The U.S. Census Bureau released on Tuesday the population count for the nation and for each individual state. The U.S. Constitution requires the Bureau to count residents every 10 years to track population shifts in the country. More importantly, individual state data determines the number of seats a state will be allocated in the U.S. House of Representatives for the next ten years.

According to the data, Michigan was the only state to lose population over the last ten years. Residents declined by 0.6 percent, from 9,938,444 in 2000 to 9,883,640 in 2010. As a result, the state's U.S. House delegation will decrease from 15 to 14.

The new data will be the basis for congressional reapportionment which takes effect two years after every Census. The Michigan Legislature is responsible for redrawing the congressional (and state legislative) districts. Senator-elect Joe Hune (R-Fowlerville) will chair the Senate Redistricting Committee, while House Speaker-elect Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) has not yet named the chair of the House Redistricting Committee. Since Republicans control the executive office, state House and Senate, they will have an advantage in the redistricting process which could have a significant impact on the 2012 elections.

Additionally, the new population figures are used to distribute federal funds to highway construction projects, education and health care for the needy. Michigan’s federal funds will likely be reduced due to the state's declining population.