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mailings of a census questionnaire. In each census tract, the fewer households that responded <br /> initially, the larger would be the size of the sample enumerators would contact directly as part of <br /> their follow -up. The addresses that would be included in the sample would be scientifically <br /> chosen at random to insure they were statistically representative of all nonresponding housing <br /> units in that census tract. <br /> Congress attempted to stop the use of sampling by enacting Pub. L. No. 105 -119, § 209 <br /> (j), 111 Stat. 2480 (1997), which required that all data releases for the 2000 census show "the <br /> number of persons enumerated without using statistical methods." It also authorized lawsuits to <br /> determine whether the Bureau's plan to use sampling for apportioning seats in Congress was <br /> constitutional. <br /> In Department of Commerce v. U.S. House of Representatives, 525 U.S. 316 (1999), the <br /> Supreme Court ruled that the Census Act prohibits the use of sampling for purposes of <br /> apportioning representatives in Congress among the states. It did not rule on the constitutionality <br /> of using sampling to determine the distribution of population within each state for purposes of <br /> redistricting its apportionment of congressional seats or the seats in its state legislature. <br /> Following the Supreme Court's decision, the Census Bureau announced its plan to use <br /> statistical sampling methods to conduct a postenumeration survey called the "Accuracy and <br /> Coverage Evaluation." As of May 1, 2000, the Bureau was planning to publish the census counts <br /> derived from sampling along with the head counts mandated by Pub. L. No. 105 -119. In other <br /> words, each state would receive two sets of census counts for each area within the state and <br /> would have to make its own decision which count to use for each area. <br /> 3. Exclusion of Undocumented Aliens <br /> Pennsylvania and other states have sought without success to require the Census Bureau <br /> to exclude undocumented aliens from the population counts used to apportion the members of <br /> Congress among the states. See Ridge v. Verity, 715 F. Supp. 1308 (W.D. Pa. 1989); Federation <br /> for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) v. Klutznick, 486 F. Supp. 564 (D.D.C. 1980, appeal <br /> dismissed, 447 U.S. 916 (1980). <br /> 4. Inclusion of Overseas Military Personnel <br /> In 1990, the Department of Defense conducted a survey of its overseas military and <br /> civilian employees and their dependents to determine their "address of record." These overseas <br /> military personnel were allocated to the states according to their address of record for purposes <br /> of apportioning the House of Representatives, but were not included in the April 1, 1991, block <br /> counts given to the states for use in redistricting. <br /> Allocating overseas military personnel to the states caused one congressional seat to be <br /> shifted from Massachusetts to Washington State. Massachusetts sued the Secretary of <br /> Commerce, but the Supreme Court upheld the allocation. Franklin v. Massachusetts, 505 U.S. <br /> 788 (1992). <br /> B. Measuring Population Equality <br /> How does a court measure the degree of population equality in a redistricting plan? Let <br /> me give you an example. Let's say we have a state with a population of one million, and that it is <br /> entitled to elect ten representatives in Congress. (That is not a realistic number, but it is easier to <br /> work with.) The "ideal" district population would be 100,000. Let's say the legislature draws a <br />