The United Commonwealth of Charliston is a mammoth, genial nation, ruled by Lord Cornelius-II of Charliston with an even hand, and remarkable for its infamous sell-swords, national health service, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate, democratic, cheerful population of 7.988 billion Charlistonians enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The enormous, liberal, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Environment. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Leeuwberge. The average income tax rate is 98.3%.

The frighteningly efficient Charlistonian economy, worth a remarkable 1,422 trillion Euros a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector, which is highly specialized, is mostly made up of the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Tourism and Book Publishing. Average income is an impressive 178,103 Euros, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Interest in globalism never flags, meat-eating is frowned upon, even the nation's brussel sprouts are delicious and nutritious, and scientists are terrified of fabulous new breakthroughs. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Charliston's national animal is the Snake, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Charliston is ranked 5,001^st in the world and 1^st in Middle West Region for Most Cultured, scoring 159 on the Snufflebottom-Wiggendum Pentatonic Scale.