Day 31 - Bureaucratic People Counting

Learning Targets:

• Explain how the bureaucracy carries out the responsibilities of the federal government.
• Explain how the federal bureaucracy uses delegated discretionary authority for rule making and implementation.

Opener:  If both the Executive and Legislative branches have age and residency requirements to serve, should the members of the bureaucracy have constitutional requirements?  Explain.

• Patronage
• Civil Service Exam
• Merit System

https://www.test-questions.com/civil-service-exam-02.php
https://www.mometrix.com/academy/civil-service-exam/

Activity #1: How do I count?  The US Census Bureau

The count is mandated by the Constitution and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency. The 2020 Census counts the population in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Each home will receive an invitation to respond to a short questionnaire—online, by phone, or by mail. This will mark the first time that you will be able to respond to the census online.

https://2020census.gov/en/what-is-2020-census.html

Questions to answer:

1. What connection does the US Census have to how federal funding is distributed to local communities?  Explain.
2. How is census data used to determine federal representation?
3. What demographic questions does the Census Bureau ask?  Why do you think they ask these kind of questions?
4. What type of questions can the Census Bureau NEVER ask?
5. Why do you think that it is required by law to respond to the Census Bureau questions?  Why do you think some people avoid responding?
6. How could businesses, politicians, and marketing firms use census data?

Activity #2:  TIP-C

Close:  N-50 - Congressional Oversight

LD
SD
Examples
Non-Examples
Related Terms