Census Top Stories

FACT

• I am required by law to fill out the 2010 Census.

• If I don't fill out the census a worker will come to my house sometime after March 2010.

• You can be fined up to $100 for refusing to answer a question asked by a census worker.

• You can be fined up to $500 for giving false information to a census worker.

• You can be fined $5000 for refusing to fill out a form.

• It is illegal for the Census to publish your name, address, GPS coordinates, Social Security Number or telephone number.

• Census takers will not ask you for your social security number, bank account number, or credit card number.

• The census taker must present an ID badge that contains a Department of Commerce watermark and expiration date.

• The census taker will ONLY ask you the questions that appear on the census form.

FICTION

• I can fill out the 2010 Census online.

• I have to fill in my Social Security Number, credit card number and bank account.

• My religion is a question on the form.

• Gun ownership is a question on the form.

• My information can be used against me by the government or courts.

• My personal information can be accesed by a governmental agency other than the Census Bureau.

• A private company, landlord or employer can get a household's census information.

•The Census is only for U.S. citizens.

• Information from the Census form will be given to the immigration and naturalization service.

• A census taker may ask me for donations or contact me by e-mail.

1. How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on April 1, 2010?

The census asks this question to help get an accurate count of the number of people in the household on Census Day, April 1, 2010. The answer should be based on the guidelines in the 'Start here' section. The Census use the information to ensure response accuracy and completeness and to contact respondents whose forms have incomplete or missing information.

2. Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did not include in Question 1?

Asked since 1880. The Census asks this question to help identify people who may have been excluded in the count provided in Question The Census uses the information to ensure response accuracy and completeness and to contact respondents whose forms have incomplete or missing information.

3. Is this house, apartment, or mobile home: owned with mortgage, owned without mortgage, rented, occupied without rent?

Asked since 1890. Homeownership rates serve as an indicator of the nation's economy. The data are also used to administer housing programs and to inform planning decisions.

4. What is your telephone number?

The Census asks for a phone number in case we need to contact a respondent when a form is returned with incomplete or missing information.

5. Please provide information for each person living here. Start with a person here who owns or rents this house, apartment, or mobile home. If the owner or renter lives somewhere else, start with any adult living here. This will be Person 1. What is Person 1's name?

Listing the name of each person in the household helps the respondent to include all members, particularly in large households where a respondent may forget who was counted and who was not. Also, names are needed if additional information about an individual must be obtained to complete the census form. Federal law protects the confidentiality of personal information, including names.

6. What is Person 1's sex?

Asked since 1790. Census data about sex are important because many federal programs must differentiate between males and females for funding, implementing and evaluating their programs. For instance, laws promoting equal employment opportunity for women require census data on sex. Also, sociologists, economists, and other researchers who analyze social and economic trends use the data.

7. What is Person 1's age and Date of Birth?

Asked since 1800. Federal, state, and local governments need data about age to interpret most social and economic characteristics, such as forecasting the number of people eligible for Social Security or Medicare benefits. The data are widely used in planning and evaluating government programs and policies that provide funds or services for children, working-age adults, women of childbearing age, or the older population.

8. Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin?

Asked since 1970. The data collected in this question are needed by federal agencies to monitor compliance with anti-discrimination provisions, such as under the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. State and local governments may use the data to help plan and administer bilingual programs for people of Hispanic origin.

9. What is Person 1's race?

Asked since 1790. Race is key to implementing many federal laws and is needed to monitor compliance with the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. State governments use the data to determine congressional, state and local voting districts. Race data are also used to assess fairness of employment practices, to monitor racial disparities in characteristics such as health and education and to plan and obtain funds for public services.

10. Does Person 1 sometimes live or stay somewhere else?

The Census asks in order to ensure response accuracy and completeness and to contact respondents whose forms have incomplete or missing information.