VOA · U.S. History
Intermediate · B1–B2learner speed2:462018-12-19public domain
The U.S. History series (The Making of a Nation) tells American history from the colonial era onward in VOA Special English: slow speed, limited vocabulary, long-form storytelling. Generations of learners have used this exact series to break through intermediate listening.
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01The United States Congress is supposed to represent the U.S.
02population.
03Yet the number of people who live in the country keeps changing.
04So every ten years, on years that end with a zero, the federal government organizes a nationwide census.
05That is, the government counts up the people who live in the U.S.
06and its territories.
07Census workers also ask questions to help officials better understand the kind of people who live in each home or household.
08Questions include residents' ages, their ethnic group or groups, and what kind of place they live in, a house, apartment building, or other kind of home.
09Individuals' answers are kept private for 72 years.
10But the general information is widely shared.
11For example, everyday Americans can get the number for the total U.S.
12population.
13They can learn what percent of Americans are children or older adults, male or female, African American, white, native, Latino, or mixed.
14They can find out about how many people are immigrants or speak a language other than English.
15They can get an idea of how much money the average household earns and how many people have completed high school, college, or advanced degree programs.
16This and other information helps the government make decisions related to housing, schools, budgets, and other issues.
17The information also helps identify how many lawmakers an area will send to the U.S.
18House of Representatives.
19After a census, some areas gain seats.
20Others lose them.
21The census is such an important part of the country's record-keeping, it is required by law.
22The Constitution writers required a census count beginning in 1790.
23Today, anyone who does not provide answers can be charged up to $5,000.
24I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.
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