|
|
|
PITTSBURG —
1. What is the Census used for?
The Census is written into the Constitution in Article I, Section 2, right after the creation of the Senate and the House of Representatives. On a national scale, the Census is used to determine the number of representatives in the House that a state gets. On a state level, it is used to determine the districting for state politics. And on a local level, Census data is often useful when writing grants or seeking funding sources.
2. Who has to participate in the Census?
Everyone living in the country, no matter if they are a citizen. The only people not included are people from other countries on vacation in the United States. People should count only those people that are in the residence on the night of March 31.
3. By when is the form due?
Two rounds of the 10-question form will be sent out. Only one must be filled out. It is due in the mail by April 1. If not returned, census takers will make a personal visit to your home.
4. What if I don’t complete the form?
If you don’t complete a 2010 Census form, you’ll receive at least one personal visit and up to three visits from a census taker some time after March 2010 until the information is answered. The census taker will ask the same questions as on the form and turn in the form for the residence.
5. Do I have to answer the Census questions?
It is required by law to answer the Census questions. Technically, you can be fined up to $100 for refusing to answer the Census. However, the Census rarely, if ever, prosecutes those that do not complete the Census.
6. Is it true that you only have to report the number of people living at the residence?
No. By law, you have to respond to all questions. There is no provision or rule that you only have to report the number of people in the home. The law says to answer all questions on the census form.
7. Can the Census give the information to any other government agency?
No. By law, the Census is forbidden to share Census data with any other government agency, including the FBI, IRS and CIA. The information stays private for 72 years. After 72 years, the information is released and is used mostly by genealogy Web sites.
8. What about college students?
The Census is based upon where the students live on the night of March 31. So if a student is living in an apartment, they are counted as living there. Parents should not count their college students as living with them unless the student is a stay-at-home student. Michael Aumack, Census partnership specialist, said the Census would work with the Pittsburg State housing office for students living in the campus housing, but students that live off-campus should fill in the form on their own. Aumack said this is not a change in the way students are counted, but that it has “always been that way.”
9. Does the Census count non-citizens, too?
Yes. The Census is required to count “all inhabitants” of the country, including illegal and legal aliens. The information will not be given to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency by law.
10. What is the American Community Survey? Is that the same thing as the Census?
Not exactly. Those that receive the ACS must still fill out the 10-question census form. The American Community Survey is an ongoing census questionnaire sent randomly to about one in every 480 households. In effect, it is the old, long form of the Census. This questionnaire asks much more detailed questions and takes longer to answer. Aumack said that it is “very important that you answer these questions, because it is a real key census tool for urban planning. It can help determine sewer system upgrades, etc... It helps city governments plan for the future. The data tells us what people live in what types of homes, where they live and work. It can help decide whether the highway will be extended, the school district gets expanded, or if the school district is given more resources.”
1. What is the Census used for?
The Census is written into the Constitution in Article I, Section 2, right after the creation of the Senate and the House of Representatives. On a national scale, the Census is used to determine the number of representatives in the House that a state gets. On a state level, it is used to determine the districting for state politics. And on a local level, Census data is often useful when writing grants or seeking funding sources.
2. Who has to participate in the Census?
Everyone living in the country, no matter if they are a citizen. The only people not included are people from other countries on vacation in the United States. People should count only those people that are in the residence on the night of March 31.
3. By when is the form due?
Two rounds of the 10-question form will be sent out. Only one must be filled out. It is due in the mail by April 1. If not returned, census takers will make a personal visit to your home.
4. What if I don’t complete the form?
If you don’t complete a 2010 Census form, you’ll receive at least one personal visit and up to three visits from a census taker some time after March 2010 until the information is answered. The census taker will ask the same questions as on the form and turn in the form for the residence.
5. Do I have to answer the Census questions?
It is required by law to answer the Census questions. Technically, you can be fined up to $100 for refusing to answer the Census. However, the Census rarely, if ever, prosecutes those that do not complete the Census.
6. Is it true that you only have to report the number of people living at the residence?
No. By law, you have to respond to all questions. There is no provision or rule that you only have to report the number of people in the home. The law says to answer all questions on the census form.
7. Can the Census give the information to any other government agency?
No. By law, the Census is forbidden to share Census data with any other government agency, including the FBI, IRS and CIA. The information stays private for 72 years. After 72 years, the information is released and is used mostly by genealogy Web sites.
8. What about college students?
The Census is based upon where the students live on the night of March 31. So if a student is living in an apartment, they are counted as living there. Parents should not count their college students as living with them unless the student is a stay-at-home student. Michael Aumack, Census partnership specialist, said the Census would work with the Pittsburg State housing office for students living in the campus housing, but students that live off-campus should fill in the form on their own. Aumack said this is not a change in the way students are counted, but that it has “always been that way.”
9. Does the Census count non-citizens, too?
Yes. The Census is required to count “all inhabitants” of the country, including illegal and legal aliens. The information will not be given to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency by law.
10. What is the American Community Survey? Is that the same thing as the Census?
Not exactly. Those that receive the ACS must still fill out the 10-question census form. The American Community Survey is an ongoing census questionnaire sent randomly to about one in every 480 households. In effect, it is the old, long form of the Census. This questionnaire asks much more detailed questions and takes longer to answer. Aumack said that it is “very important that you answer these questions, because it is a real key census tool for urban planning. It can help determine sewer system upgrades, etc... It helps city governments plan for the future. The data tells us what people live in what types of homes, where they live and work. It can help decide whether the highway will be extended, the school district gets expanded, or if the school district is given more resources.”
