How does the census count people?
We completed the census in 2020, but why is it important, and what do we use it for?
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What does the Census Bureau do?
The Census Bureau is the United States’ “leading provider of quality data about its people and economy.” With its mission centered on furnishing precise and timely data while adhering to principles of confidentiality and scientific integrity, the Bureau is the nation's premier statistical authority. The census dates back to Thomas Jefferson, who initiated the inaugural census in 1790. The Census Bureau’s work has evolved, adapting to technological advancements and legislative shifts to fulfill its mandate effectively.
What does it track?
The Census Bureau's statistical programs encompass a range of initiatives aimed at providing comprehensive insights into America's demographic and economic landscape. Censuses, including the Decennial Census mandated by the U.S. Constitution, determine congressional representation and federal funding distribution. The Economic Census, conducted every five years, offers crucial statistics for various industries and geographic regions.
Surveys like the American Community Survey provide ongoing snapshots of population characteristics and living conditions, aiding resource allocation decisions. Additionally, demographic and economic surveys cover a wide array of topics, from income and education to small business impacts and COVID-19-related effects. Moreover, the Bureau regularly publishes population estimates and projections, highlighting demographic changes such as births, deaths, and migration patterns, crucial for future planning and policymaking.
Who is counted?
The Census Bureau ensures that all people in the U.S. – including foreign-born individuals, regardless of legal status – are included in its data collection efforts during censuses and surveys. Consequently, estimates of the total foreign-born population encompass unauthorized migrants. Importantly, the Bureau maintains strict confidentiality protocols, assuring that individual responses are not shared with immigration or law enforcement agencies, nor are they utilized to determine eligibility for government benefits. Since the inception of the U.S. census in 1790, counts have included both citizens and noncitizens to apportion seats in the House of Representatives based on population changes over the previous decade. Recently, Senate Republicans attempted to have non-citizens excluded from counting toward apportionment, but the measure failed.
Why am I hearing about the census now?
Recently, posts about the inclusion of unauthorized immigrants in the census incentivizing Democrats to perpetuate immigration for political gain have circulated. However, that is a mischaracterization of the census process and its implications. The assertion that Democrats benefit politically from counting unauthorized immigrants overlooks the fundamental principles of representation and fairness in democratic governance. Additionally, attributing a specific political motive to the census process lacks nuance and ignores the bipartisan support historically given to the census as a vital tool for ensuring equitable representation and resource distribution across the nation. These misleading statements conflate the census with broader immigration policy debates and misrepresent the purpose and impact of the census on political power dynamics.