2010 Census...Fill It Out!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
When you fill out the census form, you're making a statement about what resources your community needs going forward.
Accurate data reflecting changes in your community are crucial in apportioning seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and deciding how more than $400 billion per year is allocated for projects like new hospitals and schools.
That's more than $4 trillion over a 10-year period for things like new roads and schools, and services like job training centers.
The census effect in action
In addition, residents themselves have used census data to support community initiatives involving environmental legislation, quality-of-life issues and consumer advocacy.
"Low-income families have clearly been targeted in this study." The Organic Consumers Association used census data to lobby the Environmental Protection Agency to halt testing dangerous chemicals on low-income children in Florida. The testing was eventually stopped due to the petition. Go to the petition site and read the census data cited to help augment their case
"This data shows that Phillips has a higher number of both elderly and children under the age of 5 within its boundaries." A town in Minneapolis used census data to push for further examination of the environmental and physiological impact of a proposed energy facility. Read the actual petition that was filed in court
"Florida is rapidly being developed, increasing the threats to wildlife" Save the Manatee Club petitions Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to step up protection of Florida's at-risk species using census data. Go to the official press release
Redistricting 101: What is redistricting and why do states redistrict?
Redistricting is the process of changing electoral district and constituency boundaries, usually in response to periodic census results
The U.S. Constitution requires that electoral districts be periodically adjusted or redrawn to account for population shifts
While the census does provide information to the U.S. states on population in order for the states to redistrict appropriately, the census is not actually responsible for the act of redistricting. State legislatures or independent bi-partisan commissions (depending on the state) are the bodies that actually redraw district lines.
Accurate data reflecting changes in your community are crucial in apportioning seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and deciding how more than $400 billion per year is allocated for projects like new hospitals and schools.
That's more than $4 trillion over a 10-year period for things like new roads and schools, and services like job training centers.
The census effect in action
In addition, residents themselves have used census data to support community initiatives involving environmental legislation, quality-of-life issues and consumer advocacy.
"Low-income families have clearly been targeted in this study." The Organic Consumers Association used census data to lobby the Environmental Protection Agency to halt testing dangerous chemicals on low-income children in Florida. The testing was eventually stopped due to the petition. Go to the petition site and read the census data cited to help augment their case
"This data shows that Phillips has a higher number of both elderly and children under the age of 5 within its boundaries." A town in Minneapolis used census data to push for further examination of the environmental and physiological impact of a proposed energy facility. Read the actual petition that was filed in court
"Florida is rapidly being developed, increasing the threats to wildlife" Save the Manatee Club petitions Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to step up protection of Florida's at-risk species using census data. Go to the official press release
Redistricting 101: What is redistricting and why do states redistrict?
Redistricting is the process of changing electoral district and constituency boundaries, usually in response to periodic census results
The U.S. Constitution requires that electoral districts be periodically adjusted or redrawn to account for population shifts
While the census does provide information to the U.S. states on population in order for the states to redistrict appropriately, the census is not actually responsible for the act of redistricting. State legislatures or independent bi-partisan commissions (depending on the state) are the bodies that actually redraw district lines.
