Trump wants an early, new census to aid in his re-districting effort. [View all]
From the Washington Post:
Trumps post on Truth Social: I have instructed our Department of Commerce to immediately begin work on a new and highly accurate CENSUS based on modern day facts and figures and, importantly, using the results and information gained from the Presidential Election of 2024. People who are in our Country illegally WILL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE CENSUS.
OP : Can he do that? The Constitution seems pretty clear on this, no he cant.
The Constitution mandates the census, specifically Article 1, Section 2: The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The same article and section also dictate that representation in the House of Representatives is apportioned based on each states respective numbers as determined by the Census. And the 14th Amendment to the Constitution requires states to count the whole number of persons in each State.
OP: Of course Trump is of habit to ignore the Constitution and just do whatever he wants. And, of course the conservative strict constructionists on the Supreme Court will probably, once again, find that the Constitution doesnt actually say what it actually says. So, who knows?