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Census 2000 Message
ACCURATE
Our goal is the most accurate census possible, conducted using the most up-to-date methods as
recommended by the National Academy of Sciences and the vast majority of the professional
scientific community.
IMPORTANT
The census has real impact on the lives of real people. Information gathered in the decennial
census is used by states and local governments to plan schools and highways, by the federal
government to distribute funds for health care and other programs, and by businesses in deciding
where to build new stores and factories, and provide new services.
FAIR
Because the census is so important, we must do everything we can to ensure that everyone is
included in the count. We know that previous censuses overlooked millions of Americans,
especially children and minorities. That's not fair, it's not accurate, and it's not acceptable. We
are determined to do better.
COMPLETE
The 2000 Census must be a complete census. The Census Bureau will use modern scientific
methods -- techniques that will provide an essential quality check for Census 2000 -- to ensure a
complete and accurate count.
1. The Debate Should be About the Objective, Not the Means of Getting There.
"Improving the census should not be a partisan issue. It's not about politics, its
about people. It's about making sure that every American really, literally counts."
President Clinton, June 2, 1998
2. Never Forget What's at Stake -- Both the Benefits of an Accurate Census and the
Consequences of Missing People.
"The decennial census is the basis for virtually all demographic information used by
educators, policy makers, journalists and community leaders. America relies on
Census data everyday -- to determine where to build more roads, hospitals, and
child care centers."
3. The Extent of the Problem is Clear.
"In 1990, the census missed more than 8 million people, and double-counted more
than 4 million others. Poor people living in cities and rural communities, African
Americans and Latinos, immigrants and children were disproportionately
undercounted."
4. Census 2000 Must Be Left in the Hands of the Professionals at the Census Bureau.
Allow These Seasoned Experts to Plan and Conduct the Most Accurate Census Possible.
"The professionals at the Census Bureau are continuing their preparations to
produce the most accurate census permitted under the law."
"Our goal must be the most accurate census possible, using the most up-to-date
scientific methods and the best technology available."
5. The Court's Ruling Requires the Use of Modern Scientific Methods.
The Supreme Court's ruling was a narrow one focused on the use of sampling techniques
for purposes of apportionment under the current statute. The Court went on to affirm that
the law requires the use of scientific methods for all other purposes, if "feasible."
To eliminate the undercount, Census 2000 will be completed using modern scientific
methods for all purposes except apportionment of congressional seats among the states.
The Census Bureau has determined that it is feasible to use modern scientific methods and
will use these methods to produce the most accurate census permitted under the law.
6. Census 2000 Must Be a Complete and Accurate Census.
The Census Bureau plans to use modern scientific methods in Census 2000 to ensure a
complete and accurate count.
Scientific methods have been used by the Bureau for decades. Independent statistical
measurements disclosed that in the 1940 census minorities were undercounted at much
higher rates than non-minorities. Since then, the Census Bureau has developed scientific
methods to more accurately measure and correct for this unfair undercount.
In 2000, the Census Bureau will:
- Mail census forms to every household and do door-to-door follow-up to the
homes that did not respond to the mailing;
- for the first time in history, put on a national advertising campaign urging everyone
to participate;
- use special outreach to contact and encourage everyone to return their census
forms, including people who do not have a fixed address;
- carry out the Accuracy & Coverage Evaluation (ACE), a quality check which
completes the census by evaluating accuracy and correcting any undercount.
Methods very similar to ACE were used in the 1980 and 1990 censuses to
determine how many people were missed.
"Our goal must be the most accurate census possible completed using the most up-to-date scientific methods as recommended by the National Academy of Sciences
and the vast majority of the professional scientific community."
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