Posted on 07/30/2005 2:00:35 PM PDT by Indy Pendance
THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
Article. I. Section. 2. Clause 3:
The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct.
On the envelope:
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
Jeffersonville, IN 47132-0001
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
Penalty for Private Use $300
ACS-46(2003) (1-2004)
The American Community Survey
Form Enclosed
YOUR RESPONSE IS REQUIRED BY LAW
Dear Resident:
I recently sent a letter to your household about the American Community Survey. Enclosed is a questionnaire and mail it back as soon as possible in the postage-paid envelope.
This survey collects critical up-to-date information used to meet the needs of communities across the United States. For example, the results from this survey are used to decide where new schools, hospitals and fire stations are needed. This information also helps communities plan for the kinds of emergency situations that might affect you and your neighbors, such as floods and other natural disasters.
The U.S. Census Bureau chose your address, not you personally, as part of a randomly selected sample. You are required by U.S. law to respond to this survey. The Census Bureau is required by U.S. law to keep your answers confidential. The enclosed brochure answers frequently asked questions about the survey.
If you need help filling out the questionnaire, please use the enclosed guide or call our toll-free number (1-800-354-7271).
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Charles Louis Kincannon
Director, U.S. Census Bureau
Enclosures.
Frequently asked questions:
What is the American Community Survey?
Every 10 years, the U.S. Census Bureau conducts a census. During Census 2000, the population of the United States was counted, and additional information was collected to describe the characteristics of the Nation’s population and housing.
The next census in 2010 will count the population, while the American Community Survey collects the information about population and housing characteristics throughout the decade. Based on the American Community Survey, the Census Bureau can provide data about our rapidly changing country more often than every 10 years.
Why don’t you use the information I provided on my Census 2000 questionnaire?
We need your response even if you completed a Census 2000 questionnaire, because the characteristics of your household may have changed since Census 2000. As we move further away from 2000, information provided in Census 2000 becomes outdated.
How do I benefit by answering the American Community Survey?
The American Community Survey provides up-to-date information for the Nation, states, cities, counties, metropolitan areas, and communities. By responding to the American community Survey questionnaire, you are helping your community to establish goals, identify problems and solutions, and measure the performance of programs.
Communities need data about the well-being of children, families, and the elderly to provide services to them. The data also are used to decide where to locate new highways, schools, hospitals, and community centers; to show a large corporation that a town has the workforce the company needs, and in many other ways.
Do I have to answer the questions on the American Community Survey?
Yes, your response to this survey is required by law (Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141 and 193). Title 13, as changed by Title 18, imposes a penalty for not responding. The survey is approved by the Office of Management and Budget. We estimate this survey will take about 38 minutes to complete.
How will the Census Bureau use the information that I provide?
The Census Bureau can us the information you provide to statistical purposes only and cannot publish or release information that would identify you and your household. Your information will be used in combination with information from other households to produce data for your community. Similar data will be produced for communities across the United States.
We may combine your answers with information that you gave to other agencies to enhance the statistical uses of these data. This information will be given the same protections as your survey information. Based on the information that you provide, you may be asked to participate in other Census Bureau surveys that are voluntary.
Will the Census Bureau keep my information confidential?
Yes. All of the information the Census Bureau collects from this survey about you and your household is confidential by law (Tot;e 13, United States Code, Section 9). By law, every Census Bureau employee-including the Director as well as every field representative-has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term, a fine, or both if he or she discloses ANY information that could identify you or your household.
Where can I find more information about the American Community Survey or get assistance?
You may visit our Web site www.census.gov/acs/www, or call 1-800-354-7271 if you need assistance or more information.
This is a 12 page booklet describing how to fill out the form. It is similar to a tax preparation booklet.
The USSC does exactly that.
You sound like me, born a conservative. My kids are that way as well. They just 'get' it.
I read that as, the term is ten years, how they manage it every ten years is open. So, we just filled out a 2000 census. It's only 2005. And it also states, enumeration, which means to count the population. There is nothing in the constitution that says you have to tell how many bedrooms you have, the value of your home, what kind of cars you have, the amount of your electric bill, your mortgage payment, etc.
"I'm tired of this invasion of privacy crap disguised as a "census"."
Exactly!
It says within ten years. That is to say, no more than ten years. In such manner pretty well covers the content of the census. It could be every year, or every day. They could not only ask, but count for themsleves, how many frozen fishsticks are in your freezer.
I had a pesky little man after me for this survey a few years back. I answered all the questions I thought necessary and mailed it in. That wasn't enough for the pesky surveyor until I called his boss.
Where do you get that?
"and within every subsequent Term of ten Years"
Which means every ten years, depending upon the time congress established the original census rules. It never says, do it when ever you feel like it. You're reading way too much into this simple statement. Just like everything else that has been bastardized by politicians, this is no different. The constitution is pretty simple, there isn't a right to abortion, there is no seperation of church and state, etc, etc, etc. It says ten years.
It says within ten years. They actually run the census almost continuously. Every year something or other. Computer technology makes this possible, so they do it. The USSC has no problem with this, constructionists that they are. You have a right to privacy according to the USSC if you want an abortion, but that's the only time.
I, for example, am a Thloticioan-American on my mother's side while my father's side was pure Kvithic. We worship at the temple of Nolnu, the Everpresent and the language we speak at home is pidgin Mownglish.
See? anyone can have fun with Government forms.
You're leaving out subsequent. Look it up.
Are you willfully ignorant of the words in the Constitution, accidentally ignorant, or spreading falsehoods? By design the Constitution was intended to create a very limited government with very limited and enumerated powers. The General Welfare clause is limited to the enumerated powers in Article 8, I think. The Interstate Commerce clause is another area the liberals try to stretch to expand the powers of the government under the Constitution.
That is why we must have originalist judges on the Supreme Court. By the way, Walter Williams covered this very question yesterday on the Rush Limbaugh Show.
"Walter Williams covered this very question yesterday on the Rush Limbaugh Show."
Dang, I missed it, he's good.
There was a call for constructionist judges right here on FR while Pres Bush was making his recent selection. The term constructionist was used during the original constitutional debates and it was taken as a negative by those who opposed Federalism, especially as the USSC was seen as with unlimited, supreme power, with no authority over them to reverse decisions.
Yes, your response to this survey is required by law
It says "your response", not your 'truthfull and complete answers'. Send it back. Make sure they know who it is from.
You've responded.
They can bite me. Name, rank and serial number is all they get or of course useless garbage!.
Within every subsequent ten years certainly does not say only once every ten years. On the contrary it leaves the number completely open. With the advent of computers they could run it day and night forever. At least every ten years is what it says.
Anything else they can go pound sand.
And how do they relate to enumeration, or counting the population. I'd be all right with your definition if, and that's a big IF, they did what was supposed to happen. Take a count of the population. Not how much your water bill is, or if you have indoor plumbing. Leave those questions for Rasmussen and the like.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.