THE CENSUS BUREAU
The Census Bureau is the largest statistical agency of the federal government. Its work is to measure and keep count of the nation’s population and economy. Federal law protects the confidentiality of all the information the Census Bureau collects. Title 13 of the U.S. Code protects the confidentiality of all your information. The completed census form is confidential and can’t be seen any other government agency.
While the first census was taken in 1790 and every 10 years thereafter, the Census Bureau traces its roots to 1840, when the Census Act authorized establishing a centralized Census Office during each enumeration. In 1902, the Census Office became a permanent organization within the Department of Interior. In 1903, the office was renamed the Bureau of the Census and moved to the new Department of Commerce and Labor.
THE 2010 CENSUS
By 2010, there will be an estimated 310 million people residing in the United States. Counting each person is one of the largest operations the federal government undertakes.
The 2010 Census is a Decennial Census, required by the U.S. Constitution. It is a once-a-decade count of the population in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Island Areas. The goal is to count everybody, count them only once, and count them in the right place.
The federal government uses decennial census results to apportion the seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Results also directly affect how more than $4 trillion is allocated to local, state and tribal governments over the next ten years. The facts gathered help shape decisions about public health, neighborhood improvements, transportation, education, senior services and more.
With one of the shortest questionnaires in history, the 2010 Census asks for name, gender, age, race, ethnicity, relationship, and whether you own or rent your home. With only ten questions, the survey takes only about ten minutes for the average household to complete.
Responses to the 2010 Census questionnaire are required by law.
CENSUS RESPONSIBILITY & SAFETY
You should receive your census form in March of this year. In late April, Census Bureau Workers will begin visiting those who have not returned their form. They hope to have visitations done by the end of July. Population data collected is due to be delivered to the President by December next year for apportionment. Redistricting information must be delivered to the states by March 2011.
Even if you fill out your 2010 census form, a census worker may still visit. In some cases, you may actually have more than one census worker come by; they can visit up to three times. Nobody under the age of 15 can legally provide census information.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) reports that an official 2010 Census Bureau worker will have a photo ID badge that sports the Department of Commerce mark and an expiration date. Even so, feel free to ask any census worker for the name and phone number of a direct supervisor. If you are still not sure, call the Census Bureau at 800-923-8282 (during business hours).
You do not have to admit the census worker into your home, nor may census bureau workers ask to enter the home.
The 2010 census worker may not ask you for your social security number, credit card or bank account information, contact you via email, question your religious affiliation or request that you make a donation. The census worker authority does allow the representative to ask you to state your full name, age, race and ethnicity, gender, whether you are a homeowner or renter and also what your relationship is to the other people in your household.
You must provide truthful information to the census worker or on the mailed census form. Failure to do so results in fines up to $100 or $500.
The Census Bureau does NOT conduct the 2010 Census via email or Internet. You may receive an email from the Census Bureau regarding your participation in a survey, however:
* The Census Bureau does not request detailed personal information through email.
* The Census Bureau does not send email requesting PIN codes, passwords social security numbers or access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts.
If you receive an email or find a web site that you suspect is falsely representing the Census Bureau:
* Do not reply or click on any links within the email.
* Do not open any attachments. They could be hazardous to your computer.
* Forward the email or fraudulent web site URL to itso.fraud.reporting@census.gov.
* After you forward the email, delete the message.
The Census Bureau will investigate the information and notify you of its findings. The Census Bureau can use the information, URLs and links you forward to trace the hosting web site and alert authorities to help shut down the fraudulent site.
For more information, visit the 2010 Census Web site at www.census.gov/2010.
