Description: This article introduces the special rules that apply to employees of state and local governments that choose to be covered by the U.S. Social Security program.

Description: The article discusses what actuaries mean by "acting in the public interest." While the article is focused on the U.S. environment, it includes materials describing how other actuarial organizations are addressing this critical issue. The article concludes with observations that explaining to the public what the actuarial profession means by "acting in the public interest" is important for both the public and the members of the U.S. actuarial profession.