Definition
The Decennial Census is conducted once every ten years by the U.S. Census Bureau, and is intended to survey all households in the United States. Article I of the Constitution requires that a census be taken every ten years for the purpose of reapportioning the U.S. House of Representatives. The Decennial Census has been conducted every ten years since 1790. This survey is the foundation of demographic analysis in the U.S., but collecting the data is a highly resource intensive effort requiring years of planning and administration.
