MEMORANDUM FOR
The Honorable William Daley
Secretary of Commerce
Through:
Robert Shapiro
Under Secretary for Economic Affairs
From:
Kenneth Prewitt
Director
Subject:
Accuracy and Coverage Evaluation: Statement on the Feasibility
of Using Statistical Methods to Improve the Accuracy of Census
2000
Attached is my statement on the feasibility of using modern statistical methods to correct Census
2000 counts as stipulated by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Department of Commerce v.
United States House of Representatives (January 1999). This statement was prepared after
extensive discussions with the U.S. Census Bureau’s senior staff and review of all relevant
documents.
The Census Bureau is committed to making its data as accurate as possible for all uses. This
document sets forth the rationale for the Census Bureau’s preliminary determination that (1)
statistically corrected census data can be produced within the time frame required by law and (2)
that statistically corrected data will be more accurate.