Census-based redistricting provides new opportunities for AORN's Legislative Grassroots Network - Health Policy Issues - includes contact information for secretaries of state - Directory

AORN Journal,  March, 2002  

• E-mail
• Print
• Link

Do you have complete plumbing facilities in your residence, including hot and cold running water, a flush toilet, and a bathtub or shower? What about complete kitchen facilities? Questions 39 and 40 on the long version of the 2000 census form asked for information on these home features. Question 17 asked respondents to assess recent effects of any physical, mental, or emotional conditions they may be experiencing. (1)

Sociological research and demographic analysis have become important components of the US census; however, the basic constitutional purpose of the census is the same now as when it first was taken. The purpose was to count the number of people in the United States to determine how many representatives each state has in Congress. The US Constitution specifically states that

   representation and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several
   states which may be included within this union according to their
   respective numbers. (2)

The original taxation clause and the census' role in tax collection were changed with the implementation of the federal income tax. (3)

Under current constitutional provisions, there are 435 seats in the US House of Representatives. Each state is assigned a portion of these seats based on its population from the most recent census, which is taken every 10 years. Each state has at least one seat in the House, along with two seats in the US Senate. State governments also apply census figures to the composition of their legislatures.

Using census results to determine the number of seats in the House for each state is called reapportionment. The process of actually drawing boundaries for congressional and legislative districts is called redistricting. These processes can be politically contentious and heavily influenced by partisan maneuvering because the desired outcome for everyone involved is maximum representation and increased power in the lawmaking branches of government.

RESULTS FROM THE 2000 CENSUS

A brief review of the 2000 census results indicates the following highlights.

* The official population of the United States was determined to be 281,421,906. This was an increase of 13.2% from the 1990 census, which showed an increase of 9.8% between 1980 and 1990.

* Every state experienced some population growth during the previous decade. Only the District of Columbia declined in population. In 1990, four states and Washington, DC, had overall losses.

* California had the largest overall increase; its population of 33,871,648 increased by more than 4 million from 10 years earlier.

* In terms of growth rate, five western states (ie, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Idaho) led the nation with the highest percentage of population increases. These were followed by four southern states (ie, Georgia, Florida, Texas, North Carolina). The population of first-place Nevada grew an astonishing 66.3%.

* Texas now is the second largest state in terms of population, ahead of New York and behind California. Wyoming continues to be the smallest state in terms of population. North Dakota has the second smallest population, but Wyoming's population grew at a rate of 8.9% compared to North Dakota's 0.5%. If this trend continues, North Dakota will become the smallest state in terms of population during the next decade.

* Regarding reapportionment, four states (ie, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Texas) each will gain two additional congressional districts. Four other states (ie, California, Colorado, Nevada, North Carolina) each will gain one new district. California will have a total of 53 seats in the House of Representatives, which is the equivalent of almost one out of every eight members.

* Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin each will lose one seat in the House, while New York and Pennsylvania will each lose two seats. (4)

The ideal population number for a congressional district can be set at 646,952 people per district, and reapportionment decisions are based on how closely a state's population conforms to that ideal. (5) It is common to refer to states as reapportionment winners and losers, but a more positive perspective is taken by Kenneth Prewitt, former director of the US Census Bureau and the person responsible for managing and reporting the 2000 census. He says

   When the framers of the constitution established the census, they knew that
   the population of the United States would shift to the south and west as
   the nation grew. Performing the census is fulfilling the Constitution. An
   accurate and thorough count means that everyone is a winner. (6)

Also among the winners of the census are those citizens actively involved in government affairs, such as members of AORN's Legislative Grassroots Network. The outcome of census-based redistricting provides members with an opportunity to start fresh in legislative outreach and public policy activities. This is true whether a person has participated in advocacy efforts in the past or is looking to begin such a role. Reapportionment and redistricting change the political landscape. The key to effective involvement is awareness.