Fact Check: The U.S. Constitution mandates a census every ten years.

Fact Check: "The U.S. Constitution mandates a census every ten years."

What We Know

The U.S. Constitution explicitly mandates a census every ten years in Article I, Section 2. This section states, "The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct" (Census in the Constitution). The first census was conducted in 1790, and since then, the decennial census has been carried out every ten years, as required by the Constitution (About the Decennial Census of Population and Housing).

The purpose of the census is primarily to apportion representation in the U.S. House of Representatives among the states based on their population counts (U.S. Constitution Annotated). This constitutional requirement has been reaffirmed by various court rulings, which have consistently upheld Congress's authority to conduct the census and collect necessary statistics (U).

Analysis

The claim that the U.S. Constitution mandates a census every ten years is supported by clear constitutional language and historical precedent. Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution directly states the requirement for a decennial census, making it a legal obligation for Congress (U.S. Constitution Annotated).

Moreover, the U.S. Census Bureau has conducted the census every ten years since 1790, which aligns with the constitutional directive (About the Decennial Census of Population and Housing). The legal framework surrounding the census was further codified in 1954 under Title 13 of the U.S. Code, which outlines the operational aspects of the census, including notification requirements regarding census subjects and questions (Census in the Constitution).

Court cases such as Department of Commerce v. U.S. House of Representatives have affirmed the necessity of an actual enumeration for congressional apportionment, reinforcing the constitutional mandate (Enumeration Clause and Apportioning Seats in the House of Representatives). The consistent historical practice of conducting the census every ten years, coupled with judicial support, lends credibility to the claim.

While some debates exist regarding the methods of conducting the census and the types of data collected, these do not undermine the constitutional requirement itself. The courts have upheld that the census does not violate individual rights, such as privacy, as established in cases like Morales v. Daley (U).

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The U.S. Constitution indeed mandates a census every ten years, as explicitly stated in Article I, Section 2. This requirement has been consistently upheld through historical practice and judicial interpretation, confirming its legitimacy and necessity for apportioning representation in Congress.

Sources

1. Census in the Constitution
2. About the Decennial Census of Population and Housing
3. Enumeration Clause and Apportioning Seats in the House of Representatives
4. U
5. U.S. Constitution Annotated | US Law - LII / Legal Information Institute
6. Decennial Census and Apportionment: Frequently Asked Questions
7. United States Census History
8. United States census - Wikipedia