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2010 Census
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General information on the census
What is the census?
The census is an official, usually periodic enumeration of a population, often including the collection of related demographic information. [1] The census calls for an actual enumeration of the people every ten years, to be used for apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives among the states. [2] The United States constitution mandates the census to be taken every ten years. The census is conducted confidentially where no individual person’s name or information is released until 72 years after the year of the given census. Although an individual’s personal information is not released until 72 years afterwards, the statistical information is available for the public eye as soon as the census is conducted and calculated.
There are many reasons why census data is important. It is used for a variety of reasons, including the following:
- There are 435 members of the House, and the seats are divided among the states according to population.
- States and many cities use census data to draw boundaries for legislative districts.
- Funds are allocated in a number of areas: neighborhood improvements, public health, education and transportation. Much of that money is awarded based on population, or on trends that show future needs.
- The data helps the private sector determine where jobs and job programs are needed.
- Private businesses use census data to identify consumer and labor markets. Businesses rely on the data to help decide where to locate their companies and where to target advertising. Corporations use population data for market research to determine locations for commercial enterprises, such as food stores, pharmacies, and other essential services.
History of Census (the first census)
The first census was taken on August 2, 1790 under Thomas Jefferson who was the Secretary of State. Undercounts that occurred before the 1790 census were blamed on the distrust in the government and there were some protests against the census. Data for this census was missing for five states including Delaware, Kentucky, Georgia, New Jersey and Virginia that may have been destroyed. Questionnaires were sent prior to April 1, 1790 (“Census Day”). In larger areas, households were asked to mail back the forms, while some were asked to hold the form for pickup. There were two phases of the 1790 census. Programs were started to improve the coverage of the census. There was a decline in the number of questions asked, there were more advisors and independent experts, and a letter accompanied the questionnaires that explained why the data needed to be requested. The 1790 census showed that 3,929,326 people were living in the United States of which 697,681 were slaves. [3] The largest cities consisted of New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Charleston SC and Baltimore. The census data of Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Virginia was burned during the War of 1812.
Why fill out the census form?
- It’s important – Census data affect funding for your community, your community’s representation in Congress and your community leader’s planning decisions.
- It’s easy – The census questionnaire takes only a few minutes to answer and return by mail.
- It’s confidential – Your responses are protected by law (Title 13, U.S. Code, Section 9). All Census Bureau employees have taken an oath to protect confidentiality and are subject to a jail term, a fine – or both – for disclosing any information that could identify a respondent or household.
- It’s required by law – The information you provide is combined with responses provided by your neighbors and other households across the country, to provide summary statistical data that are used by various local, state and federal agencies [4].
Census Questions for the 1790 census
1. Name of head of family
2. Number of free white males 16 and up, including heads of families
3. Number of free white males under 16
4. Number of free white females including heads of families
5. Number of all other free persons, except Indians not taxed
6. Number of slaves
Census Questions for the 2010 census
The 2010 Census questions would ask similar questions as of the 2000 Census that included the following: gender, age, race, ethnicity, relationship and whether you own or rent your home. Census 2010 is estimated to take less than 10 minutes to complete, the 2010 Census will be one of the shortest and easiest to complete since the nation’s first census in 1790. The 2010 Census will be conducted on April 1, 2010. The more detailed socioeconomic information is now collected through the American Community Survey. [5] The successful launch of the American Community Survey, which is administered continuously throughout the decade, means that the long-form sample questionnaire will no longer be used in the census itself and is replaced. It is a critical element in the Census Bureau's reengineered decennial census program. The ACS collects and produces population and housing information every year instead of every ten years. It is provided in several languages including English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Spanish, French, Portuguese, etc.
2010 Census Timeline: Key Dates
- Fall 2008: Recruitment begins for local census jobs for early census operations.
- Spring 2009: Census employees go door-to-door to update address list nationwide.
- Fall 2009: Recruitment begins for census takers needed for peak workload in 2010.
- February – March 2010: Census questionnaires are mailed or delivered to households.
- April 1, 2010: Census Day
- April – July 2010: Census takers visit households that did not return a questionnaire by mail.
- December 2010: By law, Census Bureau delivers population counts to President for apportionment.
- March 2011: By law, Census Bureau completes delivery of redistricting data to states [6].
Controversy in the 2010 census
Methods for population counts
Despite the increase in resources and improvements in planning, over 3 million U.S. inhabitants were missed during the 2000 census. Of these 3 million people, the majority belonged to communities of color or low-incomes. The primary issue associated with this disproportionate representation is the reduction of federal funding and services to inhabitants of these communities [7]. Therefore, it is vital that the data collection process is efficient and all encompassing.
According to the Census 2010 website, only the short form questionnaire will be administered next year. The questionnaire will ask for information about name, sex, age, date of birth, race, ethnicity, relationship and housing tenure. The traditional method of data collection is the paper based interviewing method. However, the down side of such method is that it is slow and time-consuming and allows for an increased chance of error. Additionally, the data integrity and authenticity could more easily be compromised because the data may be manually altered and the data must be re-typed into the computer[8]. To minimize such errors, the Census Bureau plans to use hand-held computers made by the Harris Corporation during the 2010 census. The actual census information will not be collected by these devices. The devices will be used in 2009 to update nationwide addresses and will be employed again in 2010 to follow up with U.S. inhabitants who do not submit their paper-and-pencil survey. The Harris Corporation hand-held computers will also be equipped with GPS mapping abilities. The devices are also encrypted and the census volunteers will not be able to access or alter private information [9].
Immigration and Privacy Issues
The 2010 Census will be the first taken since the September 11 terrorist attacks back in 2001. Since then, there has been a public outcry for stricter immigration laws and policies to ensure that suspicious people do not gain entry into the country. While the issue of illegal immigrants has plagued the United States for a long time, it is only since 2001 that the government has actually focused its efforts on its borders. But the US Census Bureau requires that there be a count for all individuals residing in the United States whether they are illegal or legal. There are approximately 11.3 million illegal immigrants living in the United States with 57 percent of illegal immigrants coming from Mexico.[10]
What is an illegal immigrant?
People become illegal immigrants in one of three ways: [11]
- entering without authorization or inspection
- staying beyond the authorized period after legal entry
- by violating the terms of legal entry.
What is the controversy?
Where the issue lies is in the fact that the US Census Bureau has asked the enforcement officials to suspend all raids on illegal immigrants. Their reasoning for this is because "Raids during the population count would make an already distrustful group even less likely to cooperate with government workers who are supposed to include them". The census is required to include all people whom are currently living in the US according to the US Constitution and proponents say if raids are happening, then less and less people will likely open the door to answer questions. This will result in skewed numbers when it comes to appropriating accurate funds to states and also assigning each state the correct number of representatives based on population size. [12]
Even though the information collected by the US Census is private by law, many illegal immigrants might be apprehensive to give their information out based on the fact that they might feel like the government will use it to hunt them down. It was done back in 2000 when the US Census Bureau asked the immigration officials to suspend raids for the same purposes. To complete the 2000 Census, the bureau relied heavily on local community leaders and organizations to help get data because illegal immigrants will probably feel safer talking to someone they trust and is part of their community.[13]
Officials against this proposition argue that if the bureau gets their way, then the American Public will be very angry. Lawmakers are making the argument that the American public is tired of the immigration laws being lax and that in no way will it be tolerated that raids be suspended during the months before, during, and after the census. One of the arguments is that since illegal immigrants don't pay taxes and instead likely paid under the table, they should not be counted in government counts because they do not contribute to the government. [14]
The 2010 Census and the LGBT Community
Operating under the Defense of Marriage Act (DoMA), the census will not recognize the issues relating to the LGBT community. According to Martin O’Connell, the chief of the Census Bureau’s Fertility and Family Statistics Branch, the data collected and published for the 2010 census will be consistent with every other federal agency. This compliance means that the census will not inquire of sexual orientation or gender identity[15]. Additionally, the census will not recognize same-sex marriages, civil unions, or domestic partnerships. Regardless of legal recognition in states that permit same-sex marriages, the census will not count married LGBT persons with children as a family. Instead, same-sex couples must identify themselves as “unmarried partners”.
The census includes a question about each person’s sex (male or female). Transgender individuals may choose only one of the two options and will be considered whichever gender they indicate. However, the Census Bureau will not be able to distinguish respondents as transgender [16]. The National Center for Transgender Equality encourages transgender respondents to mark whichever gender he/she most comfortably identifies with. Similar to the same-sex couples, transgender couples can choose to report their relationship as "husband or wife" or as "unmarried partner [17]
Obama and the 2010 Census
The 2010 Census will be the first in thirty years to be taken under a Democratic administration. The debate over the Census has become a power struggle and a controversial subject matter. [18] President Obama wants to bring the census into the White House before the 2010 Census. By bringing the census into the White House, he wants to give his aides responsibility for overseeing next year's headcount. Both Democrats and Republicans fear that the President will politicize the 2010 Census, but the Republicans are particularly worried about Obama's decision. [19] The Republicans are worried that the move would require the Census Bureau director to report to the White House Chief of Staff rather than the Commerce Secretary. They fear that the President's decision to bring the Census into the White House could ultimately influence legislative redistricting, which is determined by the Census counts. [20] Republicans argue that Democrats seek to increase numbers in order to form extra congressional districts in urban areas and bring in more federal money for their constituencies, while the Democrats argue that Republicans undercount minorities and poor Americans, which prevents federal funding from reaching these communities. [21] There is already speculation that New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg has withdrawn his nomination to serve as President Obama's Commerce Secretary because of opposing views on the 2010 Census. Gregg stated that there were "irresolvable conflicts" involving the stimulus package and the Census. [22]
Legislation Regarding the Census
In light of opposition from both the Democrats and Republicans, Rep. Carol Maloney has proposed a bill that would make the U.S. Census Bureau an independent establishment like the NIH or NASA. This legislation is also known as Restoring the Integrity of American Statistics Act of 2009. This bill would reestablish the United States Census Bureau as an independent establishment in the executive branch, effective January 1, 2012. It also requires the Bureau Director to be: (1) appointed by the President without regard to political affiliation for a five-year term; and (2) compensated at level II of the Executive Schedule. In addition, this legislation provides for: (1) the transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the Bureau under the Department of Commerce; (2) transition rules; and (3) appointment of an Inspector General for the Bureau. This bill is cosponsored by 10 other representatives and delegates both from the Republican and Democratic parties. [23] Maloney authored and sponsored this bill because the Census Bureau's work is scientific. She stated that it cannot be a stepchild of a larger organization that is subject to budget whims and political storms. [24] On March 3, 2009 the bill was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. We are now waiting for the Committee to report back. [25]
This bill motivates immigrants or minorities to participate in the Census and to make the data more specific and accurate as possible. This bill states that, "In conducting the 2010 decennial census and every decennial census thereafter, the Secretary of Commerce shall include, in any questionnaire distributed or otherwise used for the purpose of determining the total population by States, a checkbox or other similar option by which respondents may indicate Dominican extraction or descent." This legislation was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on March 12, 2009. Currently, we are waiting for the Committee to report back. [26]
Along with Bill H.R. 1504, this legislation is also being proposed to make the 2010 Census data and any Census data afterwards more specific and accurate. The bill states, "In conducting the 2010 decennial census and every decennial census thereafter, the Secretary of Commerce shall include, in any questionnaire distributed or otherwise used for the purpose of determining the total population by States, a checkbox or other similar option by which respondents may indicate Caribbean extraction or descent." This legislation was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on April 23, 2009. We are still waiting for the Committee to report back like the two previous bills. [27]
Articles and resources
See also
References
1. Census. Free Dictionary
2. Historic Snapshot of the Nation U.S. Census Bureau
3.1970 United States Census. Wikipedia
4. 2010 Census Different. U.S. Census Bureau
5. Illegal Immigration Center for Immigration Studies
6. What is Illegal Immigration U.S. Immigration Support
7. Bureau to Ask for halt to immigration RaidsFox News Inc.
8. Census Bureau to Count All Illegal Aliens in 2010 Truth Tracker
9. Should the census count illegal immigrants? Huffington Post
