The United States Census Bureau is an agency under the U.S. Commerce Department. Its mission according to the main page of the website www.census.gov is: “to serve as the leading source of quality data about the nation's people and economy. We honor privacy, protect confidentiality, share our expertise globally, and conduct our work openly. We are guided on this mission by our strong and capable workforce, our readiness to innovate, and our abiding commitment to our customers.”
Generally, the United States Census Bureau gives information about what America looks like. Data collected demonstrates who lives here, where exactly they live in the country, what races the people are, what languages the people speak, how old they are, how many are children, adults, women, men, seniors, students, patients in hospitals and nursing homes, professionals, prisoners, etc. Anyone interested in finding out what percentage of the adults in the country are married, widowed, or single need only to access the Census Bureau’s website and do a search to come up with the information that they need.
To gather these demographics, the Census Bureau uses surveys. The surveys may be sent to sample addresses for the head of household or some other designee to answer. If the survey is not returned by mail, a telephone interview will be attempted. If the phone interview is not successful, a field representative will visit the household. The object is always to complete the interview so the bureau can get the factual information and comprise reports.
Some surveys are one time surveys and some are current surveys, meaning they continue. A college, hospital, or other institution may seek out the bureau to collect data for them. This occurs often. When an institution asks the Census Bureau to collect data, the U.S. Code, Title 15 is used for the collection of data for those surveys. That institution is going to share information with others.
The bureau is respected around the world for having the ability to obtain data and for keeping that data confidential. To ensure that everyone in the United States is represented, the Census Bureau uses interviewers from around the country. This personnel has a diverse racial composition, many speak foreign languages and dialects from around the world. When an interviewer cannot be found who speaks the language of a particular household, interpreters are used.
The U.S. Census Bureau authorizes field representatives to pay a neighbor or other person to translate for them so the representative can complete a survey. The person who translates must sign a Contract for Interpreter Services. The interviewer must also swear the interpreter in. The interpreter “must swear or affirm that he or she will not disclose any information that is contained in the schedules, list, or statements obtained for or prepared by the Census Bureau to any person or persons during or after appointment.” This is under Title 13, United States Code, Section, 214. There is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment for up to five years for unlawful disclosure. Each interpreter is paid $10.96 per hour. It is necessary that the interpreter make the same oath and be bound to the same fines and/or imprisonment as a field representative.
Working as a field representative, I occasionally, came against opposition from a prospective respondent. There are a myriad of questions and concerns that a trained field employee has to answer and assure citizens who may have anxiety for any reason relative to a Census survey. The most important question for me was; is this confidential? The information is always confidential. If a sworn Census Bureau employee discloses any confidential information he or she can be imprisoned for up to 5 years and/or fined $250.000. Another was; is my participation mandatory? The answer to that question depends on the particular survey. If it is the American Community Survey, the answer is yes. If it is the Decennial Census the answer is yes, as well. These two surveys are mandatory and there could be a jail sentence for anyone who refuses. I, however do not know of anyone who was jailed for being unwilling to complete one of those interviews. However, by law, the person could be arrested. Most other surveys are voluntary.
There other questions that people have, “why did you pick me?” is one. The answer to that question is; addresses are randomly selected to ensure a statistically valid sample. “How do I know that this is legitimate?” is a question that some people have. The answer is the initial information from the U.S. Census Bureau states that it is OFFICIAL BUSINESS of the United States. Each employee who comes to the door will chow their Census Bureau identification card. A copy of the letter that was sent to the household is in the field representative possession.
To obtain an interview, I found that I had to be very innovative. I would tell the respondents how the Census Bureau could help them. They never expected that. There are many ways that lay people use Census Data. Most people who work in offices, schools, and government use Census information, but the data is useful to everyone. Suppose someone wanted to search for a person without a birth certificate. The person need only go the http://www.census.gov/genealogy/www.agesearch.html for direction. If an individual was looking for information regarding Federal funding allocations in their county, he or she would only have to key in http://harvester.census.gov/cffr/asp/reports.asp. Any person with health concerns who seeks answers needs only to key in http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/. There are resources for the everyday citizen on the site.
2 comments:
The purpose of the census?
How many people live where - for the apportionment of seats in the US House of Representatives. Anything else is illegal because its unconstitutional.
Providing an avenue to severly punish law abiding citizens for not doing its bidding is at least immoral.
"Trust us" we are from the government?? Penalties are severe for purposly disclosing private info, but what if they are clever enough not to be caught? What if the disclosure is not intentional?? For instance - lost laptop computers? Once info is out there you can't take it back.
ACS is a wonderful place for patronage jobs and an increased expansion of govt power. I resent it and you should too, even though the sheeple out there just cower and comply.
John
Yes, you are correct. However, I believe that the Census Bureau gathers information that is helpful for our country as a whole. Whenever there are shortages in say, supermarkets or pharmacies, the Federal government is responsible for making sure these become available. If the government did not talk to people in a particular area and ask specific questions, needs would go unmet. Another instance where the Census Bureau could help is in an area where there is a lot of unemployment. Let’s not look at an urban area, but at an area that might be rural. Perhaps the people want to work, but they cannot. There is no public transportation in region. There is no way to get to work. They do not have vehicles because they cannot afford to pay a monthly car payment or even to maintain a vehicle. With national surveys, the government not only finds out who lives in the country and how many people live there, the government finds out the needs of its citizens. In that instance, the need is a bus line and/or a commuter train line. Federal funding is made available to the county and local government and positive things start to happen for that part of the country.
No, it is not a perfect situation. I can’t think of any perfect situation. If the Federal government doesn’t do it, who will? Who would be responsible for the country? Thank you for responding, John. Please reply again, if you like.
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