The Constitution Census: How Often?

The United States Constitution mandates that a census be taken every 10 years, with 24 federal censuses having taken place since 1790. The census is a count of the population that determines the apportionment of representatives among the states, with each state's share being determined by its total population. The census has been at the centre of controversy, with questions arising over whether it should count everyone and whether it violates citizens' rights to privacy.

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The US census occurs every 10 years

The US Constitution mandates that a census be conducted every 10 years. This is known as the decennial census. The census is a count of the population that determines the number of seats each state receives in the House of Representatives, a process called apportionment. The Constitution, in Article I, Section 2, states:

> "Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States... according to their respective Numbers... The actual Enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years".

The first census was conducted in 1790, and there have been 24 federal censuses since then. The most recent census took place in 2020, and the next is scheduled for 2030.

The census is conducted by the United States Census Bureau, which has used various methods to collect data, including paper questionnaires, phone calls, and online forms. While the census is primarily a population count, it also collects other statistical information. The Census Bureau is required to notify Congress of the general subjects for the census no later than three years before it is conducted and of the specific questions to be asked no later than two years before.

The accuracy of the census is important, as it determines representation in the House of Representatives. However, achieving a completely accurate count is challenging, and there is often an undercount of the population. There have also been controversies over the inclusion of certain questions on the census, such as those related to citizenship.

The first census was in 1790

The first census was conducted in 1790, three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, as mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. This census, which took place after the American Revolution, was overseen by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. It was a turning point in world history, as it was the first time a census was used as a tool for political empowerment rather than just a means of taxation or conscription.

The focus of this initial census was on the heads of households, with only a general demographic accounting of other household members. From 1850 onwards, all household members were named, and additional schedules were introduced to capture information on slaves, agriculture, and industry. While the census aims to count everyone, it has never been mathematically exact due to various challenges, such as differential undercount and distributive inaccuracy.

The primary legal purpose of the decennial census, as intended by the Founding Fathers, is apportionment—dividing the seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the states based on population. This process ensures equal representation in Congress and has been a subject of controversy and legal challenges over the years. The Constitution grants Congress the authority to collect statistics beyond a simple headcount, and the Census Bureau works to maintain confidentiality and privacy in the data collection process.

The U.S. Marshals conducted the first nine censuses from 1790 to 1870 before the establishment of the Census Bureau. The census has evolved over time, with the introduction of "long-form" versions in some households between 1940 and 2000, and the use of technology for data collection starting with the 2020 census. The next census is scheduled for 2030, continuing the tradition of a census every ten years since 1790.

The census determines apportionment of representatives among states

The US Constitution mandates that a census be taken every 10 years. The census determines the apportionment of representatives among states, which is the original legal purpose of the decennial census. This apportionment is based on the state population counts that result from each census.

The first census was conducted in 1790, and since then, a census has been taken every 10 years, in every year ending in zero. The census count is used to determine the number of seats each state is entitled to in the House of Representatives. Each state is guaranteed at least one member in the House, and the remaining 385 seats are divided among the 50 states based on their population. The method for calculating this apportionment has changed over time, with the current method being the Huntington-Hill method or method of equal proportions, adopted in 1941.

The census data is also used for geographically defining state legislative districts. The results of the census are crucial for ensuring accurate representation in Congress for each state. While the census has never been perfectly accurate, its results are still used to determine political representation for the following 10 years.

The Constitution gives Congress the authority to collect statistics beyond a simple headcount in the census. This has been upheld by the courts, with the Supreme Court ruling as early as 1870 that Congress has the unquestionable power to require both an enumeration and the collection of statistics in the census.

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The census has never been mathematically exact

The US Constitution mandates that a census be taken every 10 years, with the first census having taken place in 1790. This census is used to determine the apportionment of representatives among the states, with each state's share being determined by its total population.

However, despite the best efforts of the Census Bureau, the census has never been mathematically exact since its inception. There is always a discrepancy between the final count and the actual total number of people living in the country at the time the census is conducted. This discrepancy is referred to as a "raw statistical undercount" and is not considered a legal or constitutional issue. The problem is what specialists define as one of two statistical issues: "differential undercount" or "distributive inaccuracy." Both terms refer to the inaccuracy that occurs when the nation's total population is divided by the number of states, resulting in a distribution that differs from what a given state would receive if there were no undercount.

Several factors contribute to the census's mathematical inexactitude. One challenge is counting people who live in group quarters, such as nursing homes, college dorms, and correctional facilities. For example, the 2020 Census faced significant disruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic, making it difficult to accurately count students living on campus. Additionally, people with multiple residences, such as those with second homes or vacation homes, may be counted twice or mistakenly identified as vacant.

Another issue is the use of sampling frames, which are necessary to ensure that everyone is included in the count. However, this method assumes that the population size is already known, which contradicts the fundamental premise of a census, which is to estimate the population. Furthermore, introducing new technology, such as online responses, can improve accuracy but also presents challenges, such as address verification and the potential for abuse.

While the census may never be perfectly accurate, it is still a critical tool for political empowerment and representation. The data collected is used to determine the number of representatives each state sends to Congress and to define legislative districts for elections. It also guides the allocation of federal funding for important projects and services that benefit local communities.

The census includes territories of the US

The US Census Bureau is responsible for conducting a census every 10 years, counting all residents by state and territory. This includes the five permanently inhabited territories of the US: Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

The 2020 census was conducted in partnership with the Office of the Governor of each Island Area, with local governments responsible for data collection and the Census Bureau providing funds, methodology, instruments, materials, and IT infrastructure. Census takers in the Island Areas carried two official ID badges and were required to fill out a "long form" questionnaire, which asked detailed questions about individuals and housing characteristics.

The inclusion of territories in the census is important for decision-making and policy planning. While the Federal Government generates information through various agencies, the US territories are often not included in their most useful work. For example, the GDP does not include Puerto Rico or the territories.

The census has been conducted every 10 years since 1790, as mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the US Constitution, which requires an apportionment of representatives among the states every decade. This was a turning point in world history, as previous censuses had been used primarily as tools of the government to tax or conscript youth into military service. While the census has never been perfectly accurate, its accuracy is essential, and the degree of intrusion into individual privacy is limited.

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