What Is A Census?

2010 Census things you should know…

The American Community Survey is conducted under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141 and 193, and response is mandatory. According to Section 221, persons who do not respond shall be fined not more than $100. Title 18 U.S.C. Section 3571 and Section 3559, in effect amends Title 13 U.S.C. Section 221 by changing the fine for anyone over 18 years old who refuses or willfully neglects to complete the questionnaire or answer questions posed by census takers from a fine of not more than $100 to not more than $5,000. The U.S. Census Bureau may use this information only for statistical purposes. We can assure you that your confidentiality is protected. Title 13 requires the Census Bureau to keep all information about you and all other respondents strictly confidential. Any Census Bureau employee who violates these provisions is subject to a fine of up to $250,000 or a prison sentence of up to five years, or both. – Census Bureau

There comes a time when enough it enough. For me, that time has come. The census is a Constitutional obligation for the specific purpose of determining the number of people in a State so that each State is apportioned the proper number of Representatives in Congress and taxation (Article I, Section 2). I find nothing in the applicable Amendments (“Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State”, 14th, 16th) which extends that authority to requiring citizens to answer a host of other questions not related to an enumeration.

Quite the contrary, the 4th Amendment guarantees that;

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

My personal information is protected under this Amendment, and even if the Courts have ruled that it is not, then we have a departure from the intent of the 1st Congress in adopting it. If someone shows up with a warrant issued by a Court, then I will be happy to provide anything requested. However, I will not answer such questions for a temporary census taker who’s constitutional authority is limited to counting the whole number of persons without respect to race, sex, income, or any other criteria. The ONLY constitutional criteria they are required to ascertain is age and I will be most happy to provide it.

If Congress wants more authority to obtain additional information, they should propose an Amendment to the Constitution, or obtain a warrant for it.