Census Questions

[parishioner]

What questions am I required by federal law to answer and where can I find where it states this?

I've heard stories about census workers pestering people if they didn't completely fill out the form.

Thanks.

[Mac5.56]

I would think off the top of my head that all of the questions are required by law. Also I haven't heard of pestering, but they have been pretty persistent in reminding us that if we don't send in the form they will show up at our house. I personally don't see how filling the form out can be a bad thing, especially considering that if you ever use the internet, a credit card, or fill out your taxes that the government already knows you exist, but that is just me. I also don't really foresee them following up on any of the forms, or on any information provided to them.

On a side note, anyone gotten a letter in the mail lately from say a friend? Notice that the USPS inked stamp over your shipping stamp says "Fill Out The 2010 Census"? They are really beating the 'legality' of this into our heads, eh?

[parishioner]

Ok, I read more on the subject and apparently there was previously a short form and a long form with the long form asking invasive questions. Now it seems they have done away with the long form and we only have to answer the short form. However, the Census Bureau changed the title of the long form to the American Community Survey that will now collect data from you throughout the decade.

[dmancornell]

According to the Constitution only the number of persons in the household is required on the "short form". The form and various government websites threatens citizens with fines if they do not fill out the form. Notice how they don't say the *whole form*. So the government is lying, what else is new...

The long form is clearly unconstitutional, feel free to shred that one.

I will be ignoring any census workers that trespass on my property. Poor suckers have to trod all over town just so Odumbo can trumpet phantom job gains in March.

[PdxMotoxer]

I've been trying to figure this one out for hours and there are sooooo many amendments and "clause's" that
I'm starting to doubt my own first name.

[orionz06]

Are people "required" to provide a cell phone number should we only have a cell phone? Some people who do not have a phone at all are getting away with it, I wonder what issue I would run into trying to withold my cell #.

[ForTehNguyen]

by the constitution they are only allowed to ask how many people live here, that's it. I would love for them to show me the law that says I am legally required to answer the rest. Anything else they ask are used for other things. They dont need date of birth, race, marriage status to apportion House seats.

[5pins]

by the constitution they are only allowed to ask how many people live here, that's it. I would love for them to show me the law that says I am legally required to answer the rest. Anything else they ask are used for other things. They dont need date of birth, race, marriage status to apportion House seats.

Although the Constitution requires an Enumeration every ten years, I don’t see how it limits what questions can be asked.

[dhrith]

I would think off the top of my head that all of the questions are required by law. Also I haven't heard of pestering, but they have been pretty persistent in reminding us that if we don't send in the form they will show up at our house. I personally don't see how filling the form out can be a bad thing, especially considering that if you ever use the internet, a credit card, or fill out your taxes that the government already knows you exist, but that is just me. I also don't really foresee them following up on any of the forms, or on any information provided to them.

On a side note, anyone gotten a letter in the mail lately from say a friend? Notice that the USPS inked stamp over your shipping stamp says "Fill Out The 2010 Census"? They are really beating the 'legality' of this into our heads, eh?

I take it your not well versed on gerrymandering then eh? Can you explain another rationale reason for them to know whether your hispanic or black? Well, except that gives them a 75% chance of pegging you as a democratic voter that is.....

[dhrith]

The first one was just a simple count. I believe I heard or read it's amendable by congress. I couldn't tell you if it ever truly has been or where that's documented and clarified.