Every ten years the United States government tries to count every person in the country with a census. What is the census? Why does the government need to count people? Who is it doing the counting? Today’s Civics Short takes a closer look at the who, what, where, and whys of the Census.
Transcript
NOTE: This transcript was generated using an automated transcription service, and may contain typographical errors.
Civics 101 Short
The U.S. Census
Hannah McCarthy : [00:00:00] Hello, dear listeners. Hannah McCarthy here.
Nick Capodice: [00:00:03] Nick Capodice here. Today, we're bringing you our latest installment of Civics Shorts.
Hannah McCarthy : [00:00:07] A bite sized refresher on the United States Census. It's created with middle schoolers in mind.
Nick Capodice: [00:00:13] But anyone with an appetite for learning, and pie, should enjoy official score.
Archive Video: [00:00:18] Keeper of American Development for one hundred and fifty years has been busy but unspectacular United States.
Christina Phillips: [00:00:26] Wht?!, this guy in here. The census is spectacular.
The Count: [00:00:30] One, two, three- ah, the census my favorite time of the decade! Ah Ah Ah
Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:39] I'm Jacqui
Christina Phillips: [00:00:40] I'm Christina.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:42] Today on Civics Shorts we're going to talk about the census.
Bored Kid Counting: [00:00:44] 1440,1441,1442,1443
Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:52] The census is so much more than just a head count of every single person living in the United States and territories.
Christina Phillips: [00:00:58] It has a direct impact on all our lives. A lot is at stake.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:04] We're going to give you the what, the who, and the why of the U.S. Census.
Christina Phillips: [00:01:09] Buckle up, buttercups.
Archive Video: [00:01:13] Thousands of operators will sort and tabulate the millions of cards almost entirely with machines, mechanical marvels of accuracy and speed.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:23] First off, what is the U.S. Census? Why do we have it?
Christina Phillips: [00:01:27] Article one, Section two of the United States Constitution says the government has to count everyone in the country every 10 years.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:40] We count each person in all the homes, in all the neighborhoods across the country.
Christina Phillips: [00:01:46] Boomers, Gen Z, babies- everyone counts.
The Count: [00:01:50] Of course, everyone in your home counts.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:53] Other information is collected-.
Christina Phillips: [00:01:55] Like your name
Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:55] Age
Christina Phillips: [00:01:56] Race
Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:57] Gender
Christina Phillips: [00:01:58] If you rent or own a home
Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:59] your marital status
Christina Phillips: [00:02:01] And more!
Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:03] And more!
Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:03] Since 1907 the census has been completed by the Census Bureau. The Census Bureau is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Archive Video: [00:02:12] The Census has presented a steadily broadly picture of the nation in its 10 year inventory. Congress has repeatedly extended the scope of census questionnaires to meet the growing complexity of American life.
Christina Phillips: [00:02:25] Throughout history, the U.S. Census has reflected the values of our society. For example-.
Baby names video: [00:02:31] Noah, Jacob Mason, William-.
Christina Phillips: [00:02:34] In the beginning, only the names of the heads of each household were surveyed-.
Baby names video: [00:02:38] Daniel.
Christina Phillips: [00:02:39] In other words, mostly the men.
Archive Video: [00:02:43] Ask the supplementary questions only for the member of the household whose name is on the marked line.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:49] Every so often a widow or single mom could get her name in there.
Mildred: [00:02:53] Mildred, spelled m i l d r e d.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:56] But it was rare. Women, children and extended families in the home were recorded as numbers.
Archive Video: [00:03:02] Now, what are the names of the other persons living here with you Mrs. Magee?
Mrs. Magee: [00:03:07] Well, there's me.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:11] The modern census now counts every single human in the country as their own individual person and records their name.
Christina Phillips: [00:03:21] So why do we have a census in the first place?
Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:24] Federal funding and representation!
Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:28] I like to think of the census as the way to divvy up two pies, two delicious, hot, fresh out of the oven pies.
Martha Stewart: [00:03:37] Two pies.I just can't stop myself from making pies!
Christina Phillips: [00:03:42] Ok, so let's pretend you're throwing the party, a pie party. All the food is pie.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:45] Oh, my favorite kind of party!
Martha Stewart: [00:03:47] Now, this is a half a recipe of pate brisee. You're going to need about a half a cup of sugar-.
Christina Phillips: [00:03:53] When you're baking you need to know how many people would be at the party. You also want to know how big a slice to serve each person. Everyone should get their fair share.
Archive Video: [00:04:02] The population of the United States is continually changing in number, location, and composition.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:08] So this census figures out who lives where and how big a slice of pie they should get.
Christina Phillips: [00:04:16] The first pie. I'm going to call this the blueberry pie is political representation.
Census Commercial: [00:04:21] There are 435 seats in the House of Representatives. These get distributed to the 50 states by population, and an accurate census response helps your state get the right amount of seats. States with smaller populations get at least one, while states with larger populations might get more.
Christina Phillips: [00:04:41] The second pie. We're gonna call it the strawberry rhubarb pie.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:45] It's the federal money pie. It's chock full of more than six hundred and seventy five billion dollars.
The Count: [00:04:52] Counting everyone in your home helps support your neighborhood for the next ten years. By funding, things like schools, hospitals and buses. So count yourself and everyone in your home.
Christina Phillips: [00:05:03] So the census is used to decide how the six hundred and seventy five billion dollars should be divided among communities in the U.S. and territories.
Homer Simpson: [00:05:12] Mmm...Pie.
Archive Video: [00:05:14] To enumerate and record the required information about every man, woman and child in the United States is an enormous task.
Christina Phillips: [00:05:24] Who are census workers?
Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:26] When the census first started in 1790, U.S. Marshals rode on horseback to every house and recorded, surveyed, the menfolk.
Archive Video: [00:05:36] Is there anyone else who isn't here at the present time?
Mrs. Magee: [00:05:39] Well, there's me...
Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:41] Now census workers include people like-.
Christina Phillips: [00:05:44] Data entry nerds, statisticians and census takers. People who go out into the field house to house.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:53] It sounds like a fun gig!
Christina Phillips: [00:05:55] Some census takers have reported wild things out in the field.
Jacqui Fulton: [00:06:00] Chased by a baby lion.
Christina Phillips: [00:06:04] Census form, eating goats.
Christina Phillips: [00:06:11] Caught in the middle of a manhunt for an escaped prisoner and escorted by a bloodhound.
Police raid: [00:06:14] Come out with your hands up or the dog will bite you!
Christina Phillips: [00:06:22] Make sure you get counted for the 2020 census.It's easy!
The Count: [00:06:26] In 10 minutes. You can complete the census by calling or going online. Or return your form by mail. Ah, Ah, Ah.
Hannah McCarthy : [00:06:39] So in a pie shell, what is the U.S. Census?
Nick Capodice: [00:06:43] The census counts everyone who lives in the United States.
Hannah McCarthy : [00:06:46] Why a census?
Nick Capodice: [00:06:48] Because the data collected determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. And it is used to distribute billions in federal funds to local communities.
Hannah McCarthy : [00:06:57] Who conducts the census?
Nick Capodice: [00:06:58] The census is conducted by the Census Bureau, which is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Hannah McCarthy : [00:07:03] I think you got it.
Noah Snead: [00:07:04] This episode was produced by Jacqui Fulton. With help by Nick Capodice, Hannah McCarthy, and Christina Phillips. Erica Janik is executive producer of Lemon Meringue Pies. Maureen McMurray bakes her classic apple pie, without actual apples. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.