After the "Newchester Massacre" in 1858, every adult male in Rockland rallied fearing they were about to receive the heavy boot of their former King. In two separate locations, Newchester and Newhaven, they chose representatives and then met at a central yet relatively undeveloped location to dissuade any suggestion of favoritism while they formed a nation. The twenty-one delegates sent to Sherwood for this purpose truely were representatives of the whole. Three lived in Newchester, two in Newhaven, and sixteen owned wineries. They lived in tents for two weeks while they hammered out a constitution. Wanting to begin anew, they discarded the name they had originally bestowed upon their homeland, "Rockland," and adopted the less geographic "Republic of Wyneries" as their new identity.

By acclamation, on Christmas eve, 1858 they proclaimed their nation and accepted Ernie Gallo as provisional President with a provisional government consisting of five people. They also appointed Walter "Shallowwater" Murphy, the captain who had run the Grounding onto Wretched Rocks, as Admiral of the Navy, even though their navy consisted of only six rowboats.

Elections were held on January 30, 1859 and the new constitution was approved. Additionally, an elected government was ushered into office. And what a strange government it was.

The Constitution called for a President, who nominated his cabinet of ministers. They in turn had to be affirmed by the Senate. The Senate consisted of three Senators, one each elected from Newchester, Newhaven and the wineries. This was minimalist government, but sufficient. The total population was but 543 souls, so each senator represented 181 citizens (counting women and children). Since everyone had a family to support, a job to do, and some had estates to run, and because they were not paid for their services, they met every other Friday at Ian Dowd's homestead near Sherwood Forest to conduct the business of government. In 1868 the Senate voted to create a permanent capitol near Dowd's homestead. A tract of 1496 acres were set aside for Government use and called Grapeshire Preserve, which is the actual seat of government. However, it is completely surrounded by what at first was the township and later the city of Sherwood, so it is common to say the capitol is at Grapeshire in Sherwood. Technically, this is not correct, but no one makes a fuss about it except lawyers. At the time Grapeshire was created, national elected officials, ministers, and senators were authorized no expenses except travel for official purposes, room and board when staying at Grapeshire (or Sherwood, where many preferred to stay), and quartering for a horse if they rode one. They would not be authorize payment of a salary until 1911.

Grapeshire Preserve, at City of Sherwood

Grapeshire Preserve contains the Capitol Building, the Senate Offices, the Executive Mansion (which contains the President's offices), the home and office of the Prime Minister, the Senate Apartments (where senators may live free, although most choose to live in lavish homes in Sherwood), and The Ministries, a huge complex of buildings where most centralized government is located (except Defense, which is located at Pointe). Additionally, ever since England requested an Embassy in 1866, all foreign embassies are located at Grapeshire.

The Government at Grapeshire Preserve: A Senate Apartments, B Prime Minister, C Ministry of Justice,
D Court of Final Appeals, E National Investigations Division, F Senate Office Building, G National Capitol,
H Executive Mansion, I Ministry of Foreign Affairs, J Ministry of Education, K Ministry of Health & Welfare,
L Ministry of the Interior, M Ministry of Resources, N Ministry of Transportation, O Ministry of Commerce,
P National Museum of Natural Sciences, Q National Museum of Technologies, R National Museum of Arts,
S National Aquarium, T National Research Office, U Ministry of Finance, V Ministry of Offshore Fisheries,
W Ministry of Agriculture and Wineries; dozens of Ministry expansion offices are located north of Division
Street; dozens of additional government functions are located between Division Street and Through Street
North; all foreign trade missions, military liaisons, embassies and consuls south of Through Street North

The President essentially controls the agenda of the government, bringing matters to the ministers for their attention. If their resolution requires enactment of laws or expenditure of funds, it is elevated to the Senate for approval and authorization.

The original constitution required that each winery in the country send the president one bottle of wine each month as compensation for his sacrifice. A constitution amendment of 1885 changed this to payment of an annual fee from each winery in the amount of 24B.

Today, the President lives permanently at the EM (Executive Mansion) at Grapeshire and receives a salary of 300,000B annually.

The Prime Minister was originally envisioned to be a chief of staff, managing the ebb and flow of business for the President. It evolved over time to assume many of the trappings of the British PM, including a combined office/residence at number 10 Dowd Street (named in honor of Ian Dowd, whose homestead served the government for so many years).

The Minister of Defense is charged with procuring everything required for defense of the realm. He oversees the selection and commissioning of all officers and nominates all flag officers for Senate approval. He was the first minister to acquire a staff and is the only Ministry housed outside Grapeshire -- at Pointe. After RoW was occupied by the Japanese during WW II and later liberated, the serving MoD was tried for malfeasance of office, convicted, but committed suicide rather than go to prison for life. Although a dark memory, the episode did serve notice to Ministers that they could be held personally accountable for failure.

The Minister of Interior is charged with overseeing the development of the nation's infrastructure. It was originally conceived that this meant roads, bridges, ports, a post office, and a national university, but it has grown into the largest ministry of all. Its charges now include electricity, communications, railroads, airports, hazmat transport, storage and disposal, national research, and nuclear energy. The national university was removed and awarded to a new ministry.

To be continued....