June 2, 2023
The U.S. Census Bureau
Overview
• Decennial Census Programs: oversees decennial
The United States Census Bureau is a federal agency that
census programs, the American Community Survey
provides statistical data about the nation’s people and
(ACS), and the bureau’s geographic programs.
economy. Article I, Section 2, clause 3 of the U.S.
Constitution mandates a decennial census count of the
• Research and Methodology: develops the bureau’s
population. The first count was conducted in 1790.
practice of economic and social measurement.
Decennial census data are used to determine allocation of
funding for numerous federal programs and for the
Congressional Oversight & Funding
reapportionment of seats in the U.S. House of
The Census Bureau falls under the jurisdiction of the Senate
Representatives, among other purposes.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs and the House Committee on Oversight and
In addition to the decennial census, the Census Bureau
Accountability. Both committees have broad responsibility
collects and publishes data on several other population
for conducting oversight on government operations, which
characteristics and produces relevant statistical products.
includes the Census Bureau. The House and Senate
The bureau also releases publicly available analyses
Committees on Appropriations’ Commerce, Justice,
throughout the year on the surveys it conducts. Congress
Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittees provide
has historically been interested in Census Bureau funding,
annual funding for the Census Bureau.
oversight, data collection, and data usage. The impacts of
the COVID-19 pandemic on the 2020 decennial census, as
The Census Bureau received a total of $1.485 billion from
well as other issues related to the decennial census, were
P.L. 117-328 in FY2023. This funding was divided between
also matters of recent congressional interest.
the bureau’s two major accounts: the Current Surveys and
Programs account, which received $330 million, and the
Organizational History
Periodic Censuses and Programs account, which received
In 1902, the Census Office became a permanent
$1.155 billion.
organization housed in the Department of Interior, and in
1903 it was moved to the newly established Department of
The Biden Administration proposed a FY2024 budget of
Commerce and Labor. Subsequently in 1913, the Census
$1.606 billion for the Census Bureau. This budget request
Bureau moved to the Department of Commerce. Title 13 of
includes more than $375 million for Current Surveys and
the U.S. Code contains laws regarding the administration
Programs and more than $1.230 billion for Periodic Census
and organization of the Census Bureau.
and Programs. Final FY2024 funding has yet to be
appropriated as of this writing.
Organizational Structure
The director of the Census Bureau is nominated by the
Major Statistical Products
President and confirmed by the Senate. A term for the
The Census Bureau conducts several surveys ranging in
director lasts five years, and directors can serve a maximum
size and scope of data collection. Census Bureau data are
of two full terms. The current director, Robert L. Santos,
often publicly available, although it also maintains
was sworn in on January 5, 2022, and is the 26th director.
restricted-use microdata for social science research
The Census Bureau encompasses several divisions:
purposes.
• Communications: leads internal and external
The decennial census aims to count every resident where
communications for the bureau.
they lived in the country on April 1 of that year. The
enumeration conducted every 10 years determines how
• Field Operations: responsible for data collection and
seats in the House of Representatives are apportioned
data processing of surveys and censuses.
among the states. Any change in the number of House seats
in a state is determined by population change measured
• Economic Programs: conducts over 60 monthly,
during the census.
quarterly, and annual surveys covering several sectors of
the economy.
Following the decennial census, states conduct redistricting,
redrawing congressional maps to reflect population change.
• Demographic Programs: provides information about
Redistricting is carried out per each respective state’s own
the size, distribution, and characteristics of the overall
process, though states can obtain population tabulations for
population of the nation as well as information on
certain geographic areas from the Census Bureau. The data
income, poverty, and housing.
gathered during the decennial census are additionally used
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The U.S. Census Bureau
to allocate federal funding for various programs across a
Data accuracy remains a concern due to the impacts
range of policy areas.
inaccurate data may have on federal funding programs and
congressional apportionment.
The American Community Survey is intended to measure
several demographic, social, economic, and housing
Agency Operations and Performance
characteristics of the U.S. population. The ACS is sent to
In 2022, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 8326,
sample addresses across the nation on a rolling basis, with
the Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census Act. This
about 3.5 million surveys completed annually. Data
legislation, among other provisions, would have ensured
collected from the ACS are used to produce one-year and
research criteria were met prior to adding new questions to
five-year population estimates. Multiyear estimates increase
the decennial census; provided the Census Director with
the reliability of statistics for less populated areas and small
certain decisionmaking authority; required appointment of
population subgroups.
an employee to oversee racial and ethnic equity in the
decennial census; and required the director to communicate
The Current Population Survey (CPS) is conducted in
certain budget estimates directly to Congress. This
collaboration with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
legislation did not pass the Senate during the 117th
(BLS) and serves as the primary source for statistics on the
Congress.
labor force in the United States. The CPS is conducted
monthly and provides data on employment, unemployment,
In April 2023, the Government Accountability Office
persons not in the labor force, hours worked, earnings, and
(GAO) removed the 2020 decennial census from its “high-
other relevant demographic and labor force characteristics.
risk list” (which indicates programs that are vulnerable to
waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement, or need
The Economic Census, conducted every five years,
transformation), citing progress that the Census Bureau had
provides a measure of American businesses through
made in addressing certain concerns and priority
national-, state-, and local-level statistics. The survey offers
recommendations. GAO noted that it will continue to
a benchmark for current economic activity, including the
monitor the Census Bureau’s planning for the 2030 census.
Gross Domestic Product and the Producer Price Index.
Other Topics
The Census of Governments began in 1957 and is
Leading up to and following the 2020 decennial census,
conducted every five years, in years ending in 2 and 7. Data
other prominent issues included whether to require
obtained from the Census of Governments examine how
respondents to indicate their citizenship status, whether to
state and local governments are organized, as well as
count incarcerated individuals at their preincarceration
numbers of employees, payroll amounts, and government
residence, and whether to include questions regarding
finances.
sexual orientation or gender identity (SOGI).
Overview of Issues for Congress
Recent Initiatives
In addition to the annual appropriations cycle and
Following the 2020 decennial census, the Census Bureau
preparations for the 2030 decennial census, the following
has redefined its criteria for urban areas. To be designated
may be of interest to Congress:
as urban, an area must encompass a minimum of 5,000
people or 2,000 housing units. The previous threshold was
Data Accuracy and Related Issues
2,500 people. Housing units are a new criterion. The change
Some Members of Congress have expressed concern with
may impact the current designation of urban areas.
the accuracy of the 2020 decennial census. The 2020
Census Post-Enumeration Survey (PES) released in 2022
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is
found undercounts in Hispanic or Latino, American Indian
considering revising statistical standards for collecting race
or Alaskan Native, and Black or African American
and ethnicity data across federal agencies, which would
populations. The PES found overcounting in Delaware,
impact Census Bureau surveys and products. Earlier this
Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio,
year, OMB requested public input on potential changes.
Rhode Island, and Utah. Undercounting occurred in
These potential changes include consolidating the “race”
Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Tennessee, and
and “ethnicity” questions; adding a “Middle Eastern or
Texas. The PES is unable to indicate the reasons behind
North African” category on surveys; and including more
undercounts and overcounts. Overall, the PES did not find a
detailed racial and ethnic categories on questionnaires.
statistically significant overcount or undercount of the total
population.
Additionally, the chief statistician of the United States has
issued recommendations on best practices for collecting
Data confidentiality and privacy requirements can be in
SOGI data on federal statistical surveys.
tension with statistical accuracy. To protect confidentiality
of recorded data, the Census Bureau uses a disclosure
Taylor R. Knoedl, Analyst American National
avoidance approach known as “differential privacy,” which
Government
injects statistical “noise” into sub-state level data. Some
studies have found that this practice has resulted in
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erroneous increases or decreases in some population sizes.


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The U.S. Census Bureau


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