About the JN

What is the JN?

The Joined Nations (JN) is a yearlong classroom activity. It is a rough simulation of the United Nations and a bit of a nation building simulator. You, the students, take on the roles of diplomatic representatives/leaders from a country. Your job is to develop your country by gaining resources, developing your country, and making friends while keeping the world safe and at peace. At the end of the year, the winner is the country with the most wealth.

Purpose

Why are we doing this? Well, first, it is fun! It is also a way to get you to learn about what is happening in the world around you. Most importantly though, it gives you a hands-on experience of how democracy, the UN, and government works in real life and how conflicting values and interests make compromise and cooperation so difficult.

Objective

The main objective for you as a member of the JN is to gain wealth for your country. Wealth is the total value of all of your resources, technology, agriculture, industry, healthcare, and military points. Read below for a detailed explanation of what these points are, how to get them, and what they can do for your country below.

Gaining and Losing Wealth

Wealth is what brings prosperity to a nation. A country's wealth is the total value of everything in its country. Sometimes this number is called GDP or GNP, but for the JN, we will be calling this value the country's "total wealth". In the JN, a country's wealth will be the total value of all of its points where a resource point has a value of 1, a technology point has a value of 10, an agriculture point has a value of 20, an industry point has a value of 40, a healthcare point has a vale of 20, and a military point has a value of 50. Read below for a complete description of these points, what they can do, and how to get them. Remember, all points can be "sold" for 80% of their value in resources. (For example, an industry point can be sold for 32 resources.) 

Resource Points: The Currency of the JN

Every country needs resources. These are the things that keep our people alive. People, crops, animals, trees, metals, water, manufactured goods, etc. are all resources. Countries use resources to provide its people with all the things they need to survive: food, water, shelter, peace, and safety. In the JN, resource points are the foundation of your country's wealth. Resource Points function as the currency you will use to build you country and resolve problems. You will work hard in class and the JN to earn resource points for your country that you can then use to earn other types of points that will increase your country's wealth. Think of earning resource points like earning a salary for doing your job well. The more work you finish in class, the more resource points you will get for your JN country. There is extra work you can do to get even more resource points if you want.

There are four ways to get resource points (RP) in the JN:

1. Class work. You will get RP for any work that you turn in, complete or not. For example, if an assignment has 10 questions, but you only completed two. You can still turn it in and get points for the two questions you completed. It is essential that you turn in work to get your resource points.
   
   

2. Current events assignments. Read some news and complete the online form from here to get points. You can get a maximum of  15 RP plus  bonus resources depending on the nature of the news you find. How many RP you get will depend on the quality and completeness of your work on the Form. For example, if you find a news article about  the discovery of new oil resources, read it and complete a form at an adequate level, you will get about 10 RP and some bonus Energy Resources from the Current Event Form, too.
   
   

3. Random events from JN Meetings. During JN Meetings things will happen. Sometimes these will give you RP, but they can also take your RP away.
   
   

4. Trade and aid. Other countries can give you RP through trades. Complete a trading form in class to do this. You can also ask for help from the JN and receive aid in this way.

The most important and effective way to get resource points is to do a fantastic job at your job of being a student. All assignments and activities we do throughout the year will give you an opportunity to earn resource points. The only way to get points this way is to come to class, try your best, complete class assignments, and turn them in on Google Classroom. Mr. Brunken may also, at his discretion, award or take away RP for certain behaviors in class.

The final way to get resource points is to apply for aid (help) from the JN or get lucky and encounter a beneficial Random Events. If you don’t have enough resource points to solve a problem facing your country, you can apply for aid using the process described later. Random Events happen at each JN Meeting. Some of these will give you resources, others might cause you to lose resources. It's...random.

After you get enough resource points, you can use them to invest in either technology, agriculture, industry, or your military.

Points and Resources

You goal as JN country is to increase your nation's wealth. You do this with points. There are five kinds of points: Technology, Agriculture, Industry, Health, and Military. These points add to your nation's wealth and give you bonuses and accelerate the speed that your country gains wealth. They also keep your country alive. The backbone of any nation is its population. Your JN country has a population. These are shown as "Human Resource Points". The higher your HRP, the more resources you will gain in taxes. The more resources you gain, the more points you can acquire. However, your HRP need resources to survive. There are four types of resources: Agriculture, Industry, Energy, and Military. These get consumed and produced before every JN Meeting. Make sure you have enough points to support your population and enough population to support your points. Keep reading below to learn more about the different points and resources.

Technology Points

Technology has always been important to helping nations grow strong. Countries use technology to get more resources, construct and innovate new agriculture, develop its industry, and create a more powerful military. In the JN, this is represented by Technology Points (TP) which can be gained by investing resource points. Once a country has 10 resource points, it can choose to trade them for technology points. Technology points are needed to create agriculture, industry, and a military. They also reduce the impact of problems by giving you a 2% discount on problems for each TP you have. Technology points also increase the effectiveness of Military Points and help boost your growth rate. The more you have the more power your rolls during "war" will have. See the MP section.

For example, if your country is facing a 100 RP problem, and you have 10 TP. Then 20 RP of your problem is wiped away, and you only need to pay 80 RP.

Agriculture Points

Agriculture is cultivation of plants and animals for food. Farming is a form of agriculture. Ranching and goat herding are also forms of agriculture. Agriculture is extremely important to the development of a strong nation. Without agriculture, a country cannot feed all of its people and have extra food to feed scientists, soldiers, politicians, teachers, and other special types of people. In the JN, this is represented by Agriculture Points (AP) which can be gained by trading 20 resource points. Each agriculture point you have, helps your country gain resources more quickly.

Once you have agriculture, your agriculture points will begin to get you more resource points each week according to the following formula:

R = .75A 

Where R = Resource Points gained each week, A = Agriculture Points

For example: If you have 3 agriculture points, then you would get 2.25 extra resource points a week without doing any extra work.

Just like in real life, agriculture brings you more resources, but your agricultural economy will grow slowly. Look at Taiwan before the arrival of industry.

Agriculture points are also needed to get military points and are an important component of population growth. The more AP you have, the more Agricultural Resources you earn to support your people and grow your population. So, don't neglect your farms. Invest your resources often and early in AP.

Agriculture Points earn Agriculture Resources following the formula: (AP1.2)(1.1TP)

Industry Points

Industry is the ability to turn resources into goods. Goods are the things we use. For example, your country may have a lot of iron, but if you don't have industry, you can't turn that iron into tools or weapons. Industry lets you use your resources more effectively. It also gives you even more resources by making it easier for you to harvest your country's resources and develop new resources. We call these Industry Points (IP) in the JN. In the JN, Industry Points can be gained by trading 40 resource points for one industry point.

Once you have industry, your industry points will begin to get you more resource points each week according to the following formula:

R = .33(I1.7) 

Where R = Resource Points gained, I = Industry Points

For example: If you have 5 industry points, then you would get 5.1 extra resource points a week, but as you get more (especially after you get your 6th Industry Point), your bonuses would increase exponentially more rapidly. Industry can help economies grow much faster than agriculture can alone.

Industry points are also necessary to manufacture Industrial resources. Industrial resources support your population and are needed for HRP growth.

Industry Points earn Industry Resources following the formula: (IP1.2)(1.1TP)

Combination Bonus

Just like in real life though, agriculture and industry do not function separately. They help each other. Industry helps farms produce more and more. Without agriculture, industry cannot thrive without the food for its workers. So, after you acquire both industry and agriculture, the two will combine to give you an even bigger return in resource points each week. This combination works as follows:

The amount (total RP from AP and IP) x .5(AP+IP) is added to the total RP you are already getting from AP and IP.

For example, if you had 8 agriculture points and 8 industry points, would get a return of 22.9 RP a week compared to just 17.3 RP originally. As you acquire agriculture and industry this combination bonus will benefit you automatically and exponentially more.

Military Points

A country doesn't need a military to fight a war. However, if it wants to be successful in war, it must have a professional, full-time military ready to defend the country at all times. Nearly all nations today have a military. Will yours? In the JN, Military Points (MP) work to help defend your country during war. They also give you the ability to go to war with another country or take military action for some Random Events. You cannot declare war without a military. Military points give your country an advantage during war by allowing you to roll the dice two extra times for each military point you have. A military point can be gained by trading one industry point and one agriculture point (because a military requires food and war materials). Technology points also add to your country's military power during war. Each TP your country has adds 2% to your total dice roll during a conflict. Military also help you earn Military Resources which can also help you in war and can be traded to other nations.

Military Points earn Military Resources following the formula: (1.5*EP1.5)(1.01TP)

Health Points

Health points are a new creation in the JN. they were created by resolution to add protection against health related problems. Health Points (HP) also increase your birth rate and lower your death rate, accelerating your HRP growth. To get a Health Point you will need to trade 30 resource Points.

Energy Points

All countries need energy. Energy is what fuels an economy. It is needed in all parts of life. In the JN Energy Points (EP) help you make Energy Resources. Your population needs Energy Resources to survive and without them your nation will decline. You can get ER through trade, but making your own will help you be more independent and give you a source of extra income. 

Energy Points earn Energy Resources following the formula: (1.5*EP1.5)(1.1TP)

Agricultural Resources

People need to eat. In the JN, Agricultural Resources (AR) represent food. Your need AR to keep your country growing. AR are produced from Agriculture Points.  The more AP you have, the more AR you will get and the more your country will grow. You can always trade for the AR you need, but it may be expensive.

Industrial Resources

People need and want stuff. Cars, homes, computers, pencils, and all the other things we use in our daily lives. In the JN, these things are represented by Industrial Resources (IR). IR are made by your country's own industry, or Industry Points. The more IP you have, the more IR your will make. You can also get IR by trading for it with another country.

Energy Resources

Look around you. Everything you see took energy to either be made or get to you. Energy comes in many forms such as electricity, natural gas, and the sun. You cannot be a rich, prosperous country without lots and lots of energy. In the JN energy is represented by Energy Resources (ER). Energy resources are produced by Energy Points. The more people, AP, IP, and MP you have, the more energy you will need. You can also trade for ER with other countries if you need.

Military Resources

Militaries are an industry of their own. Armies train soldiers and produce weapons. These soldiers and weapons become a tradable resource (like when the US sells old fighter jets to Taiwan). In the JN these resources are represented as Military Resources (MR). They are only produced by Military Points and can be traded. So, if you don't have your own military, find a nation that does have one and trade for some of its MR.  MR add to your roll score during any war you have to fight. So if you roll a 5 with your 1 MP, and you have 15 MR, your roll is actually a 20.

Problems

All good things can’t last. While you are busy trying to get points by finding good current events for your country and working hard in class, bad things are happening around the world too. If something happens in your country that has a bad effect, you will have to spend resource, agriculture, or industry points to “fix” your problem. Mr. Brunken will be scouring the news each week looking for problems each country is facing. These problems will be announced at the end of each JN Meeting.

For example, a major earthquake strikes your country causing a lot of damage. That is going to take lots of resources to “fix”. So, like in real life, your government will have to use your resources to “fix” the problem. If you refuse to pay, or can’t pay, then the problem will get worse (50% increase each week its not fixed) and the more resource points (or other points) will have to spent to “fix” the problem. A problem that unfixed, can begin affecting other countries in the region. Be careful. You don't want to make any enemies.

Countries affected by problems, will have until the next Joined Nation Meeting to “fix” their problem. This can be done by paying the resource points if you have enough, or applying for aid from the Joined Nations with a Request for Aid. Without a Request for Aid resolution, you have to rely on the goodwill and generosity of other nations in the JN.

Random Events

At the beginning of each JN meeting 3-5 members will be randomly drawn, and they will then face a random event. This event could be anything from something very good like the discovery of oil in your country to something very bad like a major outbreak of disease. These, however, are not simple bonuses and penalties for countries. Instead, most of these random events will come with certain criterion that will have to be met to receive a bonus or avoid a penalty. In some cases, these random events may affect entire regions forcing countries to work together. While it much of what happens here is luck, a country good at using the JN system will see the most benefit from these random events. So, learn well how the JN works, and be prepared.

Special Funds

In recent years, the Joined Nations passed resolutions establishing several funds that are designed to help members pay for problems and random events that occur. The most important of these is the General Welfare Fund which most income taxes are paid into and serves to help members that are too poor to take care of their problems or need help getting started. Below is some information about the different funds that currently exist in the JN and their details as dictated by JN resolutions. These rules can change so please see the JN Resolutions page for current details.

• The General Welfare Fund helps poorer countries pay for problems, give financial aid to poorer countries, and relieve the stress of problems. Currently 2/3 of all income taxes are paid into this fund. The conditions of the resolution are as follows. 

  • Welfare fund will pay 30% of the value of a problem for countries with a total value of less than 30.

  • The General Welfare Fund will pay 50% of all problems facing JN member nations if the affected submits a Request for Aid resolution to the JN.

  • the General Welfare fund will pay up to 100% of problems related to Random Events if a Request for Aid is written.

  • Requests for Aid are decided by a majority vote from the JN President, JN Supreme Council, and Mr. Brunken.

  • Countries with the least wealth get priority in using the Welfare Funds to fix problems

  • If the value of the General Welfare Fund holds more than 45 points in wealth after a JN meeting, the balance of the fund will be distributed evenly among all countries ranked in the bottom 33% in wealth. 

    • No JN member can receive these welfare payments more than two weeks in a row.

• The Human Rights Fund collects a .5 RP tax on each JN Points transaction. Those taxes go into this fund which can be used to support countries with problems.

Taxes

In some years, taxes are passed on income and other things in the JN.  a set of taxes have been imposed on JN members and the points they earn. The rules and specifics of these taxes can change as they have been established by resolutions, so please see the JN Resolutions page for current details. 

There are currently no taxes in effect in the JN except for the .5 RP tax on JN transactions for the HRF.

The current taxes in effect are:

• An income tax has been established at the following rates to be collected on the income each JN member nation earns in the time between each JN meeting. Below are the tax rates and rules regarding this tax.

  • income > 60 RP = 40% tax into the welfare fund

  • income 50-60 RP = 35% tax into the welfare fund

  • income 40-50 = 30% tax into the welfare fund

  • income 20-40 RP = 20% tax into the welfare fund

  • income 10-20 RP = 10% tax into the welfare fund

  • income < 10 RP = no taxes

  • The US must pay 12 RP into the welfare fund each week there is a JN meeting

  • All points lost due to problems or Random Events can be deducted from the taxes owed up to 50%

  • Taxes are collected before each JN Meeting automatically.

  • Countries ranked in the bottom 33% in wealth are exempt from all taxes unless their income is higher than 25 RP. When incomes are higher than 25 RP these countries pay at the following rate:

    • • • • income > 55 RP = 35% tax 

          • income 45-55 RP = 30% tax 

          • income 35-45 = 20% tax 

          • income 25-35 RP = 15% tax

• A carbon tax of 1.5 RP must be paid for each industry point a JN member has before each meeting.

War

War is bad. Really bad. Let's hope war never breaks out between two nations in the JN. However, it is an option. Any member nation may declare war on another member if the aggressor (the nation declaring war) has at least one military point. To declare war, the aggressor must formally announce its declaration of war in a JN meeting. In this declaration, the aggressor must declare what it wants from the nation it is attacking and give that nation the chance to surrender or negotiate a settlement before the war breaks out. 

For example, Russia and allies want Iran to eliminate its military (get rid of all MP) because they feel Iran is too aggressive. They declare their attention to declare war unless Iran meets their demands. Iran has a chance to voluntarily sell its MP before war breaks out. 

If no resolution can be achieved, the aggressor may attack. 

Wars are fought in the JN using dice rolls. Each nation rolls a dice. Highest roll wins (plus bonuses granted by TP and MR). Best out of five wins the war. All nations get one die to roll, but military points give nations an extra die to roll for each MP they have. For example, if Germany has 2 military points and goes to war with Poland who has none. Germany would get to roll 3 dice and add up the total versus Poland's one die. The winner of a war gets their demand met AND can demand reparations from the losing nation up to 50% of that nation's wealth.

Those nations seeking to wage unjust wars and wars of aggression will have to be wary of JN resolutions to stop them. The US is interested in seeing world peace. Trying to conquer the world or bully your neighbors may result in a US led military coalition coming to stop you.

Alliances

Everyone needs friends. Having an ally or two in the JN will make it easier to pass resolutions, defend yourselves, help others, or wage war. You should actively seek out alliance agreements with other nations. The real benefit of an Alliance is during war. If a nation declares war on you, and you have allies, all of your military points are put together to fight the war. You are much more difficult to defeat. It is also good to have the votes of your allies when trying to pass a resolution. 

To form an alliance, countries reach and sign an agreement that lays out very specifically what kind of help they will HAVE to offer the other allies. Formal alliances must be followed unless the agreement is broken. These alliances are also public to the whole JN. So, other nations will know not to mess with you because you have strong friends. To make a formal alliance, just fill out a Formal Alliance Agreement Form and have it signed by all members of the alliance. Then, present the Alliance Agreement to the President of the JN and your alliance will become recognized by all.

Secret alliances are not allowed.

Resolutions and Politics

Resolutions are the fun part of the Joined Nations. This is where you can write up and pass your own rules, laws, and actions for the Joined Nations Assembly to vote on. You can try to pass anything you want, but you will need the backing of other countries to help you pass your resolutions. You may also need aid, or help, in fixing a problem of yours, so to have friends is good. If you have too many enemies, you may be left all alone in trouble and poor.

To pass a resolution or apply for aid, you must follow the following steps:

1. Get the correct form and fill it out completely.

2. Submit your form to the Joined Nations President.

3. If your resolution is approved by the Joined Nations Supreme Council, be ready to talk for a minute or two about your resolution and why you think it should be passed.

4. All resolutions must be discussed and debated before being voted on. Be ready to defend your resolution from people who disagree. There may be countries who don’t want it passed.

Examples of actions the Joined Nations can take are:

1. Trade embargo – Bans all members from giving aid to a certain country or countries

2. Peacekeeping mission – JN Nations intervene to stop a war between two or more countries

3. Declaration – An official statement from the Joined Nations on a certain topic (i.e. human rights, a war, an action from a certain country)

4. Fine – Force a country or countries to pay a penalty in resource points for a certain reason

5. Censure – A statement from the Joined Nations speaking out against the actions of another, no points penalty

6. Change a rule – The Joined Nations can agree to change a rule on how the JN works

7. Remove the President or a Security Council member – This is a special resolution requiring a special form and vote to pass. It does not have to be given to the Supreme Council and is read directly to the JN Assembly. It removes the person from the position and forces a vote for a new President or Supreme Council member.

The Joined Nations is driven by you the members, so have fun! But keep in mind, though, that Mr. Brunken is also a member, representing the richest and most powerful country in the world, the USA. He has great wealth and strong military to help to countries willing to support his policies.

JN Government Positions, Powers, and Duties

The JN elects its own government to run meetings and keep order. There is a President and three Senators. A History Committee is also elected to record the business of the JN. The government is elected by all JN members in an election process that must include candidate nominations, speeches, and discussion of the candidates before a final, majority wins, vote. The JN positions and powers are as follows:

Joined Nations General Assembly

• Number of Members

  • All members of the Joined Nations, except the President 

• The JN Assembly’s Duties and Powers

  • Vote on all resolutions approved by the Supreme Council

  • Elect the President, Supreme Council, and History Committee

  • Can override the President’s veto (majority vote and majority vote from the General Assembly)

  • Hear and debate resolutions

  • Write and submit resolutions to the Supreme Council

The President

• Number of Members

  • One, elected by the JN Assembly for 4 meetings.

  • Can be reelected once 

  • The President earns a salary of 15 RP per meeting.

• The President’s Duties and Powers

  • Has the power to veto an action that is passed by the JN General Assembly

  • Decides how aid is to be paid out, meaning who pays what

  • Cannot vote with the JN General Assembly

  • If there is a tie in the JN General Assembly, the President will cast the tie-breaking vote If a Supreme Council member is absent for a meeting, the President may appoint one for the day

  • Can fine JN General Assembly members for disruptive behavior during meetings

  • Has executive power over anything that is not defined or controlled by JN Rules or Resolutions (for example, deciding who gets to speak and when during meetings, what to do if a member is absent, etc.)

The Senate

• Number of Members

  • Three, elected by the JN Assembly for 4 meetings where resolutions are submitted for approval

  • Each member earns a salary of 5 RP each meeting a resolution is submitted for approval

• The Senate’s Duties and Powers

  • Approves or rejects all resolutions and aid requests. Rejections should be based on rule of law, not personal reasons

  • Can override the President’s veto (majority vote and majority vote from the General Assembly)

  • Can vote with JN Assembly on approved resolutions and aid requests

  • Can debate in the general assembly

The Secretary of the JN

• Number of Members

  • One, elected by the JN Assembly and serves until the end of the year or is voted out by resolution

  • The Secretary earns a salary of 15 RP per meeting.

• The President’s Duties and Powers

  • Is responsible for understanding each point and stat in the JN and how they work together

  • Maintains the JN Points and Standings spreadsheet with the help of Mr. Brunken

  • Provide advice to the JN Government when needed

  • Teach JN members how the different points affect their performance in the JN

The History Committee 

• Number of Members 

  • Two, elected by the JN Assembly for life or until removed by resolution

  • Each member earns a salary of 10 RP each meeting

• The History Committee’s Duties and Powers 

  • HC members have no special power in the JN

  • Must take notes for and record the events of each JN meeting on the official JN News feed within 3 days of the end of the meeting

  • Record the history of the JN for each year they serve in the JN Historical Record