The Democratic Confederation of Henren is a massive, safe nation, ruled by Henry J Hern with a fair hand, and notable for its national health service, soft-spoken computers, and irreverence towards religion. The compassionate, democratic, cheerful population of 4.834 billion Henrenians 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 medium-sized, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Marinda. The average income tax rate is 74.9%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Henrenian economy, worth 779 trillion Henies a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector is led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Book Publishing, and Retail. Average income is an impressive 161,211 Henies, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Shoppers have literally had their hands full since plastic bags were banned, ambitious "businessmen" use their children to sell and advertise their products, all weapon research has been banned, and there have been sightings of people walking around dressed in nothing but leopard-skin g-strings for 'religious reasons'. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Henren's national animal is the Giraffe, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Henren is ranked 2,828^th in the world and 73^rd in The East Pacific for Highest Food Quality, scoring 251.65 on the Meeshlin-Starr Index.