Article
I, Section 2 of the Constitution of the United States requires that the
Census Bureau counts the total number of people in the United States,
regardless of citizenship, every 10 years for the purpose of
reapportionment. The next count will occur on Census Day,
April 1, 2010.
Who receives the Census 2010 form?
Every household will receive a Census 2010 form.
What is the American Community Survey (ACS)?
The
ACS is a survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau every month. It
provides communities with critical economic, social, demographic and
housing information. The ACS also identifies changes in an
area's population and gives an up-to-date statistical picture every
year.
Who receives the ACS?
Each
month, the Census Bureau sends the ACS survey to randomly selected
households/addresses. You could receive an ACS survey at any time. If
you receive the ACS survey, you will not receive the survey at the same
address again in a five-year period.
Why are so many questions asked of me, particularly some that seem rather personal?
The
questions on the Census 2010 form are needed for reapportionment, which
is the process by which seats in the House of Representatives are
reassigned among the States to reflect population changes following the
decennial census.
Every
ACS question is required to manage or evaluate government
programs. For example, ACS data is used to determine language
assistance requirements under the Voting Rights Act. Your responses
play a very important role in maintaining and improving our
communities.
What if I
receive both the ACS and the Census 2010, do I have to complete the ACS
as well?
Yes. Every
household will receive a 2010 Census survey. But only some households
will also receive an ACS survey. If you receive both, you must complete
both. These surveys are important tools for ensuring that your
community has political representation and adequate government
funding.
Will participating in the Census or the ACS be harmful to the respondent?
By
law, all of the individual answers given on the Census are
confidential. Responses and information cannot be shared with
any person or any government agency, such as the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) or the Internal Revenue Services (IRS).
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