Omar Bennett
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is responsible for conducting the United States census. The census is a process that is as old as the nation itself, with the first census after the American Revolution taken in 1790. The census is mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution, which states that a census must be carried out every 10 years to apportion representatives and direct taxes among the states according to their respective populations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Every 10 years |
| Purpose | Apportionment of representatives among the states |
| Legal Basis | Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution |
| Conducting Authority | United States Census Bureau |
| Notification to Congress | General census subjects: 3 years before; Actual questions: 2 years before |
| Participants | Citizens, non-citizen legal residents, non-citizen long-term visitors, undocumented immigrants |
| Basis of Inclusion | "Usual residence", i.e., the place a person lives and sleeps most of the time |
| Census Day | April 1 since 1930 |
| Data Uses | Reapportionment of the House of Representatives, apportionment of federal funding |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution mandates a census every 10 years
The US Constitution, specifically Article I, Section 2, mandates that a census be taken every 10 years. This is known as the decennial census. The first census after the American Revolution was conducted in 1790 under Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. There have been 24 federal censuses since then, with the most recent one taking place in 2020. The next census is scheduled for 2030.
The census is carried out by the United States Census Bureau, officially known as the Bureau of the Census, which is part of the United States Department of Commerce. The Census Act of 1790 established the concept of “usual residence," which is defined as the place a person lives and sleeps most of the time. The Census Bureau uses special procedures to ensure that those without conventional housing are counted as well.
The original legal purpose of the decennial census was to determine the apportionment of representatives among the states. This process, known as apportionment, involves dividing the 435 memberships or seats in the US House of Representatives among the 50 states based on their population counts from the census. The apportionment results from the 2020 census will determine each state's political representation in Congress for the next 10 years.
While the census has been a valuable tool for collecting demographic, economic, and population data, it has never been perfectly accurate. The Census Bureau strives to achieve “distributive accuracy," which is constitutionally more important than “numerical accuracy." Despite their best efforts, there is always a discrepancy between the final count and the actual total number of people living in the country at the time of the census.
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The Census Act of 1790 defines 'usual residence'
The US Constitution empowers Congress to carry out a census every 10 years, as outlined in Article I, Section 2. The Census Act of 1790, authored by a Congress that included many of the framers of the US Constitution, established the concept of "usual residence" as the main principle in determining where people should be counted. This concept has been followed in all subsequent decennial censuses.
"Usual residence" is defined as the place where a person lives and sleeps most of the time. This is not necessarily the same as a person's voting residence, legal residence, or where they prefer to be counted. For example, people living in psychiatric hospitals should be counted at the residence where they sleep most of the time, and only counted at the facility if they do not have a usual home elsewhere. Similarly, prisoners are counted at correctional facilities, as this is usually where they live and sleep most of the time.
The Census Bureau undertakes a review of the Residence Criteria and Residence Situations every decade to ensure that the concept of "usual residence" is interpreted and applied consistently with the intent of the Census Act of 1790. This review also serves to identify new or changing living situations resulting from societal change and to address them in the guidance. For example, the Census Bureau has a plan to count people without permanent addresses in the 2020 Census, including sending 14,000 workers to campgrounds, RV parks, hotels, and marinas.
The census has never been exactly accurate mathematically since its inception in 1790, and there is always a final count that falls below the actual total number of people living in the country. However, the task of the Census Bureau is to achieve distributive accuracy rather than numerical accuracy.
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The Census Bureau must notify Congress of general subjects 3 years prior
The United States census is a census that is legally mandated by the Constitution of the United States. It takes place every ten years. The first census after the American Revolution was carried out in 1790 under Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. The United States Census Bureau is responsible for conducting the census.
The Census Bureau must notify Congress of the general subjects to be addressed in the decennial census three years before the census takes place. This is a requirement of Title 13, U.S. Code, which was established in 1954 when Congress codified earlier census acts and other statutes authorising the decennial census. Title 13 does not specify which subjects or questions are to be included in the decennial census. However, it does require the Census Bureau to notify Congress of the general subjects to be addressed three years before the census, and the actual questions to be asked two years before.
The census is mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution, which 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.
Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment amended Article I, Section 2 to include that the "respective Numbers" of the "several States" will be determined by "counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed."
The census has never been entirely accurate, and there is always a final count that falls below the actual total number of people living in the country at the time the census is taken. The task of the Census Bureau is to try to come as close as it can to achieving "distributive accuracy".
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The Census Bureau must notify Congress of actual questions 2 years prior
The United States Census Bureau is responsible for conducting the United States census. The census is a process that is as old as the nation itself and is mandated by the United States Constitution. The census takes place every ten years and was first carried out in 1790 under Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson.
The census is mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution, which 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.
Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment amended Article I, Section 2 to include that the "respective Numbers" of the "several States" would be determined by counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed.
The Census Bureau must notify Congress of the general census subjects to be addressed three years before the decennial census and the actual questions to be asked two years before the decennial census. This is stipulated by Title 13, U.S. Code, which does not specify the subjects or questions to be included in the decennial census.
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The census is used for apportionment of federal funding
The US Constitution empowers Congress to carry out a census every 10 years, as stated in Article I, Section 2. The census is mandated to ensure an apportionment of representatives among the states. This apportionment is based on the state population counts that result from each decennial census.
The census is also used for the apportionment of federal funding. The data collected from the census informs the distribution of federal funding each year. In fiscal year 2021, more than $2.8 trillion in federal funding was distributed using Census Bureau data in whole or in part. This funding was directed towards states, communities, tribal governments, and other recipients. The census data helps determine eligibility for assistance programs and guides funding allocations.
The Census Bureau found that at least 353 federal assistance programs used the data in whole or in part to guide their funding allocations in fiscal year 2021. These programs included Medicaid, Head Start, block grant programs for community mental health services, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The data also informed funding for programs related to healthcare, nutrition, highways, housing, school lunches, childcare, and COVID-19 assistance.
Census data is valuable for businesses as well, as it provides insights into population trends and growth projections, helping them make decisions about expansion, recruitment, and product offerings. Additionally, the data helps state and local governments, community organizations, and the private sector make informed decisions.
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Frequently asked questions
Article I, Section 2 of the US Constitution mandates that a census must be carried out every 10 years. This is the legal basis for the US Census Bureau, which is responsible for conducting the census.
The census is primarily used for apportionment—the process of dividing the memberships or seats in the US House of Representatives among the 50 states based on population counts. It is also used for apportioning federal funding, with estimates of between $675 billion and $1.5 trillion per year being distributed based on census data.
The census includes citizens, non-citizen legal residents, non-citizen long-term visitors, and undocumented immigrants. The Census Bureau bases its decision on the concept of usual residence, which is defined as the place a person lives and sleeps most of the time.
The census has never been 100% accurate, and there is always a final count that falls below the actual total number of people living in the country. However, the Census Bureau strives to achieve distributive accuracy over numerical accuracy, which is considered more important constitutionally.
