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The '''United States Census Bureau''' is charged with counting all individuals that reside in the United States, which is required by the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]] to take place every 10 years.  The information the census collects helps to determine how more than $400 billion of federal funding each year is spent on infrastructure and services like hospitals, job training centers, schools, senior centers, bridges, tunnels and other public works projects, and emergency services; moreover, the census also helps determine the number of seats a state has in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]].  The first census was taken in 1790, and since then, every ten years there has been a census in the [[United States]].  Other major countries followed in the 19th century. It is a major topic in [[Demography]].

The '''United States Census Bureau''' is charged with counting all individuals that reside in the United States, which is required by the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]] to take place every 10 years.  The information the census collects helps to determine how more than $400 billion of federal funding each year is spent on infrastructure and services like hospitals, job training centers, schools, senior centers, bridges, tunnels and other public works projects, and emergency services; moreover, the census also helps determine the number of seats a state has in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]].  The first census was taken in 1790, and since then, every ten years there has been a census in the [[United States]].  Other major countries followed in the 19th century. It is a major topic in [[Demography]].

The United States Census Bureau is headquartered at the [[Suitland Federal Center]] in [[Suitland, MD]].<ref>http://www.census.gov/</ref>  

The United States Census Bureau is headquartered at the [[Suitland Federal Center]] in [[Suitland, MD]].<ref>https://www.census.gov/</ref>  

==History of the Census==

==History of the Census==

The First Federal Congress established a special committee to prepare the questions to be included in the first census. The suggestions were likely debated in the House, and according to a report in a Boston newspaper, Virginia Representative James Madison recommended at least five of the initial six questions. The first six census inquiries in 1790 called for questions on gender, race, relationship to the head of household, name of the head of household, and the number of slaves, if any. Marshals in some states went beyond these questions and collected data on occupation and the number of dwellings in a city or town.  

The First Federal Congress established a special committee to prepare the questions to be included in the first census. The suggestions were likely debated in the House, and according to a report in a Boston newspaper, Virginia Representative James Madison recommended at least five of the initial six questions. The first six census inquiries in 1790 called for questions on gender, race, relationship to the head of household, name of the head of household, and the number of slaves, if any. Marshals in some states went beyond these questions and collected data on occupation and the number of dwellings in a city or town.  

By 1820, the census was also asking how many in each household were "engaged in agriculture, commerce, and manufactures." In 1830, the census asked how many were "deaf, dumb or blind." The questions directed by Congress grew increasingly detailed through the remainder of the 19th century, and in 1902 Congress established the Census Bureau as a permanent agency.<ref>[http://www.factcheck.org/2010/03/census-nonsense/ Census Nonsense], FactCheck.org, March 18, 2010.</ref>

By 1820, the census was also asking how many in each household were "engaged in agriculture, commerce, and manufactures." In 1830, the census asked how many were "deaf, dumb or blind." The questions directed by Congress grew increasingly detailed through the remainder of the 19th century, and in 1902 Congress established the Census Bureau as a permanent agency.<ref>[https://www.factcheck.org/2010/03/census-nonsense/ Census Nonsense], FactCheck.org, March 18, 2010.</ref>

In 1954, Congress codified earlier census acts and all other statutes authorizing the decennial census as [http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/13/usc_sup_01_13.html Title 13, U.S. Code]. Title 13, U.S. Code, does not specify which subjects or questions are to be included in the decennial census. However, it does require the Census Bureau to notify Congress of general census subjects to be addressed 3 years before the decennial census and the actual questions to be asked 2 years before the decennial census. Moreover, refusing to answer either the brief 2010 Census form or the longer ACS form is a violation of federal law.<ref>[http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/13/usc_sec_13_00000221----000-.html Title 13, United States Code, Section 221].</ref> Refusing to answer is punishable by a fine of $100, while giving false answers carries a fine of up to $500.<ref>As a practical matter, Census says fines of up to $5,000 can be imposed under [http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/usc_sec_18_00003571----000-.html Title 18, Section 3571].</ref>  

In 1954, Congress codified earlier census acts and all other statutes authorizing the decennial census as [http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/13/usc_sup_01_13.html Title 13, U.S. Code]. Title 13, U.S. Code, does not specify which subjects or questions are to be included in the decennial census. However, it does require the Census Bureau to notify Congress of general census subjects to be addressed 3 years before the decennial census and the actual questions to be asked 2 years before the decennial census. Moreover, refusing to answer either the brief 2010 Census form or the longer ACS form is a violation of federal law.<ref>[http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/13/usc_sec_13_00000221----000-.html Title 13, United States Code, Section 221].</ref> Refusing to answer is punishable by a fine of $100, while giving false answers carries a fine of up to $500.<ref>As a practical matter, Census says fines of up to $5,000 can be imposed under [http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/usc_sec_18_00003571----000-.html Title 18, Section 3571].</ref>  

===Obama administration===

===Obama administration===

In 2009, the [[Obama Administration]] took the unprecedented step of moving control of the 2010 U.S. census from the [[Commerce Department]] to direct control by the [[White House]] and Chief of Staff [[Rahm Emanuel]]. Many congressional Republicans believe this was done as a "power grab" by the administration in order to manipulate congressional redistricting nationwide to favor Democrats.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/02/09/gop-sounds-alarm-obama-decision-census-white-house/ GOP Sounds Alarm Over Obama Decision to Move Census to White House], FOXNews.com, February 09, 2009.</ref><ref>[[Glenn Beck]]. [http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/31766/ Glenn Beck: Obama's Census Control], GlennBeck.com, October 12, 2009.</ref><ref>Pamela Geller. [http://biggovernment.com/pgeller/2010/03/22/census-stalkers/ Census Stalkers], BigGovernment.com, March 22, 2010.</ref><ref>[[Michelle Malkin]]. [http://michellemalkin.com/2010/03/09/my-race-is-american/ My race is “American”], MichelleMalkin.com, March 9, 2010.</ref> Additionally, it was discovered that the partisan, pro-Obama, fraud-laden group [[ACORN]] would assist in the census.<ref>Cristina Corbin. [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/17/lawmakers-concerned-role-acorn-census/ ACORN to Play Role in 2010 Census], FOXNews.com, March 18, 2009.</ref>

In 2009, the [[Obama Administration]] took the unprecedented step of moving control of the 2010 U.S. census from the [[Commerce Department]] to direct control by the [[White House]] and Chief of Staff [[Rahm Emanuel]]. Many congressional Republicans believe this was done as a "power grab" by the administration in order to manipulate congressional redistricting nationwide to favor Democrats.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/02/09/gop-sounds-alarm-obama-decision-census-white-house/ GOP Sounds Alarm Over Obama Decision to Move Census to White House], FOXNews.com, February 09, 2009.</ref><ref>[[Glenn Beck]]. [http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/31766/ Glenn Beck: Obama's Census Control], GlennBeck.com, October 12, 2009.</ref><ref>Pamela Geller. [http://biggovernment.com/pgeller/2010/03/22/census-stalkers/ Census Stalkers], BigGovernment.com, March 22, 2010.</ref><ref>[[Michelle Malkin]]. [http://michellemalkin.com/2010/03/09/my-race-is-american/ My race is “American”], MichelleMalkin.com, March 9, 2010.</ref> Additionally, it was discovered that the partisan, pro-Obama, fraud-laden group [[ACORN]] would assist in the census.<ref>Cristina Corbin. [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/17/lawmakers-concerned-role-acorn-census/ ACORN to Play Role in 2010 Census], FOXNews.com, March 18, 2009.</ref>

==See also==

==See also==