Census
The United States Census is taken every 10 years to count each man, woman, and child in the nation. It is required by article one, section two of the Constitution of the United States. Accurate counts mean communities may be eligible to receive a chunk of the $400 billion federal funds up for grabs. This funding serves hospitals and other emergency services, schools, job training and senior centers as well as public works projects like bridge refurbishing and building.
There are 145 million addresses on file with the Bureau and canvassers will update every one so that the count will be as accurate as possible. It is important to make sure that you keep your address or other contact information current so census workers can complete their work on a timely basis. What used to be completed manually will now be completed with hand-held GPS computers, eliminating much of the error risk associated with manual address checks. Each structure recorded by the GPS must be shown to be in its correct neighborhood block. This is important as congressional districts are redrawn from this data. It also determines the number of U.S. legislative seats your state can have.
In March 2010, every address will be mailed a short 10-question form. It is most important that it be filled in accurately and sent back to the Bureau in its postage-paid return envelope. If you do not return the questionnaire, you misrepresent the count. The bureau will send a census worker to your home to ask you the same 10 questions so that the count will be accurate. English and Spanish are the two major languages of the United States, so communities with a high Hispanic contingent will receive bilingual forms. Most everyone else will receive the census form in English.
Do not be fearful of revealing personal information on the form. Each census worker must take a lifetime oath not to reveal anyone's personal information under penalty of law, meaning up to five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. There will be 140,000 workers canvassing neighborhoods. All workers will have identification badges and will never ask for your specific financial information.
