The Republic of Mancheck is a small, environmentally stunning nation, renowned for its compulsory military service. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic population of 26 million Mancheckians enjoy a sensible mix of personal and economic freedoms, while the political process is open and the people's right to vote held sacrosanct.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Welfare, Defense, and Law & Order. The average income tax rate is 19.7%.

The Mancheckian economy, worth 1.28 trillion guilds a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Tourism industry, with significant contributions from Basket Weaving, Furniture Restoration, and Retail. Average income is 49,325 guilds, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 4.2 times as much as the poorest.

Declaring that "some kids are just born evil" is not endearing Leader to progressive thinkers, large wigs have been banned for having racist implications, the only way to escape lengthy prison terms is in a body bag, and several citizens have complained about scientists abducting their pets for experimentation. Crime, especially youth-related, is almost non-existent, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Mancheck's national animal is the Lion, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Mancheck is ranked 81,644^th in the world and 96^th in The Land of Kings and Emperors for Largest Welfare Programs, scoring 1,607.49 on the Safety Net Mesh Density Rating.