{"id":9118,"date":"2017-05-10T19:02:12","date_gmt":"2017-05-10T19:02:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/?p=9118"},"modified":"2017-05-12T19:08:37","modified_gmt":"2017-05-12T19:08:37","slug":"census-directors-resignation-could-affect-control-of-congress-after-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/census-directors-resignation-could-affect-control-of-congress-after-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Census director’s resignation could affect control of Congress after 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jay L. Zagorsky<\/a>, The Ohio State University<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

John H. Thompson, the director of the U.S. Census Bureau, just resigned<\/a> amid a funding fight over the 2020 Census<\/a>. \"The<\/p>\n

Since it comes at the same time that the president fired the director of the FBI<\/a>, why should anyone care about the resignation of just another Washington \u201cbean counter\u201d? <\/p>\n

\n \"\"
\n Who\u2019s he?<\/span>
\n Census Bureau<\/span><\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This bean counter, whose name is likely unfamiliar to the vast majority of Americans, is actually one of the most important people in determining whether Democrats or Republicans control Congress. The census has a significant impact on political representation and how federal money is distributed<\/a>. Moreover, how hard the director fights for more funding helps determine the accuracy of the census. <\/p>\n

As someone who has spent decades deeply involved in surveys, I understand the importance of ensuring an accurate count of the population. Without it, every fact about this nation\u2019s population \u2013 from the percent of women giving birth to the percent of elderly people dying \u2013 is suspect.<\/p>\n

Why we have a census<\/h2>\n

The primary source of United States demographic data is the population census, which is done in the spring of all years that are evenly divisible by 10.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Constitution provides the legal basis<\/a> for conducting a census in Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3, later superseded by the 14th Amendment<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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\u201cRepresentatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The first census was conducted<\/a> in 1790, a year after the inauguration of President George Washington. The law establishing it required that marshals visit every household and send the \u201caggregate amount of each description of persons\u201d for every district to the president. The data were to be used to distribute seats fairly in the House. <\/p>\n

Today, the census\u2019 goal more broadly is to collect information<\/a> about all people residing in the country, including noncitizens. <\/p>\n

But it\u2019s used for many purposes beyond a state\u2019s congressional representation. It determines how the federal government distributes billions of dollars in aid<\/a>. It also controls the number of Electoral College votes<\/a> each state receives. This means the census has a big part to play in who is elected president in close elections.<\/p>\n

At the state and local level, the census is used for zoning, planning and situating public services. The census is even important for businesses<\/a>, since it provides the raw data needed for planning, marketing, production and distribution decisions.<\/p>\n

How the census works<\/h2>\n

The census does all these things by trying to track down every single person in the country and tally how many live in the U.S. on April 1 of the year in question. <\/p>\n

The bureau maintains the country\u2019s most accurate and complete mailing list, called the Master Address File<\/a>. This file contains records for every single home, apartment, dormitory and other type of residence in the country. But, while this count of residences is very accurate, it doesn\u2019t tell the Census Bureau who lives where. <\/p>\n

To find out, the bureau sends a detailed form<\/a> to every address on its list. It asks residents to fill it in and mail it back. This is where most of the census results come from. <\/p>\n

If a form isn\u2019t returned, the Census Bureau attempts to reach the occupants of an address through telephone calls and face-to-face visits. That task has become more complicated, as more Americans have switched from landlines \u2013 which are tied to a physical address \u2013 to unattached mobile phones. This has increased the cost of tracking down people who don\u2019t fill out the forms.<\/p>\n

Additionally, in large urban areas, census staff and homeless advocates tally the number of individuals living on the streets. Census staff even go to mobile home parks, campgrounds and boat marinas to ensure that people who are traveling are included in the tally. With help from the military, the census also counts U.S. citizens stationed overseas or on active duty ships.<\/p>\n

Tallying the costs<\/h2>\n

The census goes to extraordinary lengths, particularly in more recent surveys, to provide a complete picture of the entire population \u2013 not just those who are conveniently reachable. This extraordinary effort costs money<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Census costs<\/a> have soared over time, a problem made worse as more Americans have stopped answering surveys and toss spam-like mail into the trash without opening it. In the last census<\/a>, in 2010, 74 percent<\/a> of Americans mailed back a completed form.<\/p>\n

In 1970, the census cost about US$1.3 billion, after adjusting for inflation. That figure tripled to $12.5 billion in the 2010 census<\/a>. This massive undertaking \u2013 which involved more than 600,000 temporary workers \u2013 put the U.S. population at 308,745,538.<\/p>\n

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