Pokemon League and Activities Committees
The easiest to discuss.
These boards handle all things Pokemon. While I listed those committees, there are other committees for Pokemon arts and sports. The Activities board refers to Contests, Performing, PokeRinger, individual Pokemon competitions that have nothing to do with battling but rather activities that aren't the arts and sports though sometimes they might overlap with obstacle courses competitions and races. They also give out quite a decent amount of prize money, even when you win a ribbon or Princess Key or any competition regulated by them.
Note that while the Contests might have a battle aspect, it's less focused on battling and making your Pokemon the star with using the attacks to redirect to their advantage. The point is to make the movement softer. Knocking out Pokemon is only a side effect, not a direct thing.
These guys regulate the tournaments’ rules and make it clear there are no fatalities outside of lacerations and broken bones. Any enhancement performance drugs and other forms of cheating (drugging opponents, etc) would put the trainer and their team immediately on the blacklist.
Now the Champion itself is the one who runs the laws and campaigns for trainers in that region. That means while they are certainly the most powerful trainer in the region, they aren't a politician either. What they are basically is how the Pokemon League will run and how the region's Pokemon and trainer laws are done. Still, they have to get it through the official government first but since they're powerful, they can get through and make the campaigns easier. Just to be clear, Champions aren't politicians but they are powerful forces of nature to change the laws in that region.
For example, if a Champion wants trainers to pass a test first before even going on a journey or if they want to care for a Pokemon, then they must go through the Pokemon League first and then the government. However, Champions don't have too much power despite how powerful they are as they are trainers and celebrities first not politicians. What they do have is power from the masses as well as the Pokemon League. If the Pokemon League even wants to listen to them.
This depends on region to region though since Galar's Champion is far more a celebrity than someone who would consider the safety of the region such as Lance and Cynthia in the anime. Notice I said anime because those guys are far more active there than the games where they act as guides while Leon is far more active in his role as a protector in the game. Not that Galar Champion can't act as a protector.
Even then the Champion role is mostly the marketability and public perception on top of known responsibility in Galar. He tried to save Galar but it was Hop and the player who saved the region instead and that has weighed on him considering his short in the Pokemon Evolutions Specials. Really, while it's for the best Leon is no longer Champion after what he went through as a celebrity from a young age that in no way he could deal with it, being Chairman might put more of a spotlight but slightly less since the Champion is far more visible unless Leon wants to do showmanship with being an emcee. He's still young.
The only regions that share the same Pokemon League and Activities Committee are the Japan-based regions, Kanto/Johto/Hoenn/Sinnoh. Technically, the other regions Sevii Islands/Orange Archipelago, Fiore, Almia, Oblivia, Ferrum, and Ransei could be considered part of the Japan-based regions too.
What is notable is that while Unova and Alola are based in the US and Hawaii, the latter of which is part of the US that Hawaiians hate the colonialism and imperialism of, they are depicted as separate and as their own nation. Orre, being Arizona inspired, is a separate region and nation from Unova and Alola therefore the whole USA does not exist but only in regional forms with no Manifest Destiny whatsoever. Honestly, it's better that way.
That means everywhere else would have their own Pokemon League and Activities Committees, especially when the Activities Committees would have to find ways to bring in new trainers, foreign or otherwise into new activities that are available. Again, just because Pokemon Gym Challenge is far more restrictive (needing a sponsor) doesn't mean that other activities are available for trainers who weren't sponsored and yet still want to train so something else needs to be in Galar and not be limited to sponsored trainers. This is why Ash is not getting any Galar badges outside of visiting Galar sites like stadiums and tourist spots. At least, he can still participate in the Island Challenge in Alola.
About the Island Challenge, there are people who would go and complete one trial or a few trials for the rest of their time there. The point is for getting stronger with Pokemon as one and really it's not required to go for every one of them unless you are that ambitious.
However, it should be noted that the Island Challenge is one way to get a Z-Crystal but not necessarily the only way since it could be found or won at a local contest/tournament. Z-(Power) Ring could only be made by a Sparkling Stone which can be found via Stoutland Search or available after completing Hala's trial at the very least.
However, despite this, the region has a Pokemon Dex that basically details each and every Pokemon that exists in this world. Though regional Dexs are available, the application to have a worldwide Dex that got every Dex entry in every region, as well as their location, is set.
Along those lines, there would be multiregional events. Tournaments of all kinds take place in different regions every year such as the Grand Festivals (to be sure, these are annual in every region as long as you have the ribbons in said region to qualify), Wallace Cup, Baccer World Cup, PokeRinger, World Coronation Series, other kinds of World Series/Cup, and Champions-only tournaments. There would be multiregional tournaments for trainers though some would be invite-only and others not so.
Though, unlike other regions, Galar has its own exclusivity that the Champion almost never leaves Galar for other regions, not even for a convention outside. While Galar is new now, Leon seemed almost exclusively there than a hinted retirement elsewhere. Red and Blue settled at Battle Tree and Galar seemed specialized competitive there so... It's not that I don't think Leon can't go up against Cynthia or Lance, it's just that Galar seemed so specialized that I don't think that many foreigners making a home there like Kabu, it's not exactly foreign trainer-friendly if there are any foreign trainers who are allowed to partake in events over there like the Battle Tree or even take on an Island Challenge where it's viable you can simply vie at one trial or more specifically aimed at your specialized typing and don't need to participate in the rest. Unless you are that ambitious to participate in all of them.
It's fact that you can't exactly export Dynamax (not even Gigamax either though feeding them Max Soup would do the trick), unlike Mega Evolution and Z-moves. So yeah, Galar is so specialized to its detriment. While it has amazing sites and Pokemon battling is a pastime seen in stadiums and television everywhere else, it just seemed like that one activity that overwhelmed all other possibilities in Galar. Therefore, it has to be reasonable to have non-sponsored trainers participate in Pokemon League events that are not the Gym Challenge such as Contests and Performing in Galar.
The Pokemon League will have the IDs of trainers which will be given to them by a Pokemon Professor and their assistants; Pokemon Center Nurse Joy and their nurses; and Officer Jenny.
However, the trainer's license itself is revoked should animal abuse be made to light and can be revoked by the Nurse Joys, Officer Jennys, Gym Leaders, anybody associated with the Pokemon League. Even then, it must be from a trusted source that can provide why the trainer must be revoked of their license. There are already blacklisted trainers who are willing to use steroids and drug opponents' food so there are trainers whose licenses got completely revoked for their abuse.
Typically, the Pokemon Professors are funded really well as they are studying for the benefit of the Pokemon world. Usually, they’re funded by the Pokemon League, philanthropic donations, and government grants.
The Nurse Joys and Officer Jennys are Pokemon League officials. They help as much in giving trainers their first Pokemon as much as give trainers their IDs. They help keep gyms as official gyms if not up to keep and sent as officials to decide the gym leader's spirit to keep their gyms. They are also investigators in their own right to seek out illegal activity in Pokémon Centers.
These gyms and the families behind them have to upkeep them. It's also a source of income for them as they can also take in apprentices in a type specialist. These gyms are moreover types specialists whereas the Champion is the various types with pseudo-legendaries by their side, not that they can't be type specialists as Iris is.
Galar is the exception to the rule since rarely do they ever pass down family-wise. Newly established like the Circhester and Stow-on-Side Gyms though the Circhester Ice Gym and the Stow-on-Side Fighting Gym are far more established than the Rock and Ghost Gyms. The Motostoke Gym had always been there, just given to Kabu. Hammerlocke and Spikemuth are the oldest Gyms there with Raihan's family passing down hereditarily. The Minor League gyms are more slightly have been established, just haven’t been a Major one unlike the slighter better known Circhester Rock and Stow-on-Side Ghost gyms. At least those are slightly applicable for the Gym Challenge.
These gyms are also encouraged to open their doors for other activities like Pokemon Contests. For the Pokemon Contests in gyms, it's best to hold it one week per month. They could open up a school or offer a course of something. Cheren's a teacher on top of his gym leader duties.
Ya know the ten gyms thing that people make fun of Gary for? Did they forget about the Dark City episode where two groups are trying to establish their own gyms in a city? That's why I think there are more than eight gyms in each region for each type. It's just eight gyms that are the requirement to participate in the top league, challenging the Elite Four, and challenging the Champion for the title.
Noticeably in Galar, there's a Minor League; the Minor League has been slightly expanded in Masters that if they don't keep up with training, they might be demoted and switched around the order. Very likely, there's a yearly inspection. We were introduced to the Pokemon League inspection in the anime so it makes sense that something similar would do.
Depending on how many badges you have, the gym leader will adjust their level and Pokemon, holding back for first-timers. They can train their Pokemon however they like but for a Gym, they must have appropriate force. Not everyone is going to start off with the same gym as they can register wherever to the League at a Pokemon center. Gym leaders are meant to have reserves, rotating teams depending on the badges challengers have gathered as well as training on their own so they wish. Hey, if they go hard, they might even be promoted to the Elite Four or pass the torch to the gym’s successor.
Sometimes if the Gym takes in Gym Trainers, they might be the successor to the current gym leader. Again, it could still be families to newly established, it's still a need to pass the torch to someone who can take losses and yet still be the strongest trainer. Sometimes, if the gym leader is off doing training or other duties, the strongest trainer would take over for the time being.
There are gyms that have been passed down from family members to newly established. While in the game these gyms have been established either when they settled down in the region (Kabu in Galar as he's originally from Hoenn though the stadium should already be there before Kabu ever became the gym leader) or just new, the anime had established those things as an expansion of the games which gives little way of a story. We know Professor Birch and Norman went to college together but did Norman take over the Normal gym or establish it himself?
As for contests, an establishment can hold a contest biweekly. That way, it allows more applicants for Grand Festivals as well as mini Contests that concentrate on the usual Beauty, Cute, Cool, Clever, and Tough. The Contests are moreover a combo of those categories with a battle aspect while the mini Contests are focused primarily on those without the battle aspect just like the games’ incarnation with rankings and all. I think the mini Contests are more like what we see with Serena in Journeys. We got the mention of the Wallace Cup which we know have the battle aspect.
Appeals last three minutes and can showcase up to 46 Coordinators. Though who will advance to the Battle stage varies, it must be an even number. The same said for the smaller specific contests.
Contest Battles are five minutes, won by the most points, and fainted Pokemon are automatically a loss. If there is a tie at the end of the time limit, then it’s sudden death overtime with no time limit and must end with a fainted Pokemon or reaching zero points. Penalty cards such as neither side launching an attack, subtracting half the designated points can be handed out. Disqualifications like being handed a second yellow card or cheating tactics caught will be immediate.
The ribbons and their designs are up to the establishment with the approval of the Pokemon Activities Committee. However, the constant elements are a little crown-like decor on top of the shaped center; depending on the establishment, they could forgo it all together like Alamos Town (who holds it annually rather than biweekly as it's a historical site and the design itself is a colorful version of the Space-Time Towers) or has more expensive materials to make it like actual gold, rubies, and fabrics on the Wallace Cup's Aqua Ribbon.
Course, those ribbons are only acceptable in the entire regions that offer the Grand Festivals such as Wallace Cup's Aqua Ribbon counting worldwide. For example, Unova ribbons count only in Unova just as Hoenn ribbons count in Hoenn only whereas the special ones would either count in specific regions or count for contests worldwide. The Alamos Ribbon counts worldwide too as it’s the site of history. Towns that offer historical sites aka where the Legendaries are the site of prayer, then it’s worldwide viability for the Grand Festivals.
The smaller contests have similar designs to the main establishment's big contest but it's on the slightly smaller and inexpensive end as it focused primarily on specific requisites.
Now, the Grand Festivals require five ribbons across five different towns/cities. Coordinators can keep the ribbons and not register for the Grand Festival and it would be fine. Unlike the Pokemon League where you need to re-register after competing in the leagues previously, the ribbons only count for one Grand Festival and that's it.
You can keep the ribbons no matter the year it had been earned because only when it's a Grand Festival registered ribbon that it's only a decorative piece that might have some effect on a Pokemon's status or whatever.
It all depends if you didn't have all the ribbons on time or want to participate in the Grand Festival another year. No matter what, the ribbons you won will not be registered as a Grand Festival ribbon until then, you can earn how many ribbons you want and still can register for the next one.
It's just like the badge system for the Pokemon League. If you already won the eight badges, you can just re-register for the next year after a year-long training. You don't have to go and battle the Gym Leaders again unlike Coordinators who can partake in the same biweekly Contest until they earn the same ribbon again.
Again, Coordinators can have the same ribbon they earn the year previously because only as long as it was registered to the Grand Festival and the database of ribbons they register only to the Grand Festival because only the Coordinators decide which ribbons they want to register with. No matter the year and season they earn it in, it doesn't matter as long as it's registered to the Grand Festival only.
While contests aired on TV and you can still see them up on their website, Coordinators can choose when they want to participate in the Grand Festival and still be fine.
Judges are Top Coordinators, the local Nurse Joy, local Pokemon Fan Club President, and Pokemon Contest Official Judges like Chairman Raoul Contesta, Dexter, Jordan, Keira, and other official judges. Of course, it all depends on different factors on when which judge will judge which due to time constraints such as Nurse Joy with the Center to think of and Contesta having to deal with business meetings and sponsors. Therefore, judges must be different every time.
Pokemon Performing is more Pokemon Beauty Queen (focusing on Cute and Beauty though that depends on the activities the establishment will choose) so that's why I think Pokemon Contests could eventually come over there. While Contests are demonstrated talent and strength in a softer sense together, Performing and becoming Kalos Queen is more Beauty Queen than Coordinators where it's viable for everyone instead of just women and transwomen (gender is still complicated so it eventually opens for trans and drag queens if it helps). Though much like rhythmic gymnastics, I'm sure there are Pokemon performing for men even if it's not quite as well-known.
From what was seen, Pokepuff baking, Rhydon herding, trivia quizzing, and styling are just some of the activities seen. Though the main thing was the performance stuff with props.
Similarly, just like Pokemon Contest ribbons, it's designed by the establishment with approval by the Pokemon Activities Committees. Again, I don't think these guys are incredibly expensive unless it's the Kalos Queen trophy.
Pokemon breeders have their own competitions and focus more on grooming and well care of the Pokemon, attacks included. While it's no Beauty Queen or improv combination of moves, it's more of the beautification process (grooming, nutrition) as well as raising for health and friendship. Breeders are effective trainers as well as healthcare specialists, ensuring Pokemon keep up with their training and health. They earn their certification from the League.
They're also in charge of raising starters as well on top of Professors raising starters for beginner trainers. They often give these starters to the local Nurse Joys in the towns as they too help beginner trainers the same way the Pokemon Professors do.
They work primarily in Pokemon Daycares or open up their own. People who aren't breeders can open up their own daycares as a babysitting business or trusted care for additional Pokemon but not actual breeding. However, to care for the eggs that will be inevitable in a Daycare, then they must hire breeders. Daycares must have a League certification to have eggs which is inevitable.
The eggs in these Daycares could be sold given they have a license for it from the Pokemon League, giving or selling to various professors, trainers, and organizations like farmers and ranchers. Customers like people who just want a friend would also be one too. Daycares usually make most of their money through the method of legal egg trade on top of trainers dropping off their Pokemon with a trainer fee.
Egg moves are developed by them and still in wild Pokemon too so I imagine while they can't force Pokemon to mate, they could develop relationships that could result in an egg in these egg groups at the very least. However, it's best these Pokemon are learned through these Pokemon attempting to teach or talk to it while it was an Egg than forcing them to mate unlike the games with some exceptions (surviving on 1 HP based on friendship, etc), these are sapient monsters. It's more on the realistic side if all Pokemon have egg moves, particularly if they have a parent but whether or not they will have that lucky move over others is up in the air.
Their shrines and temples are there and just as diverse as our own religion and their practices. There are hints but we never see them practice it. We know they are worshipped explicitly, just that we can’t see it due to Pokemon’s desire to not offend and produce controversy.
That said, it's not widespread. While people would know about it and use their names in vain, the worship would only go so far with only a few smatterings of temples and shrines that are only upkeep by their devout followers. That said, I do think people would do stuff like pray for good luck and other
Religion isn't that big in the Pokemon world. I don't think Arceus and the other gods bother about the lack of worship in the modern-day.
Holidays
This one is far more speculative. While religion isn't that widespread outside of sects that worship, these celebrations would center on these myths which are far more widespread than the worship practice.
General holidays like Christmas and Halloween would be widespread albeit with interpretations depending on the region. Dark and Ghost Pokemon would gladly partake in Halloween. I'm sure there are Pokemon equivalents to our holidays and celebrations.
Pokemon types and Pokemon Day itself would be immense. On Pokemon Partner Day, the trainer would give a present to their first Pokemon and celebrate with a feast with the rest of their Pokemon.
While there is something like Valentine's Day, the romantic holiday also celebrates friendship as well as they make sweets for friends and Pokemon. A White Day would still exist.
On holidays, there could be special events there too. It depends on what it is and how overall important the practice is.
I imagine religious sects would do their own thing. Note that I didn't say cults though cults would have their own rituals and such. Ugh, I don't wanna think about cults.
Government
Each town is run by a mayor or a congregation of trusted politicians. However, they must answer to the region's government system, including kingdoms.
Kingdoms are allowed to run provided they are only located in one area and won’t try to expand. They can act as tourist spots or remain isolated.
The official royal family of said regions, discounting the small kingdoms, that did take over the region now does not have official power at all meaning they won't have to do lipservice charity and live off the money from the commoners. They can take roles politically if trained. That means if they were to have their own money and not from their national reserve or just be investors or have some businesses, they have to work at it. For example, the Camaron Castle is a historical site and doesn't live off donations or taxes from the commoners but rather through the reserves the Queens have made over the years. Donations do come in but it's for the preservation rather than having the royal family spending it needlessly on wealth.
When it comes to big businesses, well, just like the military being the bodyguard for the rich, they are allowed to run freely to the point of a monopoly. Macros Cosmos is a pervasive force in Galar. Except instead of the military, it’s their money and connections.
Scientists similarly run free and allow to research Pokemon. However, the laws are either too shady or too many loopholes as somehow we got a scientist freely using Mew’s DNA for cloning. Outside of the villainous grand plans, Mew’s DNA was approved for testing and we got Mewtwo up to including Dex entries. And outside of awe, Mew’s DNA! I thought it would be preserved, not be used as cloning with a guy known for his cloning efforts no matter his reputation.
Scientists will get a whole lot of government grants, particularly the main regional ones.
Even then the newest entries for the new fossil Pokémon in Galar seemed to imply the scientists have just as much as a hand as if they were bribed or took it as face value when these guys are abominations, sweet abominations but abominations all the same or trying desperately to explain as if it’s normal when the outcry about them is huge. I’m sure the Galarian scientists are scrambling or just in shock. I know fans were shocked as well as paleontologist enthusiasts because it’s a known part of paleontologist history.
Hey, we got fossil revival but simpler than Jurassic Park. Just pick a fossil and voila you got your dinosaur.
Whether the government likes it or not, the Pokemon League is the one that sets up everything Pokemon least have a part in things like the import of new Pokemon into the wildlife since the Alolan government was the one who brought in Yungoos to deal with the accidental import of Rattatta and Raticate. Personally, I think the Pokemon League will at least have some hand in them. That means the Champion and the Board will have some effort in the laws even if they aren't politicians. Therefore making the Pokemon League very powerful.
However, it means they are powerful just because they run the League and everything Pokemon as well as having subsections or connections to other Pokemon-related organizations dealing with various other activities and sports.
Woman's rights (this is not just white women, guys, this is just as much BIPOC women, particularly the black women, no misogynoir), LGBTQIA+, and BIPOC are granted equal rights as everyone is defined by their Pokemon. Seriously, I doubt the Pokemon under slaves would have anything good to say about slave owners and kill them, using their deadliest attacks. Even being befriended by slaves would lead to slave owners being dead. Even if slaveowners have their own, there is no doubt that Pokemon will protect their partners come hell, particularly if they will attack the slaveowner.
Gay marriages, taxes for the 1%, taxes according to income and wealth, high life-making minimum wages (25 bucks hourly), and universal free healthcare that would benefit travelers. Homeless shelters are made just as Pokemon Centers offering free room, board, and food functions to the point more rooms are built adjacent to the Centers just the same for the homeless. Just as long as they have a license.
Free public transit is also a thing. As noticed in the anime, the Mount Quena bus, it's free once a week/month when it's available.
Programs for mental disabilities would exist, especially when they exist in real life.
Though that would depend on the town even if the government will enforce it.
It's just the main problem in Pokemon society was that not every trainer is going to be a Red and going to end up being Youngster Joey. Directionless if the more talented trainers are going to call them mediocre.
Not that having loan sharks and debt collectors breathing down necks isn't a problem either, especially when they are paid well. However, if they are irresponsible with money or they're just too young to have their own apartment without what goes into making it home without being foreclosed, then it's bad.
And it's not like the impoverished don't exist either. They might have a better chance of getting money as a trainer and finding trainer-related jobs with it. Too young like Jessie and you might just barely survive and just make it. I mean Jessie did make it to college before falling through the cracks to join Team Rocket when she was lost and aimless despite her own talents.
Human issues like abuse, neglect, corruption, homeless, impoverished, organized crime and political issues would still exist. Murder would still exist of course but murderers would have to complete it by also murdering that person's Pokemon as well.
While I see the Pokemon world as humanity done right for the most part, there have to be flaws in that system.
