The Republic of Copalis is a massive, cultured nation, renowned for its ban on automobiles, keen interest in outer space, and devotion to social welfare. The compassionate, democratic population of 1.212 billion Copalisians are free to do what they want with their own bodies, and vote for whomever they like in elections; if they go into business, however, they are regulated to within an inch of their lives.

The enormous, liberal, socially-minded, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Welfare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Hester. The average income tax rate is 80.3%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The sizeable but underdeveloped Copalisian economy, worth 47.4 trillion solars a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector, which is quite specialized, is led by the Trout Farming industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Basket Weaving, and Furniture Restoration. Average income is 39,068 solars, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

All citizens must pass a 'multicultural sensitivity test' to be deemed fit for society, all tribal children are set for life with guaranteed government jobs, the government guarantees extra-soft tissues to fire-snorting elephants, and government officials sit helplessly as they are labelled 'Pompous Womples' by celebrities. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Copalis's national animal is the red wolf, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Copalis is ranked 129,888^th in the world and 193^rd in Forest for Most Developed, scoring 57.47 on the Human Development Index.