What is the purpose of the Census conducted every ten years?

The primary purpose of the Census, conducted every ten years, is to determine the number of representatives each state has in Congress. This process is crucial because it ensures that congressional representation is allocated in accordance with the population size of each state, as mandated by the U.S. Constitution. By collecting data on the population demographics, the Census helps establish equitable representation in the House of Representatives, which directly affects how federal resources and legislative priorities are distributed across the states.

While the Census does provide information that can be beneficial for economic planning and can contribute to understanding educational and voting engagement trends, its main constitutional function focuses on representation for the legislative branch of government. This makes the determination of congressional seats the central goal of the decennial Census.