Government Documents: Census

What Data the Census Bureau Collects & When:

How the Data is Used:

-to determine the distribution of Congressional seats to states--

• mandated by the U.S. Constitution
• used to apportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives
• used to define legislature districts, school district assignment areas and other important functional areas of government

-To make decisions about what community services to provide.  For example, changes in your community are crucial to many planning decisions, such as where to:

• provide services for the elderly
• where to build new roads and schools
• or where to locate job training centers
• to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year

-Census data affects how funding is allocated to communities for:

• neighborhood improvements
• public health
• education
• transportation
• and much more

-To provide information for:

• Qualifying for Social Security and other retirement benefits
• Passport applications
• Proving relationship in settling estates
• Researching family history or a historical topic, including via the National Archives