The Fiefdom of Ulm 196 is a massive, orderly nation, notable for its zero percent divorce rate, unlimited-speed roads, and parental licensing program. The compassionate, hard-working, cynical, devout population of 1.82 billion Ulm 196ians are kept under strict control by the oppressive government, which measures its success by the nation's GDP and refers to individual citizens as "human resources."

The medium-sized, corrupt, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Law & Order, and Administration. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 68.9%.

The frighteningly efficient Ulm 196ian economy, worth 229 trillion rubles a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Beef-Based Agriculture, and Tourism. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 125,992 rubles, but there is a large disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 493,881 per year while the poor average 21,869, a ratio of 22.6 to 1.

The government raises tariffs on a weekly basis, governments opposing Ulm 196 are beset by rebels, phenotypic plasticity is a struggle for sealife in polluted waters, and sermons are regularly interrupted by businessmen taking phone calls. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Ulm 196's national animal is the giraffe, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Ulm 196 is ranked 45,367^th in the world and 180^th in Swabian autonomous region for Most Eco-Friendly Governments, scoring 2,099.59 on the Dolphin Recycling Awareness Index.