According to the U$.$S$.$ Constitution, the federal government is obligated to take a census every $10$ years. A census is intended to gather data from every person living in the United States rather than from a sample of the residents of the United States. Every household receives a form.

a$.$ What do you think might be some of the problems involved in taking a census?

b$.$ In the $2000$ census, it was estimated that $10$ million people were missed. These people were primarily African Americans in inner cities and Latinos in Texas, New Mexico, and California. Why do you think these people were not counted?

c$.$ The undercount has serious political ramifications. What do you think they are?

d$.$ In the same census, it was estimated that about $6$ million people were counted twice. Why do you think this double counting happened? Do you think there are also political ramifications involved in an overcount? Why or why not?

e$.$ Many people advocate an increased use of sampling in the census. What are the pros and cons of doing so$?$