Newsroom Archive

The Commerce Department's Census Bureau has released an 11-page guide, Strength in Numbers — Your Guide to Census 2000 Redistricting Data, to help data users understand Census Bureau maps and demographic data used in congressional and state legislative redistricting.

The guide explains how census data are gathered and the role they play in the redistricting process. It also describes the laws that govern redistricting and discusses pertinent rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The guide includes examples of census maps and explains the Census 2000 Redistricting Data Program, which is responsible for each state receiving the data it needs to redraw the boundaries of its congressional and state legislative districts.

For more information, reporters can go to the Census Bureau Web site at <https://www.census.gov/clo/www/redistricting.html>.