Why Did the U.S. Census Stop Asking Citizenship Questions in the Mid 20th Century?

The history of the U.S. census reveals that most census surveys have not included a citizenship question. This was not because they had abandoned a long-standing tradition, but rather a return to a more traditional approach.

Historical Context and Rationale

Government officials believed that the citizenship question was an insignificant piece of information for processing census data. Removing it was seen as a way to save time and labor in compiling the census results. At that time, the issue of illegal immigration was less pronounced compared to today. Virtually all non-citizens in the U.S. were here legally, either as permanent residents or on visas.

Given that census data was tallied by hand at the time, eliminating one bit of information from millions of returns would save thousands of man-hours of work. This reasoning supported the decision to drop the citizenship question from the short form sent to all households.

The Inception of the 1950 Census

Specifically, the U.S. ceased asking the citizenship question on the short form census after 1950 due to an undercount issue. The Constitution mandates that the primary purpose of the census is to count the population accurately. Therefore, the question was completely omitted in 1960 and from 1970 to 2000, it was included only in the long form that was sent to one in six households.

The 2005 Introduction of the American Community Survey

In 2005, the Census Bureau began sending the American Community Survey (ACS) to one in six households on an annual basis. This survey included the citizenship question, providing more current and comprehensive data than the decennial long form would have provided. By the time they made decisions for the 2010 census, it was evident that the ACS was producing better, more timely data. Consequently, the long form was discontinued.

Controversies and Misinformation

Recent administrations, such as that of former President Donald Trump, have claimed the need for a citizenship question to determine the number of citizens and non-citizens in the U.S. However, this is a misrepresentation of facts. The decision to drop the citizenship question was based on the accuracy and relevance of the information, not on political motivations. Trump's claims reflect a disregard for factual data and serve his own interests.

The history of the U.S. census teaches us that decisions about data collection should be based on the need for accurate and timely information, not on political agendas.