Why it's Important
It’s in the Constitution
The decennial Census is mandated by the Constitution to determine the number of Representative each State gets in the U.S. House of Representatives. Census data ensure our political representation reflects the US population and is the foundation of our representative democracy.
Watch "The U.S Census and the Amazing Appropriation Machine" video.
Distribution of Federal Funds
The Census is also used to determine the distribution of billions of dollars for the next decade. It is estimated that for every person missed, state and local agencies loose $2,000/year.
Lean more - Count the Dollars 2020 - California FactSheet.
Census Data Shapes Our Communities
Census Data is used by business groups, policy analysts, and non-profits to help development business plans, service areas, and policy decisions. The Census is the benchmark for the next decade of key decisions for our communities.