The United Commonwealth of Charliston is a mammoth, socially progressive nation, ruled by Lord Cornelius-II of Charliston with an even hand, and notable for its conspicuous electricity pylons, national health service, and devotion to social welfare. The compassionate, democratic, cheerful population of 8.165 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 1,468 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 Book Publishing and Tourism. Average income is an impressive 179,860 Euros, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Lord Cornelius-II of Charliston's new door-knocking campaign has the sweet taste of success, the highest sporting award is the Grail of Tears, nefarious Blackacrean surveillance has been replaced with patriotic Charlistonian surveillance, and the latest Harry Potter book is a bestseller. 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 2,470^th in the world and 1^st in Middle West Region for Most Extensive Public Healthcare, scoring 12,162.45 on the Theresa-Nightingale Rating.