Conclusion+&+Discussion

= = =__Discussion of Current Issues -- Bias in Collecting Data__= [|2010 Census Mission, Issues and Politics The U.S. Census Began in 1790, But it's Still A Work in Progress]

Census data is used to determine U. S. House of Representatives districts and number of representatives for each state. Population results are also used to decide the distribution of millions of dollars in federal benefits and funding.


 * In 2000, American missionaries working outside the country were not counted in the census. If Utah’s 11,176 missionaries (more than any other state) were counted, the state would have qualified for a fourth House representative.


 * In 2010 census controversy revolves around citizenship, or lack of a citizenship question in the census form. In 2009, Republican. Senators Bob Bennett of Utah and David Vitter of Louisiana introduced an amendment to require the Census Bureau to ask residents if they are citizens. Groups are concerned that including a citizenship question could:
 * prompt many illegal immigrants to avoid the census in fear of deportation
 * lay groundwork for restricting the state-by-state population counts to citizens
 * re-allocate seats in the House of Representatives
 * impact the dispersal of billions in federal benefits
 * delay completion of the census for months or years


 * U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota raises issues of privacy. She states that her family will only report the number of people in the household because "the Constitution doesn't require any information beyond that."

A preview of the 2010 Census form is available online at [].