The United Centrist States of Scheltan is a gargantuan, cultured nation, remarkable for its museums and concert halls, smutty television, and multi-spousal wedding ceremonies. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic population of 18.361 billion Scheltanians enjoy extensive civil freedoms, particularly in social issues, while business tends to be more regulated.

The large government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Environment, and Defense. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Vulturan City. The average income tax rate is 29.7%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The strong Scheltanian economy, worth 868 trillion ugus a year, is quite specialized and led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Gambling, and Arms Manufacturing. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 47,301 ugus, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.7 times as much as the poorest.

Politicians are losing their jobs in a plan to make the government 'leaner and fitter', the fire protection service is wholly government-funded, education and welfare spending are on the rise, and the mining industry is making inroads into environmentally sensitive areas. Crime is relatively low, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Scheltan's national animal is the vulture, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Scheltan is ranked 199,308^th in the world and 8,657^th in Lazarus for Lowest Crime Rates, with 56.74 law-abiding acts per hour.