Fact check: What % of congress needed to change census act

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, none of the sources specify the exact percentage of Congress needed to change the Census Act. However, all sources consistently confirm that any changes to the Census Act require Congressional approval ^{[1] [2]}. The Constitution grants Congress the authority to carry out a national tally "in such Manner as they shall by Law direct" ^[3], establishing Congress's power over census methodology.

The sources focus primarily on recent discussions about Trump's proposals to change census data collection methods, particularly regarding the exclusion of undocumented immigrants from the count ^{[1] [2]}. All analyses emphasize that implementing such changes would necessitate alterations to existing Census Act legislation and Congressional approval ^{[4] [1]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial context about standard legislative procedures. While the sources don't specify the percentage, they fail to mention that:

• Most federal legislation requires a simple majority (51%) in both the House and Representatives and Senate to pass
• Constitutional amendments would require a two-thirds majority, but changes to the Census Act itself are statutory, not constitutional
• The Constitution requires counting the "whole number of persons in each state" ^[2], which creates potential legal challenges to excluding certain populations

The analyses also miss discussing political motivations behind census changes. Republican politicians would benefit from excluding undocumented immigrants as this could reduce representation in Democratic-leaning areas, while Democratic politicians would benefit from maintaining current counting methods that include all residents regardless of legal status.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself doesn't contain misinformation, but it oversimplifies the legislative process by focusing solely on percentages without acknowledging the constitutional and legal complexities involved in census modifications.

The question also lacks specificity about what type of changes are being considered. The sources reveal that current discussions center on excluding undocumented immigrants ^{[2] [1]}, which would be unprecedented according to historical census practices ^[2]. This context is essential because different types of changes might face varying levels of legal and political resistance, regardless of the Congressional voting threshold.