Do you know the relevance of participating in the U.S. Census?
What is the purpose of the U.S. Census, and why is it important?
The U.S. Census is conducted every 10 years by the U.S. Census Bureau, a government agency that provides quality data about the U.S. population and economy.
It is mandatory for all persons residing in the United States to respond to the Census, which asks basic demographic questions about who lives in their household; how they are related; their date of birth, sex, and race; and whether they own or rent the house.
How does the U.S. census impact politics?
Achieving an accurate count of the population is fundamental for fair political representation and ensures each state is allocated the correct amount of representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives.
"Apportionment" is the process of dividing 435 voting memberships in the House of Representatives among the 50 states. This process is determined by population count data obtained from the decennial Census.
In 2002, dramatic changes in state populations revealed by the 2000 census caused 12 House of Representatives seats to shift among the states.
A larger number of representatives provides states with greater leverage in shaping national policies.
What are some other insights that can be gained from census data?
The data collected in the Census also determines the allocation of funds to state governments, infrastructure, and public services for the next decade.
According to research from Andrew Reamer at George Washington University, federal spending programs relied on data from the 2010 Census to distribute $1.504 trillion to state and local governments, nonprofits, businesses, and households in the 2017 fiscal year.
The geographical data retrieved from the Census allows the Census Bureau to help government agencies better understand how their programs impact public life.
Census data can also help businesses locate target populations or inform decisions about where to open their stores. For example, non-profit organizations may rely on census data to engage low-income families or areas with special needs.
