n. | 1. | (Bot. Antiq.) A numbering of the people, and valuation of their estate, for the purpose of imposing taxes, etc.; - usually made once in five years. |
2. | An official registration of the number of the people, the value of their estates, and other general statistics of a country. |
Noun | 1. | census - a period count of the population Synonyms: nose count, nosecount |
Verb | 1. | census - conduct a census; "They censused the deer in the forest" |
CENSUS. An enumeration of the inhabitants of a country.
2. For the purpose of keeping the representation of the several states
in congress equal, the constitution provides, that "representatives and
direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states, which may be
included in this Union, according to their respective numbers; which shall
be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those
bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-
fifths of all other persons. The actual enumeration shall be made within
three years after the first meeting of the congress of the United States,
and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such a manner as they
shall by law direct." Art. 1, s. 2; vide 1 Story, L. U. S., 73, 722, 751; 2
Id. 1134, 1139, 1169, 1194; 3 Id. 1776; 4 Sharsw. continuation, 2179.