Jonas's community is founded on the principles of Sameness, which dramatically transform the surrounding landscape and culture of the community. In Jonas's community, conformity is mandated by the ruling Committee of Elders, and individuality is virtually nonexistent. The Committee of Elders controls nearly every aspect of society, and citizens must comply with their policies or risk being released. The Committee of Elders determines the birth rate, matches spouses, organizes family units, and chooses each citizen's occupation. In regard to population, Birth-mothers are given the task of having children, and the committee determines which couples will receive a child after reviewing their application and thoroughly examining their home life.

Each year, only fifty infants are added to the community and assigned to government-approved family units. Given the highly organized nature of Jonas's community, twins and sickly newborns pose a serious threat to the structure of society. Having two identical people would disrupt the delicate balance of the community, and Nurturers like Jonas's father are given the task of euthanizing one of the infants. In Jonas's community, euthanasia is common and referred to as "release." The smaller infant twin is euthanized, as well as any other sickly newborn who would have significant health concerns in the future. Overall, the Committee of Elders sanctions euthanasia as a form of population control and to maintain the delicate balance of their completely uniform community.