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Archiver > TMG > 2000-01 > 0947869199


From: JH&K Whitehead <>
Subject: Re: TMG-L: OT? - Census 2000
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 08:59:59 -0800


"Gary D. Kee" wrote:

> . . .
> There are also many other uses for the census besides reapportionment. The
> original reason was to have an accurate estimate of military aged men in case of
> a war.
> . . .

This is getting a bit off-topic, but I can't let this stand without challenge.
The establishment of the US census was required by Article I Section 2 of the
Constitution for the purposes of proportional representation and direct taxation.
The specification of whom to count was changed by the 14th Amendment after the Civil
War, but apportionment has always depended on the count of residents of each state.
Fortunately for genealogists, the census has been put to many other uses, but
apportionment of seats in Congress remains the fundamental reason for having a
census at all. Our form of representative democracy would be impossible without a
regular count of citizens.

John Whitehead

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