Hello Faithful Reader,
I hope this month's edition of the Black Bird's Eye View finds you well and in good spirit. I am well. Initially, I had planned on introducing you to an NC Pioneer with arms in politics. After much thought, I decided against that idea because writing about a politician might give the impression that myself, my column, or the newspaper I write for was issuing a form of endorsement. Instead, I decided to take a deeper look at the United States Census and the notion of collecting data that has a direct correlation with the way the United States government is run.
I must say, I had never really pondered the collection of data known as Census Day and found it interesting that in all my research the word "collection" was replaced with the word "produce." I notice things like that. Collecting and producing are two separate things.
The United States Census Bureau is a principal agency of the United States Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and its economy. The Census Bureau is part of the United States Department of Commerce and its director is appointed by the President of the United States.
I believe in good questions. The thing about a good interview is that if done correctly, creating the outline for writing the piece will open my mind to the bigger picture of the topic. This month I will open the floor with PART A (the topic) and the general information that was received about the topic through research and interviews. Next month I will follow up with PART B and provide (the responses) to the questions that I sent to the Census and provide feedback on those thoughts.
In speaking with local representatives of the United States Census Bureau I was told the following:
The Census was implemented in 1790 and is a Federal Program regulated by Congress. The collection of data is conducted every 10 years on April 1.
Data is collected through the following methods:
• Post Cards
• Paper Forms
• Call in via Phone
• Internet Filing (Beginning March 2020)
• Door to Door (If unable to collect data via aforementioned channels)
The Census consists of 10 questions. Information collected by the Census is protected by Title 13 for 72 years. During the protected 72-year period a Summary Level Report is available to the general public.
I was told that the bigger picture is the fact that there are 435 seats in the House of Representatives. Each State is automatically afforded one seat in the House of Representatives. That seat is held for two years and is reassigned through an election process every even year. The 435 seats are reassigned based on information collected via the United States Census. States with larger populations are assigned more seats than states with a smaller population. Although seats can be reassigned, at no time is there more than 435 seats available. If a state is assigned an additional seat due to rapid growth in population reported by the United States Census, another state automatically loses a seat.
Federal programs rely heavily on data collected through the United States Census to determine how to distribute Federal funds. Information collected via the United States Census ensures that Federal dollars come back to the designated states with the largest populations. The United States Census is key to future planning.
It has been determined that the following groups of people in the United States are underrepresented in the United States Census Report:
• Individuals who have relocated
• Poverty-stricken families and individuals
• Non-English-speaking individuals
• Illiterate individuals
• Individuals under the age of 5
• African American Males between the ages of 18-35
The following questions were pulled directly from the information that was sheared in the interviews.
1. How were the number of seats available in the House of Representatives determined (435)?
2. How is the individual (Seated in the House of Representatives) selected and what are their qualifications?
3. If there can never be more than 435 seats in the House of Representatives, what happens if there is a massive surge in population across the board?
4. How do the Federal Government and local planners gain access to the information if it is protected by Title 13?
5. What information is provided in the Summary Level Report?
6. Is the Census only available in English?
7. Why and how are the aforementioned groups underrepresented
I surveyed several individuals to see what, if any, awareness they had about the United States Census. What follows is a compilation of questions I was asked:
• How can the data collected be verified? Is it verified?
• What's to stop an unscrupulous individual or organization from intentionally misrepresenting the numbers to gain a seat in the House of Representatives?
• Who would benefit from misrepresenting data and how?
• Is it a coincidence that the underrepresented population is who it is? If it isn't, who does it benefit and how?
• Who keys the data collected into the system?
• Who has access to that system?
• Could the information be sold or used for marketing / personal / business purposes?
• Why would an individual feel comfortable with a random stranger knocking on their door asking questions?
• What are the penalties for misusing the data collected and has anyone ever been prosecuted for misusing the data?
• Is it the responsibility of each state to fund awareness of the United States Census? If so where does that money come from?
• Other than population count, what other ways is the data collected for the US Census used?
• Are the individuals seated in the House of Representatives associated with the Electoral College?
• With the current climate as it is, as it relates to ISIS and immigrants, why would a Mexican American feel comfortable enough to answer any questions associated with the Federal Government?
• What is the Complete Count Committee?
• Who are "Trusted Local Voices" (Provide names of individuals and organizations)?
• Is the major issue in collecting data the general distrust of the government?
• What is meant by dividing counties into census tracks?
• Is it accurate to say that incarcerated individuals are prohibited from voting in federal elections, but are still counted in the United States Census and that instead of their address of residence, the location of the prison is listed as their place of residence instead? If so, can the relocation of inmates from one state to another pose a potential problem as it relates to accuracy in headcounts?
• How many prisons are there in the United States and are the bulk of them in states that have more than one seat in the House of Representatives?
Since I am by the people and for the people, I naturally emailed these questions to the Representatives that I have been corresponding with and received the following response.
Hi Robin,
Thank you for forwarding your below questions. As many of the statements are rather technical in nature, I’ll reach out to our Census liaisons/experts at OSBM and the US Census Bureau regional office for assistance in answering. I’d love to have Sec. Machelle Sanders, as the Chair of the NC Complete Count Committee, provide a general statement on the importance of our state’s participation in the upcoming 2020 Census.
Given our general redirection toward Hurricane preparedness this week, it may be later next week before we’re able to get full responses to you – let me know if this will work okay with your timeline.
I responded and thanked them for reviewing my questions and assured them that next week will be just fine. Join me next month for the continuation of this most thought-provoking topic.
Until next time.
Always,
Robin
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