What is the role of the census in relation to the House of Representatives?

The census plays a crucial role in the functioning of the House of Representatives by helping to redistribute representatives according to population changes. This process, known as apportionment, occurs every ten years following the completion of the national census. The census counts every individual living in the United States and provides vital data on population shifts. Based on this data, congressional seats are allocated among the states to ensure that representation aligns with the current population distribution.

The significance of the census in this context is that it ensures each representative serves roughly an equal number of constituents, which is fundamental to the principle of representative democracy. When population changes occur, such as growth in certain areas or decline in others, the census results will reflect these dynamics, allowing Congress to adjust the distribution of seats accordingly. This means that states that gain population may receive additional representatives, while those that lose population may have their number of representatives reduced.

Understanding this function of the census is important because it directly impacts the legislative process and the political representation of various regions in the country. It embodies the principle of "one person, one vote," ensuring that each individual's voice is adequately represented in the House of Representatives.