Decennial Census: 1990 Results Show Need for Fundamental Reform
GGD-92-94
Published: Jun 09, 1992. Publicly Released: Jun 10, 1992.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the 1990 census, focusing on the major lessons learned from that census and the opportunities those lessons present for census reform.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Congress may wish to maintain a schedule of oversight hearings throughout the decade to ensure that consistent progress is being made in designing and planning the 2000 census. Topics for oversight hearings should include the extent to which the Bureau is making timely progress and appropriate decisions on the major opportunities for reform identified in this report: (1) improving address list development efforts; (2) addressing the declining response rate; and (3) minimizing the cost and length of follow-up efforts. | The report stressed that the key to a successful census is vigorous and consistent congressional oversight, beginning early and continuing throughout the decade. Since 1992, Congress has held a number of hearings on the design and planning of the 2000 Census. Topics included the major opportunities for reform identified by GAO-improving address list development efforts, addressing the declining response rate, and minimizing the cost and length of field followup efforts-as well as using alternative census-taking methods to reduce the undercount, and the Bureau's efforts to count Americans living overseas, among other topics. GAO testified at many of these hearings. Moreover, GAO's regular briefings for Congress on the Census Bureau's progress in implementing key census-taking operations has assisted congressional oversight of the census as well. |
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