3/20/2006 9:36:00 AM Seeking a more accurate citizen count
Since the number of congressional seats is capped at 435, the census results often lead to a fluctuation in the number of
seats each state holds, resulting in reapportionment.
Senator John Carey
Many of you may remember from your middle- and high-school civics classes that the U.S. Constitution requires the federal government to take a census every 10 years.
This count is used both to determine the nation’s population and to determine the number of Congressional seats a state may hold.
The concept is fairly simple – states that have a greater population will receive more congressional seats than those states with a smaller population, so that representation throughout the nation remains relatively equal and fair.
Since the number of congressional seats is capped at 435, the census results often lead to a fluctuation in the number of seats each state holds, resulting in reapportionment.
This principle accounts for natural migration of the population.
For example, in Ohio some residents may retire and relocate permanently to a warmer climate, and as a result our state may see a significant decrease in population and lose a congressional seat.
This shift in seats ensures that our country’s concept of a representative democracy remains in tact so that all Americans have equal and adequate representation.
However, this principle is not entirely fair and it puts many states, Ohio especially, at a disadvantage.
To understand this drawback, we must once again recall lessons in our government classes on the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which requires our nation to conduct a 10-year census that counts all people.
“All people” means all races, ages and genders, as well as citizens and non-citizens.
Through this wording, those who reside in the U.S. illegally and who cannot vote in our elections are included in the total count.
As a result, those who broke the law to come here have a significant impact on a states’ clout in Congress, since our reapportionment principle ensures a greater population means a larger number of congressional seats.
Under this process, states like California, Texas and Florida get to elect more U.S. representatives while Midwestern states, including Ohio, lose valuable seats that influence legislation that affects all Americans.
Even worse, states that gain congressional seats through the census’ inclusion of non-citizens have an incentive to permit and even encourage illegal immigration, since additional seats means
stronger representation.
This compromises the entire concept of reapportionment, since citizens who cast their ballots are not equally represented and those who came here illegally are creating an imbalance of power.
Ohio has already seen the loss of congressional seats due, in part, to the way the census is counted. According to estimates released by the Congressional Research Service, if only citizens had been counted in the 2000 census, nine congressional seats would have been reapportioned differently.
These results show that California, which is home to 5.4 million non-citizens, would have been given six fewer seats. This is the same year that our state dropped from 19 seats to 18.
Ohio also has a lot at stake should the reapportionment procedures remain the same during the next census cycle – predictions for the 2010 census show that Ohio is at risk to lose two more seats.
In an effort to ensure that only citizens of the U.S. – those who can legally vote to elect those who represent them in Washington – are counted and considered when Congressional districts are determined every 10 years, members of the Ohio General Assembly have introduced legislation that encourages Congress to take action.
Under a resolution supported by both the Ohio House of Representative and the Ohio Senate, the legislature is urging Congress to adopt a federal resolution that would amend the U.S. Constitution to require that only citizens, not all people, are counted when dividing up congressional seats.
Congressional representatives from the Midwestern states are still working to gain support for this measure, which would require a two-thirds vote of Congress and then ratifications by 38 states.
Ohio has taken the first steps to correct this problem and enact positive change that will ensure our representative democracy remains a fair system.
As always, I welcome your views on state issues. If you have any questions, thoughts or concerns, or if you need assistance working with a state government agency, please write to me: Senator John A. Carey, Ohio Senate, Statehouse, Columbus, Ohio 43215, or call my office at (614) 466-8156.
Sen. John Carey, R-Wellston, represents Ohio’s 17th Senate District.
