeworld. This temporary expedition is where the largest body of out knowledge comes from. 
 
 Politically, the Goreenian government is a *federal stratocracy*. Sounds like something from Civilization 83, eh? Erroneously, many lay observers confuse this with a military *junta*. In military *juntas*, the armed forces are n't granted power by a corresponding judicial establishment. They just have a monopoly on violent force, which enables them to coerce political and civilian threats that threaten their grip on power. In a stratocracy, are no civilian and judicial branches -- both are fulfilled by the military. You want to report a crime? Head down to the local military office. Oh, you're interested in enrolling your child in school? Local military office. Want an abortion? Come on, you know the drill. 
 
 So to use an example you're all familiar with -- unless you're Jesse, who was high most of the time during Sophomore World History -- Sparta was a stratocracy. All positions of power were held by veteran officers of the military. Everything revolved around strength and testosterone and... other macho displays of dominance. Oh, and for Jesse, I know you like retro animes from the 2000's. The government of Amestria in *Full Metal Alchemist* was a stratocracy. 
 
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 Yeah, you're welcome. 
 
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 Oh, we'll talk about those activities later. 
 
 Back to stratocracies... Their planet is divided into 12 regional sectors, each led by a military chief. The chiefs come together as council once an earth month for a week to deliberate on planetary policy. If there is a period of hardship in a region, its chief can send a representative in his place. Bills are proposed and voted upon during this period. In order for a proposition to pass, it needs to garner the approval of at least 8 military chiefs. However, a region can easily refuse to implement a law should its chief decide to veto it. If this occurs, the Council will organize a coalition to force that region to acquiesce to its demands through the use of military means. These coalitions are completely voluntary, though. As a result, it is not uncommon for a region to abstain from joining if it perceives the issue to not be within its immediate interests. 
 
 Economically, it's all about regions appropriating enough resources to maximize their own power relative to other regions. With this in mind, their activities are largely industrial and predicated upon the construction of weapon systems. For a young male, his participation in the labor market generally starts with joining the armed forces. If he survives for 20 or so years, then he'll transition into the factory environment as a weapons smith. That said, there are other sides to their economy as well. Farmers harvest crops, engineers drill for oil, and... well, that's about it. There does exist a wealthy upper class, though. But we do n't know much about them outside of the fact that their progeny generally find `` cushier'' jobs such as intelligence, engineering, or business operations. 
 
 During the internal crisis of the 2230s, when the Goreen became more open to the outside galaxy after their chieftans realized that constant large-scale wars rendered them collectively weak against outside agitators, regions fought against one another over limited natural gas fields. It was no holds barred, guys. They almost went to nuclear war... But EarthGov came with economists, engineers, and soldiers -- 
 
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 God Cathy, do you *always* have to interrupt my presentations with some allegation about Earth's imperialism? Jesus, save your hippy crap for college. Go read some dead anarchist like Noam Chomsky for chrissakes. 
 
 Anyways, Earth sent some economists, engineers, political scientists, and soldiers to their planet. The Goreen listened to the engineers who helped them find more oil and the soldiers who helped them achieve a balance of power. They ignored the political scientists and economists who pushed for reform. They even killed a couple of the anthropologists who were sent. Ha... how's that for moral relativism? That's when we cut of ties with the Goreen. Aside from an occasional trade offer and diplomatic crisis, we've largely stayed out ever since. 
 
 Any questions from the audience? And I swear to God, Cathy... 
 
 *Modeled partially off a presentation I gave in AP Government last year. 
 

