Census Quote by Kenneth Prewitt
“The first presidential veto, by George Washington, was a veto of Alexander Hamilton's formula for apportioning the House, and the one that Washington preferred was one that Thomas Jefferson produced, and that was one partisan issue. The apportionment formula that Jefferson produced gave an extra seat to Virginia. Everybody knew what that game was. Look, partisan interest in the census is simply nothing new.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Partisan Census Issues, 1990s
Partisan politics has long shaped census apportionment, with leaders using formulas to favor their interests.
In simple terms: Census politics is old and partisan.
Key Takeaway
Recognize bias in political data.
Themes
politics
history
census
partisanship
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- elections
- policy debates
- academic analysis
- public discourse
Key Concepts
power
representation
legislation
Questions to Reflect On
- How does partisanship affect resource distribution?
- Can impartial data improve representation?
A Different Perspective
The quote oversimplifies complex legislative negotiations.
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