The Trump Administration, led by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, wants to include a question about citizenship on the next census questionnaire. The result of that citizenship question, according to the experts at the Census Bureau, will probably result in an estimate of 6.5 million fewer responses from immigrants. Because the count by the census determines political representation, the flow of federal funds, and many decisions by businesses. Florida, California, Illinois, New York, and Texas, for example, could lose Congressional seats.
The states and localities that would be most adversely affected by an undercount sued the Commerce Department to have the question removed. And here’s the point: the five conservative justices on the Supreme Court that heard the case today telegraphed their intention to allow the Commerce Department to put the citizenship question on the questionnaire. Although at least one of these conservative justices may change his mind, it looks like the die is cast. We can expect more decisions like this from the Supreme Court for the next 30 years or until Democrats win enough elections to change the federal judiciary.
The Supreme Court, for example, could be expanded to 11 seats. Some Democratic candidates have suggested that they might consider changing the judiciary if it involves more than merely increasing the number of justices. It may be a good idea to improve other aspects of the federal judiciary, but the Supreme Court bases its decisions on the number of justices. If Democrats intend to stop having their heads handed to them by the Court, we need more liberal justices. And we need them now, not 35 years from now.
The states and localities that would be most adversely affected by an undercount sued the Commerce Department to have the question removed. And here’s the point: the five conservative justices on the Supreme Court that heard the case today telegraphed their intention to allow the Commerce Department to put the citizenship question on the questionnaire. Although at least one of these conservative justices may change his mind, it looks like the die is cast. We can expect more decisions like this from the Supreme Court for the next 30 years or until Democrats win enough elections to change the federal judiciary.
The Supreme Court, for example, could be expanded to 11 seats. Some Democratic candidates have suggested that they might consider changing the judiciary if it involves more than merely increasing the number of justices. It may be a good idea to improve other aspects of the federal judiciary, but the Supreme Court bases its decisions on the number of justices. If Democrats intend to stop having their heads handed to them by the Court, we need more liberal justices. And we need them now, not 35 years from now.
The New York Times. Adam Liptak. On Census Citizenship Question, Supreme Court's Conservatives Appear United
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/23/us/politics/supreme-court-census-citizenship.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/23/us/politics/supreme-court-census-citizenship.html
