The U.S. Census is mandated by the Constitution and taken every 10 years on the first of April.
The information collected in the census helps determine many things, such as how much money the government allocates to each state, and aids in determining the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The census allows government representatives to allocate $400 billion to programs such as hospitals, emergency services, schools and job training centers.
President Barack Obama recently recorded a public service announcement to encourage all Americans to partake in the census this year.
He urged not just citizens but everyone from permanent residents to people in the country on Visa status to take part in the ten-question document.
The government requires the forms be filled out and mailed back with a postage paid envelope.
If residents do not mail the form back, they may receive visits from a U.S. census taker.
The 2010 Census has given job opportunities to many Americans whose roles are vital to the accuracy of data collection. Census takers will visit all residences that did not mail back a form.
They will try up to three times to speak with someone and even leave hangers on front doors giving Americans an opportunity to schedule an appointment.
Participation in the Census is required by law.
The Census Bureau is informing parents and students at universities across America of the different ways they can be counted.
According to the Census on Campus section of the U.S. Census Web site, the Partnership and Data Services Branch wrote, “Historically, the highly mobile college student population living on and off campus has been hard to count — in part, because many people believe that college students are counted on their parents’ questionnaires.
“However, students living away from home will receive their own questionnaires, so to prevent students from being counted twice in the census, they and their parents need to know this.”
Students should know their privacy is protected when participating in the census.
According to the 2010 Census Web site, “Title 13 of the U.S. Code protects the confidentiality of all your information and violating this law is a crime with severe penalties.”
Additionally, all census takers are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data collected. If the oath is violated, punishments including $250,000 fines and five years of imprisonment can occur.
UH student Lydia Hawley plans to participate in the census this year under her parents’ household, despite not living at home.
“It just makes things easier to be included under their household, and that way there will be no mistake of accidentally being counted twice,” she said.
