The Militariat Republic of Merlovich is a massive, cultured nation, ruled by Ali MacKillop with an even hand, and remarkable for its museums and concert halls, avowedly heterosexual populace, and compulsory gun ownership. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic, humorless population of 4.655 billion Merlovichans have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The large, corrupt government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Education, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Melbourne. The average income tax rate is 80.7%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Merlovichian economy, worth 702 trillion Merlovichan Dollars a year, is led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Arms Manufacturing, and Retail. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is an impressive 150,983 Merlovichan Dollars, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

One tree's worth of paperwork accompanies each imported log of timber, posters on 'Merlovichian Values' advise against being proud of Merlovich, economists have been named Invertebrates of the Year, and high school bands practice by moonlight. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Merlovich's national animal is the Kangaroo, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is No Official Religion.

Merlovich is ranked 20,136^th in the world and 639^th in The East Pacific for Most Eco-Friendly Governments, scoring 3,534.76 on the Dolphin Recycling Awareness Index.