Modernizing the U.S. Census (1995)
Chapter: M Census Data Requirements by Federal Agencies
APPENDIX
M
Census Data Requirements by Federal Agencies
In 1992, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requested federal agencies to document their statutory justification for decennial census data. Federal agencies provided a list of specific census items that they used, the statutory source supporting their use, the purpose of the data, and possible alternative sources of data.
OMB subsequently had Bureau of the Census staff code the federal agency responses by (1) census topic, (2) lowest level of geography required, and (3) requirement classification. Three levels of requirement classification were distinguished:
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Mandated—decennial census data mandated by legislation;
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Required—data specifically required by legislation, but decennial census not named as source, the census is the only or historical source of data;
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Programmatic—data used for agency program, planning, implementation, evaluation or to provide legal evidence.
From this review, it appears that all 1990 census items are needed for mandated, required, or programmatic purposes, as shown below (see Office of Management and Budget, 1994):
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Mandated items. For each person: age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, household relationship; for each housing unit: tenure; for a sample of persons: marital status, education, place of birth, citizenship, year of entry, language, veteran status, place of work, journey to work, and income; for a sample of
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housing units: number of rooms, vehicles, year structure built, and farm residence.
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Required items. For a sample of persons: disability, labor force status, occupation, industry, class of worker; for a sample of housing units: units in structure, rent, year moved in, number of bedrooms, plumbing, kitchen, fuels, utilities, and selected monthly ownership costs.
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Program items. For a sample of persons: ancestry, residence 5 years ago, children ever born, work status last year, and year last worked; for a sample of housing units: condominium, value of home, telephone, and water/sewer.
Table M.1 shows the geographic area requirements for mandated, required, and programmatic census items. With few exceptions, census data are needed for small areas. Most census data are needed for aggregations of blocks, census tracts, or minor civil divisions and places. The table is based on material provided by the Office of Management and Budget (1994). OMB is still receiving responses to its June 9, 1994, request for documentation from federal agencies.
REFERENCE
Office of Management and Budget 1994 Memorandum on topics for inclusion in the year 2000 census for Heads of Departments and Agencies dated June 9, 1994 from Leon Panetta. With attachments. Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President, Washington, D.C.
TABLE M.1 Overview of Mandated, Required, and Programmatic Decennial Census Topics by Lowest Level of Geography for Which Data Are Needed
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Lowest Level of Geography |
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Item |
Block |
Aggregation of Blocks |
Census Tracta |
Place (with or without MCD) |
County |
State or Nation |
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Relationship |
This item will be collected at the block level for coverage and other reasons. |
Mandated— school district |
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Sex |
This item will be collected at the block level for coverage and other reasons. (Programmatic) |
Mandated— school district |
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Race |
This topic will be collected at the block level for coverage and other reasons. (Programmatic) |
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Mandated |
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Age |
This topic will be collected at the block level for coverage and other reasons. (Programmatic) |
Mandated— school district |
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Hispanic origin |
This topic will be collected at the block level for coverage and other reasons. (Programmatic) |
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Mandated |
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Marital status |
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Mandated |
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Education |
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Mandated— school district |
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Place of birth, citizenship, year of entry |
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Required— school district |
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Mandated |
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Ancestry |
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Programmatic |
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Language |
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Mandated— school district |
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Residence 5 years ago |
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Programmatic |
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Disability |
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Required— school district |
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Children ever born |
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Programmatic |
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Veteran status |
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Programmatic— Zip code |
Required |
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Mandated |
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Labor force status |
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Programmatic— Zip code |
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Required |
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Lowest Level of Geography |
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Item |
Block |
Aggregation of Blocks |
Census Tracta |
Place (with or without MCD) |
County |
State or Nation |
|
Occupation, industry, class of worker |
|
Programmatic— Zip code |
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Required |
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Place of work, journey to work |
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Required—traffic analysis zone |
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Mandated |
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Work status last year |
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Programmatic |
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Income |
Programmatic |
Mandated— school district |
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Year last worked |
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Programmatic |
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Units in structure |
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Programmatic |
Required |
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Rooms |
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Programmatic |
Mandated |
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Tenure |
This topic will be collected at the block level for coverage and other reasons. (Programmatic) |
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Mandated |
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Value |
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Programmatic |
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Rent |
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Programmatic |
Required |
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Year moved in |
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Required |
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Bedrooms |
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Programmatic |
Required |
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Plumbing |
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Programmatic |
Required |
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Kitchen |
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Programmatic |
Required |
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Telephone |
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Programmatic |
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Vehicles |
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Required—traffic analysis zone |
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Mandated |
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Fuels |
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Programmatic |
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Required |
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Water/sewer |
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Programmatic |
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Year built |
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Programmatic |
Mandated |
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Condominium |
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Programmatic |
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Lowest Level of Geography |
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Item |
Block |
Aggregation of Blocks |
Census Tracta |
Place (with or without MCD) |
County |
State or Nation |
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Acreage/farm |
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Mandated |
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Utilities |
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Programmatic |
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Required |
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Selected monthly ownership costs |
Programmatic |
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Required |
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NOTES: Mandated—decennial census data are specifically mandated by legislation. Required—data are specifically required by legislation; the census is the only or historical source. For each topic, the lowest level of geography for which data are needed is shown. Agencies providing input to the classification include Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Labor, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Environmental Protection Agency, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Federal Reserve, and National Science Foundation. a Includes block numbering area (BNA). Source: Office of Management and Budget (1994). |
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