The United States of Arthesium is a massive, efficient nation, ruled by President Joshua Cordon with a fair hand, and remarkable for its keen interest in outer space, unlimited-speed roads, and complete absence of social welfare. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic, devout population of 4.134 billion Arthesians 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, corrupt government juggles the competing demands of Education, Defense, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Atlantica. The average income tax rate is 77.7%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Arthesiumian economy, worth 718 trillion Arthest Dollars a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Arms Manufacturing, and Book Publishing. Black market activity is rampant. Average income is an impressive 173,780 Arthest Dollars, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.4 times as much as the poorest.

Things are looking up for patients accidentally prescribed erectile dysfunction medication, centuries-old legal documents detailing agnatic-cognatic gavelkind succession are being dusted off again, military officers are given medals for disobeying orders, and Atlantica's flashy holiday light displays can be seen from space. Crime is almost non-existent. Arthesium's national animal is the Bald Eagle, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Arthesium is ranked 165,869^th in the world and 7,444^th in Balder for Lowest Crime Rates, with 59.64 law-abiding acts per hour.