The Commonality of St Ives is a colossal, genial nation, ruled by Premier Mathus Overton with an iron fist, and remarkable for its compulsory military service. The hard-working, cynical, devout population of 3.476 billion St Ivesians are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

The medium-sized, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Education, Spirituality, and Welfare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Tian-tan. The average income tax rate is 22.2%.

The strong St Ivesian economy, worth 184 trillion yengs a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Door-to-door Insurance Sales industry, with major contributions from Woodchip Exports, Retail, and Automobile Manufacturing. Average income is 52,996 yengs, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 4.9 times as much as the poorest.

Senior literature classes are left analysing why Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm is so darn sunny, dictionary sales have hit an all-time high, neon signs promoting safe driving often distract drivers, and heavy industry must go to expensive lengths to dispose of waste. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown. St Ives's national animal is the horse, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is Liaoism.

St Ives is ranked 243,018^th in the world and 7^th in The Community for Most Eco-Friendly Governments, scoring 195.46 on the Dolphin Recycling Awareness Index.