Constitution Day, September 17: Kentucky celebrates Article 1, Section 2

The founders of our early nation had a bold and ambitious plan to empower the people over their new government. Each state would be equal in the Senate, but the House of Representatives would be all about the numbers.

“Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers…” was enshrined as Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. This passage established the first national census that would be used to empower its citizens rather than tax or conscript them into military service.

“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 paragraph adds. They accomplished that goal in 1790 and our country has every 10 years since then. And we will again next year.

For that reason, this Constitution Day, communities across the nation are recognizing the significance of the U.S. Census to our form of representative democracy.

Kentucky just missed the first national census, joining the union in 1792. In the 1800 census, Kentucky’s population was just 220,959 compared to 4.339 million in the 2010 census. Kentucky’s ties to the census are strong, and the U.S. Census Bureau has opened temporary Area Census Offices in Lexington and Louisville to support 2020 Census operations throughout the state.

“Kentucky has long been an important part of U.S. Census Bureau history and we always know we can rely on our partners here to go above and beyond in supporting the census,” said Michelle Archer, Assistant Regional Census Manager. “We are proud to count the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, the Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association and Kentucky Youth Advocates among our partners in ensuring we count everyone in 2020.”

In recognition of Constitution Day, organizations across the state will host 2020 Census events celebrating Constitution Week in Kentucky.

• –  The Kentucky Community and Technical College System and several of Kentucky’s public and independent colleges and universities are kicking-off 2020 Census promotions on campuses across the state during Constitution Week. Community and campus events will include lectures, forums, recruitment tables, and fun online census trivia for students. Try out Northern Kentucky University’s online 2020 Census quiz at nku.edu/beCounted.
• –  The Kentucky State Data Center will hold its statewide affiliates meeting on Constitution Day, September 17, 2019. The meeting will be held via webinar and will include updates from Census Bureau Partnership Specialists and Data Dissemination Specialists.
• –  Kentucky Youth Advocates, an affiliate of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, is launching a Statistics in Schools Sweepstakes offering teachers a chance to win $500 for their school by using any of the Census Bureaus’ free Statistics in Schools activities in their classroom during Constitution Week. Visit kyyouth.org for details about sweepstakes participation.
• –  The Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association has created a unique quilt featuring one square from each of Kentucky’s 120 counties. This special quilt will be unveiled at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky on September 16th at 2:00pm and remain on display through Constitution Week. In partnership with the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, it will tour the state to be displayed at various libraries and extension offices. The tour will end in August 2020 at the Kentucky State Fair.For more information about the 2020 Census, please visit www.2020census.gov or follow the U.S. Census Bureau on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.