The Free Commonwealth of Greater Tern is a gargantuan, socially progressive nation, ruled by Prætor Sayuri Tähtinen with a fair hand, and renowned for its museums and concert halls, unlimited-speed roads, and otherworldly petting zoo. The compassionate, hard-working, democratic, cheerful population of 20.588 billion Ternans hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The relatively small, liberal, outspoken government is primarily concerned with Education, with Healthcare and Social Policy also on the agenda, while Spirituality and Defense are ignored. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Ittermory. The average income tax rate is 74.8%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Ternan economy, worth a remarkable 6,562 trillion Golden Quills a year, is quite specialized and led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Book Publishing, and Retail. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an amazing 318,768 Golden Quills, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Ministers browse Alright! magazine for fashion tips, if foreigners can hit a spittoon from five paces they get a free holiday to Greater Tern, signs at the border tell international drivers where they can put their cars, and orthopaedics patients often have a bounce in their step. Crime is totally unknown. Greater Tern's national animal is the Hummingbird, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies, and its national religion is Tsukuyomism.

Greater Tern is ranked 866^th in the world and 27^th in the South Pacific for Most Scientifically Advanced, scoring 1,030.48 on the Kurzweil Singularity Index.