The State of Shuttleworth is a gargantuan, socially progressive nation, notable for its barren, inhospitable landscape and compulsory military service. The hard-nosed, democratic population of 33.97 billion Shuttleworthians 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 medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Education, and Welfare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Capital Heights. The average income tax rate is 20.5%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The Shuttleworthian economy, worth a remarkable 1,324 trillion betales a year, is broadly diversified and dominated by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Basket Weaving, Woodchip Exports, and Retail. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 39,002 betales, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.2 times as much as the poorest.

Government officials frequently cut taxes as a distraction from antics with their secretaries, citizens are bombarded with advertising from their compulsory minature radios, the latest Harry Potter book is a bestseller, and Shuttleworth has designated Capital Heights as its capital city. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Shuttleworth's national animal is the deer, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation.

Shuttleworth is ranked 206,580^th in the world and 438^th in Ancient Lands for Highest Foreign Aid Spending, scoring -4.47 on the Clooney Contribution Index.