Correct the Count Act
Summary
The "Correct the Count Act" proposes amending census procedures to count only United States citizens. This bill mandates the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a census that tabulates only individuals who are citizens of the United States. It also requires the inclusion of a citizenship question on census questionnaires.
Expected Effects
If enacted, the bill would change how the US population is counted for purposes such as congressional apportionment and distribution of federal funds. This could lead to a shift in political power and resource allocation among states. The exclusion of non-citizens from the census count could significantly alter demographic data used for various policy decisions.
Potential Benefits
- Could provide a more accurate count of citizens for certain purposes, like voting district creation.
- May lead to a reallocation of resources based solely on citizen population.
- Could strengthen the argument for policies focused specifically on citizens.
- Proponents argue it aligns more closely with the original intent of census data collection.
- May reduce the perceived influence of non-citizens on political representation.
Potential Disadvantages
- Could lead to an undercount of the total population, affecting federal funding for states and localities.
- May face legal challenges based on equal protection and representation principles.
- Could create significant data collection challenges and inaccuracies due to citizenship verification.
- May negatively impact communities with large non-citizen populations.
- Could increase social division and discourage participation in the census.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's constitutional alignment is questionable. Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution states that Representatives shall be chosen by the "People of the several States." The Fourteenth Amendment further clarifies equal protection under the law. Counting only citizens may conflict with these principles, potentially leading to legal challenges based on the argument that it dilutes the representation of areas with large non-citizen populations. The Supreme Court has historically interpreted the Constitution to require a count of all persons residing in a state for apportionment purposes.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).