The issues involved here are of vital importance to the basic premises of our democratic system. It is clear that the proponents want to exclude aliens from the apportionment figures. Studies during the past 2 years indicate that the results of the census do not allow us to reach a conclusion about the number of illegal aliens residing in this country. This makes compliance with the intent of the language impossible. The Census Bureau properly followed its constitutional mandate to count the whole number of "persons." Congress has given the Census Bureau the necessary funding to carry out this responsibility of counting every person in the country on census day without adding any restrictions. Federal courts have consistently ruled that undocumented persons are "persons." for the purposes of the census and may not. therefore. be constitutionally excluded from the reapportionment base. In the event the McDade amendment passes and notwithstanding the historical and legal precedents. for counting these persons. the amendment would nullify the automatic apportionment provisions of Federal law. As a result.
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undocumented illegal aliens