美国国会应该代表着美国的人口。然而，居住在美国的人口数量也在不断变化。
So every 10 years, on years that end with a zero, the federal government organizes a nationwide census. That is, the government counts up the people who live in the U.S. and its territories.
所以每隔10年，在位数为0的年份，联邦政府都会组织全国范围内的人口普查。也就是说，政府会统计出居住在美国及其领地上的人口。
Census workers also ask questions to help officials better understand the kind of people who live in each home or household. Questions 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.
人口普查工作人员还会提出问题，帮助官员们更好地了解每个住户的人口类型。问题包括居民的年龄、种群，以及他们的住所：别墅、公寓或其它住宅。
Individuals' answers are kept private for 72 years. But the general information is widely shared.
个人的回答将会保密72年，但是一般信息会被广泛分享。
For example, everyday Americans can get the number for the total U.S. population. They can learn what percent of Americans are children or older adults; male or female; African-American, white, native, Latino or mixed.
例如，美国人每天都能查到美国的总人口数量。他们可以了解儿童或老年人、男性或女性，以及非裔美国人、白人、土著、拉丁裔或混合种族在美国人当中所占的比例。
They can find out about how many people are immigrants or speak a language other than English. They 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.
他们可以找出有多少人是移民或是说英语以外的语言，他们可以了解到一般家庭收入，以及有多少人完成了高中、大学或更高学位课程。
This and other information helps the government make decisions related to housing, schools, budgets and other issues. The information also helps identify how many lawmakers an area will send to the U.S. House of Representatives. After a Census, some areas gain seats; others lose them.
这些信息以及其它信息可以帮助政府做出关于住房、教育、预算等问题的决策。这些信息还有助于确定某个地区的众议院席位。人口普查之后，有些地区新增了席位，有些地区减少了席位。
The Census is such an important part of the country's record-keeping, it is required by law. The Constitution-writers required a Census count, beginning in 1790. Today, anyone who does not provide answers can be charged up to $5,000.
人口普查是国家保存记录制度的重要组成部分，这是法律所规定的。宪法起草者要求从1790年开始人口普查。如今，任何拒绝回答人口普查的个人都将被处以最高5千美元罚款。
I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.
我是凯莉·吉恩·凯莉。(51VOA.COM原创翻译，禁止转载，违者必究！)