The Constitutional Monarchy of Stantheman is a very large, cultured nation, remarkable for its frequent executions, infamous sell-swords, and complete lack of prisons. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 281 million Stanthemanians are kept under strict control by the oppressive government, which measures its success by the nation's GDP and refers to individual citizens as "human resources."

The medium-sized, corrupt, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Defense, and Education. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Manthestan. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 29.3%.

The all-consuming Stanthemanian economy, worth 33.1 trillion S-bills a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Retail, and Uranium Mining. Black market activity is frequent. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is an impressive 117,902 S-bills, but there is a large disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 491,954 per year while the poor average 18,444, a ratio of 26.7 to 1.

Town welcome signs list corporate sponsors, the hills are alive with the sound of ringtones, the breathalyser pledge is a traditional part of marriages in Stantheman, and pristine wilderness has been trashed in the quest for cheaper oil. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Stantheman's national animal is the Short-eared Owl, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to toxic air pollution.

Stantheman is ranked 324,617^th in the world and 15^th in The Grand Council of the Beard for Most Eco-Friendly Governments, scoring -7.07 on the Dolphin Recycling Awareness Index.