Many in depth questions regarding riots. Please help!

[BeeDee10]

Not quite the only thing; having troops on your planet also helps. From the happiness file for neutral happiness type:

New Treaty Non Intercourse := -100
New Treaty None := -100
Our Troops on Planet := -2

(negative values increase happiness).

This is the same happiness increase from troops as for the Peaceful happiness type which I usually use, and I find that a good squad of troops can do wonders.