Jonah Patel
The US Constitution mandates that a census be carried out every 10 years to determine the apportionment of representatives among the states. This apportionment is based on population figures, with the number of seats in the House of Representatives divided among the states according to their total population. The census counts every resident, including citizens, non-citizen legal residents, non-citizen long-term visitors, and undocumented immigrants. The inclusion of questions beyond a simple headcount has been upheld by the courts, which have stated that the Constitution gives Congress the authority to collect statistics in the census. The specific questions to be asked are determined by the Census Bureau and must be communicated to Congress no later than two years before the census.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Every 10 years |
| Purpose | Apportionment of representatives among the states |
| Subjects | Determined by the Census Bureau |
| Questions | Determined by the Census Bureau |
| Participants | Citizens, non-citizen legal residents, non-citizen long-term visitors, undocumented immigrants |
| Basis of inclusion | Usual residence |
| Constitutional basis | Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution |
| Constitutional controversy | Inclusion of a citizenship question |
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What You'll Learn
The census is used to apportion House seats
The census is a count of the entire population that is undertaken for the purpose of legislative representation. It is used to determine the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives. This is known as apportionment.
The US Constitution mandates that an apportionment of representatives among the states must be carried out every 10 years. Therefore, apportionment is the original legal purpose of the decennial census. The Enumeration Clause of Article I, Section 2 of the US Constitution states that the number of seats in the House of Representatives must be divided among the states according to their total population. The Clause further states that an actual enumeration of the population must be carried out every 10 years, with the first census taking place in 1790.
The census counts citizens, non-citizen legal residents, non-citizen long-term visitors, and undocumented immigrants. The Census Bureau bases its decision on who to count on 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 data collected by the census is used to redraw congressional, state, and local district boundaries to ensure that each person's voting power is closely equivalent. The census also helps determine the amount of funding that state governments and local communities receive from the federal government. In Fiscal Year 2015, census data was used to distribute more than $675 billion in federal funds for health, education, housing, and infrastructure programs.
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It's a tool for political empowerment
The US Constitution empowers Congress to carry out the census in "such manner as they shall by Law direct" (Article I, Section 2). The census is a tool for political empowerment because it counts every resident in the United States, including citizens, non-citizen legal residents, non-citizen long-term visitors, and undocumented immigrants. This count is then used to determine representation in Congress, with the number of seats in the House of Representatives divided among the states according to their total population.
The census is conducted every 10 years, with the first census after the American Revolution taking place in 1790 under Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. There have been 24 federal censuses since then, with the most recent one in 2020. The US Constitution mandates that an apportionment of representatives among the states must be carried out every 10 years, making apportionment the original legal purpose of the decennial census.
The census is also a tool for political empowerment because it provides valuable data that can be used to identify underrepresentation and address social justice issues. Statistical proportionality, which compares the number of members of a racial or ethnic minority group in particular positions with their numbers in the general population, has become a favored legal and administrative tool. For example, if African Americans make up 12% of the population but only 5% of college entrants, they are considered underrepresented, which can be presumptive evidence of racial discrimination.
Additionally, the census is one of the few sets of records that capture the stories of everyday people across history, including those who might otherwise be forgotten or erased. It is a tool for democracy and helps ensure that political power and representation are equitably allocated. However, there have been concerns about systemic undercounts of certain communities, including African Americans, children, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Hispanic people, and others.
The 2020 census under the Trump administration drew controversies and legal challenges due to policies on illegal immigration and attempts to exclude undocumented immigrants from the count. There were also debates about adding a citizenship question, which some states and activists argued would cause illegal immigrants not to respond out of fear of prosecution, leading to undercounting and affecting state representation and funding.
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It's a way to collect statistics
The US Constitution mandates that an apportionment of representatives among the states must be carried out every 10 years. Therefore, apportionment is the original legal purpose of the decennial census. The census is also a way to collect statistics.
The census is a way to collect statistics on the characteristics of individuals, households, and housing units throughout the country. The data collected by the census is used to inform a wide range of government, business, and nonprofit decision-making. For example, the government uses census data to determine the need for new roads, hospitals, schools, and other public sector investments. Census data is also used to distribute federal funds to states and local communities for health, education, housing, and infrastructure programs.
The Census Bureau uses special procedures to ensure that those without conventional housing are counted. For example, the bureau uses hot-deck imputation, which involves inferring the population characteristics of an address from its nearest similar neighbor. The Census Bureau also has special procedures to count people living in group quarters, such as college dorms or nursing homes, and those who are homeless.
The census has been a source of controversy in recent years, particularly around the inclusion of a question about immigration status. Many states and activists argued that this question would cause illegal immigrants not to respond out of fear of prosecution, leading to undercounting and affecting state representation and federal funding. The Supreme Court ruled that the rationale for adding the question was arbitrary and capricious and that the Department of Commerce needed to provide better reasoning for its inclusion.
In conclusion, while the primary legal purpose of the census is apportionment of representatives, it is also a critical tool for collecting statistics and informing decision-making at various levels of society.
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It counts all residents, including non-citizens
The United States census is a census that is legally mandated by the US Constitution. It takes place every 10 years and includes US territories. The US Census Bureau is responsible for conducting the census.
The census counts all residents, including non-citizens. This has always been the understanding, although it is frequently debated. The count includes non-citizen legal residents, non-citizen long-term visitors, and undocumented immigrants. The Census Bureau bases its decision about whom to count on the concept of "usual residence", a principle established by the Census Act of 1790. "Usual residence" is defined as the place a person lives and sleeps most of the time.
The census data is used to apportion the number of seats each state has in the US House of Representatives. The US Constitution, Article I, Section 2, states: "Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this union, according to their respective numbers." The census data is also used to inform a wide range of government, business, and nonprofit decision-making.
The 2020 census drew a number of controversies and legal challenges under the Trump administration due to President Donald Trump's policies on illegal immigration, particularly those undocumented in the country. There was debate over whether to add a question about citizenship to the census. The Supreme Court case Department of Commerce v. New York decided that the rationale to add the question was arbitrary and capricious and required the Department of Commerce to provide better reasoning before inclusion. The department dropped the question, and Trump instead issued an executive order directing the department to obtain citizenship data from other federal agencies. Trump also signed a memorandum ordering the exclusion of illegal immigrants from the numbers in the 2020 census used to apportion seats in the House of Representatives.
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It helps distribute federal funding
The US Constitution mandates that an apportionment of representatives among the states must be carried out every 10 years. This apportionment is based on the population figures collected during the decennial census. The census provides valuable data on the population and characteristics of individuals, households, and housing units across the country.
This data is crucial for distributing federal funding to states and local communities. In Fiscal Year 2015, census data was used to allocate over $675 billion in federal funds for health, education, housing, and infrastructure programs. Accurate census counts ensure equitable distribution, so that funding reaches the areas that need it most.
For example, census data helps determine the need for new roads, hospitals, and schools, guiding the allocation of resources for infrastructure development. It also informs funding decisions for education, including special education grants, the National School Lunch Program, and Head Start.
Additionally, census data is vital for emergency response planning. By understanding the population's changing needs, governments can allocate resources effectively to support communities in the wake of disasters. The census, therefore, plays a critical role in ensuring that federal funding is distributed based on up-to-date and accurate data, helping to improve the lives of people across the nation.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution mandates that an apportionment of representatives among the states must be carried out every 10 years. Therefore, apportionment is the original legal purpose of the decennial census.
The census includes citizens, non-citizen legal residents, non-citizen long-term visitors, and undocumented immigrants. The Census Bureau bases its decision about who to count on the concept of "usual residence".
The US census is conducted every 10 years. The first census was in 1790, and there have been 24 federal censuses since then. The most recent census was in 2020, and the next one is scheduled for 2030.
There has been controversy over whether the census should include a question about citizenship. The Trump administration attempted to add such a question to the 2020 census, arguing that it was necessary to exclude undocumented immigrants from the numbers used to apportion seats in the House of Representatives. However, this move was challenged in the courts, and the Supreme Court blocked the question from being added.
