A collection of essays from the Social Contract which discuss:HUMAN POPULATION: The size, rate of growth, and distribution. Do cherished American ideals prosper or suffer through further population growth?);IMMIGRATION: In order to best facilitate meeting the highest goals of the American people, (1) how many immigrants should we admit? (2) who should be admitted? And (3) how can we humanely enforce the rules? LANGUAGE, ASSIMILATION, CULTURE, AND NATIONAL UNITY CONSIDERATIONS: What shared values are necessary to the maintenance of our social contract? THE BALANCE OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS WITH CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES: Since the previous issues are so often framed in terms of rights, what are the balancing obligations? OTHER NATIONS' EFFORTS AT CREATING AND GUARDING THEIR OWN SOCIAL CONTRACTS: What practical insights can be gained from observing the failures and successes in nation-building by other societies? Robert Kyser served as managing editor of The Social Contract from 1990-2006.