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Census Bureau Submits Planned 2020 Questions to Congress

U.S. Census Bureau
March 29, 2018

The Census Bureau on Thursday submitted its planned questions for the 2020 census to Congress.

The questions will include "age, sex, Hispanic origin, race, relationship, homeownership status, and citizenship status," the bureau said in a press release.

Democrats have strongly opposed including any questions in the census regarding one's citizenship status, although the question has appeared on previous national census surveys, which occur every ten years. The Obama administration did not ask about citizenship in the 2010 census.

Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez on Tuesday called the question "a craven attack on our democracy," and California and New York have both sued the Trump administration over the question, arguing it would intimidate immigrants and result in a dramatic undercount of minority communities.

Critics say that the states are concerned about losing congressional seats; a census is mandated by the Constitution in order to determine representation in Congress.

The 2020 Census will begin on April 1, 2020.

The Census Bureau is currently conducting a test census in Providence County, Rhode Island.

Dr. Ron Jarmin, who is "performing the nonexclusive functions and duties of the director" of the bureau, described the importance and ease of the census.

"The goal of the census is to count every person living in the United States once, only once, and in the right place," Jarmin said. "The 2020 census is easy, safe, and important. The census asks just a few questions and takes about 10 minutes to respond. For the first time, you can choose to respond online, by phone, or by mail."

Published under: Congress