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The U.S. Constitution mandates a census every ten years, a practice ongoing since 1790.
Answer: True
Explanation: The foundational requirement for a decennial census is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, establishing a continuous practice of population enumeration that commenced in 1790.
The 2020 census was the first time the U.S. Constitution mandated a census.
Answer: False
Explanation: The U.S. Constitution has mandated a decennial census since its inception in 1790; the 2020 census was merely the latest in this long-standing constitutional requirement.
According to the Constitution, how often must a U.S. census be conducted?
Answer: Every 10 years
Explanation: The U.S. Constitution mandates that a census be conducted every ten years, ensuring a regular accounting of the nation's population.
What was the designated primary reference date for the 2020 United States Census?
Answer: True
Explanation: The primary reference date for the 2020 United States Census was April 1, 2020, commonly referred to as Census Day. This date serves as the benchmark for determining an individual's usual residence for enumeration purposes.
For the first time in its history, what alternative response methods were introduced for the 2020 U.S. Census?
Answer: True
Explanation: The 2020 U.S. Census marked a significant technological advancement by introducing the option for respondents to reply via the internet or telephone, complementing the traditional paper questionnaire.
The 2020 census utilized satellite imagery and GPS for address canvassing.
Answer: True
Explanation: Technological advancements in the 2020 census included the use of satellite imagery and GPS technology to support the process of address canvassing, enhancing the accuracy of geographic data.
The 2020 census provided response options in 12 languages online or by phone, in addition to English.
Answer: True
Explanation: To improve accessibility, the 2020 census offered response options in 12 non-English languages via online and telephone platforms, alongside English.
Assertion: The 2020 U.S. Census relied solely on paper questionnaires, omitting digital response channels.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 2020 U.S. Census was innovative in offering multiple response options, including online and telephone, in addition to traditional paper questionnaires.
What date served as the primary reference point for determining an individual's residence during the 2020 United States Census?
Answer: April 1, 2020
Explanation: April 1, 2020, designated as Census Day, was the primary reference date used to establish an individual's usual residence for the purposes of the 2020 United States Census.
Identify the novel response modalities introduced in the 2020 U.S. Census to enhance accessibility.
Answer: Responding by phone or online
Explanation: The 2020 U.S. Census expanded response options to include telephone and online submissions for the first time, alongside the traditional paper questionnaire, aiming to improve participation rates.
What technological advancement was used in the 2020 census fieldwork for address canvassing?
Answer: Satellite imagery and GPS
Explanation: The 2020 census fieldwork incorporated satellite imagery and GPS technology to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of the address canvassing process.
How did the 2020 census accommodate respondents who speak languages other than English?
Answer: Response options were provided in 12 non-English languages online/phone
Explanation: The 2020 census facilitated participation for non-English speakers by offering response options in 12 languages via online and telephone platforms, in addition to providing language guides in 59 languages.
What was the role of 'complete count committees' in the 2020 census?
Answer: To help raise awareness and encourage community participation
Explanation: Complete count committees were established at the local level to foster community engagement, disseminate information, and encourage participation in the 2020 census process.
What was the tagline for the 2020 census campaign?
Answer: Shape your future. START HERE.
Explanation: The official tagline adopted for the 2020 U.S. Census campaign was 'Shape your future. START HERE.', designed to motivate participation across all segments of the population.
What was the self-response rate for the 2020 census?
Answer: 66.5%
Explanation: The self-response rate for the 2020 U.S. Census reached 66.5%, a figure slightly lower than the rates recorded in the 2010 and 2000 censuses.
How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact the operational timelines of the 2020 U.S. Census?
Answer: True
Explanation: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the 2020 U.S. Census, necessitating delays in field operations and requiring the implementation of safety protocols for census takers, thereby adjusting the overall timeline.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to an acceleration of the 2020 census timelines.
Answer: False
Explanation: Contrary to acceleration, the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant delays in the 2020 census operations, necessitating adjustments to the established timelines.
The printing company Cenveo successfully completed its contract without financial issues.
Answer: False
Explanation: The printing company Cenveo, which held a contract for census forms, encountered financial difficulties and filed for bankruptcy shortly after being awarded the bid.
What was the principal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the administration of the 2020 U.S. Census?
Answer: It caused delays in field operations and required safety adjustments
Explanation: The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated significant adjustments to the 2020 U.S. Census, leading to delays in field operations and the implementation of safety protocols for census takers.
What issue arose with the printing company Cenveo, which had a contract for census forms?
Answer: They went bankrupt shortly after being awarded the bid
Explanation: The printing company Cenveo, awarded a significant contract for census materials, filed for bankruptcy less than four months after securing the bid, raising concerns about the vetting process.
Describe the Trump administration's proposed alteration to the 2020 Census completion deadline and the initial judicial response.
Answer: Planned to end Sept 30, but an injunction blocked it
Explanation: The administration sought to conclude the census count by September 30, 2020, a move that was initially blocked by a federal district court injunction, although the Supreme Court later permitted an earlier end date.
The 2020 census recorded a resident population of 331,449,281 people in the 50 states and Washington D.C.
Answer: True
Explanation: The official count from the 2020 U.S. Census indicated a total resident population of 331,449,281 individuals residing within the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The overall population growth rate for the United States between the 2010 and 2020 censuses was 7.4%.
Answer: True
Explanation: The decennial census data revealed that the United States experienced a population growth rate of 7.4% between 2010 and 2020, marking the second-lowest growth rate in the nation's history.
The 2020 census marked the first time all ten most-populous cities each exceeded one million residents.
Answer: True
Explanation: A notable demographic finding from the 2020 Census was that all of the ten most populous cities in the United States recorded populations exceeding one million residents.
Texas gained two congressional seats following the 2020 census.
Answer: True
Explanation: As a result of population shifts recorded in the 2020 Census, Texas experienced an increase in its congressional representation, gaining two seats.
The 2020 census recorded a population increase of only 2.7% from the 2010 census.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 2020 U.S. Census documented a population increase of 7.4% compared to the 2010 census, not 2.7%.
California lost two congressional seats following the 2020 census.
Answer: False
Explanation: California lost one congressional seat following the 2020 census, not two.
The Hispanic population was estimated to be overcounted in the 2020 census.
Answer: False
Explanation: Estimates from the 2020 Census indicated that the Hispanic population was likely undercounted, not overcounted.
Wyoming was the most populous state according to the 2020 census.
Answer: False
Explanation: Wyoming was recorded as the least populous state in the 2020 Census; California was the most populous.
What was the total resident population recorded in the 50 states and Washington D.C. by the 2020 census?
Answer: 331,449,281
Explanation: The official enumeration for the 2020 U.S. Census determined the resident population across the 50 states and the District of Columbia to be 331,449,281 individuals.
What was the percentage population increase for the United States between the 2010 and 2020 censuses?
Answer: 7.4%
Explanation: The United States experienced a population growth of 7.4% between the 2010 and 2020 decennial censuses, representing the second-lowest growth rate recorded in the nation's history.
Which demographic trend was observed in the 2020 census regarding population distribution?
Answer: All ten most-populous cities exceeded one million residents
Explanation: A notable demographic finding from the 2020 Census was that all of the ten most populous cities in the United States recorded populations exceeding one million residents.
Which state gained the most congressional seats following the 2020 census?
Answer: Texas
Explanation: Texas experienced the largest increase in congressional representation following the 2020 Census, gaining two seats.
According to estimates, which demographic cohort experienced the most significant undercount in the 2020 U.S. Census?
Answer: Hispanic population (4.99%)
Explanation: The Hispanic population was estimated to have the highest undercount percentage, at 4.99%, in the 2020 U.S. Census, indicating a disproportionate underrepresentation of this group.
Which state was the least populous according to the 2020 census?
Answer: Wyoming
Explanation: Wyoming maintained its status as the least populous state in the 2020 U.S. Census, with a recorded population of 576,851 residents.
When were the official population results for the country and individual states released following the 2020 census?
Answer: April 26, 2021
Explanation: The official population counts for the nation and each state, as determined by the 2020 Census, were publicly released on April 26, 2021.
Census results are used to determine each state's number of electors in the Electoral College.
Answer: True
Explanation: The decennial census data directly influences the apportionment of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, which in turn determines each state's allocation of electoral votes for presidential elections.
The primary purpose of the census regarding congressional representation is reapportionment.
Answer: True
Explanation: Reapportionment, the process of allocating congressional seats among states based on population changes revealed by the census, is a principal function of the decennial census.
Census data is vital for redistricting state and local boundaries.
Answer: True
Explanation: The population counts derived from the census are essential for the process of redistricting, which involves redrawing the boundaries of legislative and electoral districts at state and local levels.
Census data is primarily used for setting federal tax rates.
Answer: False
Explanation: While census data informs various governmental functions, its primary uses related to political representation include reapportionment and redistricting, not the direct setting of federal tax rates.
What is a primary political use of the 2020 census results in the U.S.?
Answer: Distributing seats in the U.S. House of Representatives
Explanation: A primary political application of the decennial census results is the constitutionally mandated reapportionment of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the states.
Besides reapportionment, what is another critical governmental function that relies on census data?
Answer: Redrawing legislative district boundaries (redistricting)
Explanation: Census data is fundamental for redistricting, the process by which electoral district boundaries are redrawn to reflect population changes, ensuring equitable representation.
Individuals aged 18 and older have a legal obligation to answer census questions truthfully.
Answer: True
Explanation: Title 13 of the United States Code mandates that all individuals aged 18 and above must provide truthful responses to census inquiries, ensuring the integrity of the data collected.
The Census Bureau protects personally identifiable information by keeping it private and never releasing it.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Census Bureau is legally bound to maintain the confidentiality of personally identifiable information, ensuring it is not disclosed or released by the agency.
Personally identifiable census information is released to the public after 72 years without exception.
Answer: False
Explanation: While the Census Bureau protects personally identifiable information, the 72-year rule pertains to the potential release of original census returns by the National Archives, and this practice is subject to policy and potential changes.
The 2020 census questionnaire asked about respondents' voting history.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 2020 U.S. Census questionnaire did not include questions pertaining to respondents' voting history.
Differential privacy was implemented to ensure all block-level data was perfectly accurate.
Answer: False
Explanation: Differential privacy is a technique designed to protect individual confidentiality by introducing statistical noise, which can affect the precision of block-level data, rather than ensuring perfect accuracy.
What legal obligation do U.S. residents aged 18 and older have regarding census participation?
Answer: To answer census questions truthfully
Explanation: U.S. residents aged 18 and older are legally obligated by Title 13 of the U.S. Code to provide truthful answers to all census questions.
How does the Census Bureau protect the privacy of collected personally identifiable information?
Answer: By keeping it private and never releasing it
Explanation: The Census Bureau is legally mandated to protect the confidentiality of personally identifiable information, ensuring it remains private and is not released by the agency.
Define 'differential privacy' in the context of its application to the 2020 U.S. Census data.
Answer: A technique to add statistical noise to data to protect individual privacy
Explanation: Differential privacy is a statistical methodology employed by the Census Bureau to safeguard individual confidentiality by introducing controlled noise into the data, thereby preventing the identification of specific respondents.
Explain the significance of the 72-year rule in relation to U.S. Census data.
Answer: It refers to the time before original census returns can be released by the National Archives.
Explanation: The 72-year rule stipulates that original census returns are maintained in confidentiality by the Census Bureau for a period of 72 years before they become eligible for release by the National Archives and Records Administration.