I. Conducting a Census

A. What is the Census Bureau doing to promote Census 2000?

The Census 2000 Partnership and Marketing Program is a multi-faceted effort

to remind the general population about the census, educate those members of

the public who do not understand the purpose of the census and its

significance to their communities, and motivate them to complete their

census questionnaires. The Census Bureau recognizes that different segments

of the population respond in different ways and with different levels of

trust and willingness to participate in the census. The Partnership and

Marketing Program incorporates five components designed to reach these

populations in the manner most appropriate to each. Together, these

components provide many vehicles to reach people many times B in the places

where they live, work, go to school, and play

The five components of the Partnership and Marketing Program are:

* The establishment of partnerships with state, local, and tribal

governments, community groups, advocacy groups, labor unions, trade and

professional associations, service organizations, religious organizations,

schools, youth groups, stores/local businesses, chambers of commerce, and

media organizations.

* A direct mail campaign designed to draw attention to the census

questionnaire when it arrives in people's mailboxes.

* A paid advertising campaign to generate awareness about Census 2000 via

print, broadcast and outdoor advertising.

* A media relations campaign to encourage positive, informative coverage

emphasizing the importance of responding to the census.

* Promotions and special events to provide non-threatening, fun,

educational activities in communities and schools, particularly in

hard-to-enumerate areas.

Examples of the many opportunities for partners' participation in the

census include having local governments participate in the compilation of

address lists; sponsoring workshops, conferences, speaker bureaus, and

community meetings; developing and distributing materials to

constituents/clients/members endorsing the census and explaining the

importance of participating; generating positive media coverage about the

census; recruiting community members to work as address listers,

enumerators, and Questionnaire Assistance staff; donating space, such as

space for training and Questionnaire Assistance Centers; and providing

advice and support to the Census Bureau on the development of data

collection strategies, particularly with regard to hard-to-enumerate

populations.

B. How will Telephone Questionnaire Assistance (TQA) operators handle

callers who have difficulty completing the long form questionnaire?

The Census Bureau has decided not to conduct long form questionnaire

interviews by telephone. This decision reflects the need to scale back the

requirements for the TQA Program in a manner consistent with the available

level of funding. The operator will inform the caller that an enumerator

will collect their long form data during a subsequent follow-up operation.

The long form holders will only receive assistance, whereas the short form

holders will be interviewed. The TQA operators will provide assistance or

conduct interviews for the short form questionnaires.

C. Why don't you have a lottery to increase cooperation with the census?

After the 1990 census, the Census Bureau appointed a Sweepstakes Committee

to investigate the issues and questions of using a sweepstakes to increase

participation in the census. After consideration of legal and other issues

relating to this approach and meeting with representatives of a corporation

involved with sweepstakes, the Committee made its recommendation that we

should not proceed with research and development on this concept.

D. Census workers recently contacted our house but asked only about our

address. Why are they collecting addresses more than a year before the

Census?

Census workers are updating our address lists that were obtained primarily

from the U.S. Postal Service and the 1990 census address list. Postal

Service letter carriers also will check the final mailing lists for Census

2000 just before they deliver the questionnaires to ensure that all housing

units to which they deliver mail receive a form. In areas without house

numbers and street names, census workers list the address of each housing

unit or other structure they see where a person lives or could live, note

on their map the location of each housing unit, and update the map they are

using with any new streets or street names. Census workers can locate

housing to deliver, or leave or complete a questionnaire.

E. What type of automation is being incorporated in Census 2000?

The major features of automation for Census 2000 include data capture

methodology that will accommodate the use of respondent-friendly

questionnaires. The Census Bureau has identified components of the data

capture process that may be best performed by private-sector partners

although it will not limit itself to creating in-house solutions. The

Census Bureau will take advantage of available commercial off-the-shelf

hardware and software representing advancements in information technology

and systems.

The Census Bureau will operate the National Processing Center and work with

contractors who will operate three processing centers responsible for data

capture functions including:

* A full electronic data capture and processing system to record an image

of every questionnaire

* Questionnaires returned by mail will be sorted automatically to ensure

timely capture of critical information needed before nonresponse follow-up

(census workers enumerate addresses for which we have not received a

completed questionnaire).

* Optical mark recognition will be used for all check-box data items.

* Intelligent character recognition (ICR) will be used to capture write-in

character-based data items.

* A clerical keying operation will capture and resolve difficult ICR cases.

* A quality assurance review will be conducted on data keying and scanning

activities.

* The use of electronic imaging and captured data will reduce the

logistical and staffing requirements that handling large volumes of paper

questionnaires would require.

F. How does the Census Bureau plan to use sampling now that the Supreme

Court has prohibited its use?

On January 25, 1999, the Supreme Court upheld º195, Title 13, United States

Code, prohibiting the Census Bureau from using statistical sampling to

determine the population count for congressional apportionment purposes

(No. 98B564, Clinton, President of the United States, et al. v. Glavin et

al., on appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern

District of Virginia).

Though the Court's decision does affect the way in which the Census Bureau

uses sampling to collect additional information, the Census Bureau will use

a sampling ratio of about one long form (sample) questionnaire for every

six households to obtain sample data on content as it has in previous

censuses. We plan to include sample questions on place of birth, work

status last year, income, ancestry, monthly rent, veteran status,

disability, plumbing and kitchen facilities, and others. This sample for

content provides the necessary data to produce a wide array of information

for redistricting and supply on social, economic, physical characteristics

of housing, and financial characteristics.

G. What are some of the important milestone dates for conducting the

census?

IMPORTANT MILESTONES

START FINISH EVENT DESCRIPTION

DATE DATE

3/6/00 3/22/00 Mail Delivery The mail delivery strategy

includes an advance letter,

questionnaire mailout, and a

reminder card for

nonrespondents.

3/3/00 3/22/00 Update/Leave This is conducted in areas

with predominately

non-city-style addresses.

Census workers will deliver

the questionnaires to housing

units and at the same time

update their list of addresses

of the units in their

assignment area.

1/31/00 5/1/00 List/Enumeration Enumerators will visit each

(Including Alaska) household in very remote or

very sparsely populated areas

(e.g. remote Alaska). Census

maps will be updated,

interviews conducted, and each

address/location will be

listed.

3/3/00 7/7/00 Telephone Questionnaire A toll-free telephone service

Assistance (TQA) will be provided by a

commercial phone center to

provide respondents assistance

completing their Census 2000

questionnaires. Assistance

will be available in several

languages.

4/27/00 7/7/00 Nonresponse Followup Enumerators begin follow-up on

(NFRU) addresses for which we have

not received a completed

questionnaire.

7/27/00 8/15/00 Coverage Improvement The purpose of this operation

Followup is to improve coverage of

persons in housing units

potentially classified in

error during NRFU. Census

staff will re-visit these

addresses, determine the

status of the address as of

Census Day.

3/7/00 8/24/00 Data Capture The operation to convert the

responses on the census

questionnaires into computer

processed data.

12/31/00 12/31/00 Delivery of By legal mandate,

Apportionment Data apportionment data will be

delivered to the President of

the United States.

2/12/01 3/21/01 Redistricting Data Complete the release of

redistricting data to the

states.

H. What is the Census Bureau doing to provide non-English language

assistance?

Those households who receive the census form in the mail will have the

option of requesting the questionnaire in Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog,

Vietnamese, or Korean. Those individuals or households who believe that

they were not included on a form or did not receive a form can use the Be

Counted questionnaires that will be available in public areas. The Be

Counted forms will be printed in English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog,

Vietnamese, and Korean.

The Census Bureau is also launching the Census 2000 Language Program. The

goal is to provide census information and to overcome language barriers

that might prevent any individual from full participation in the decennial

census. Census 2000 Language Assistance Guides will use visual aids to

assist respondents completing the Census 2000 mail/out/back questionnaires.

Two separate guides for both the long and short form questionnaire will be

created and printed for each of the following languages:

LONG & SHORT FORM LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE GUIDES

Arabic Farsi Korean Slovak

Armenian French Japanese Spanish

Bengali German Laotian Tagalog

Cambodian Greek Polish Thai

Chammaro Hmong Portuguese Tongan

Chinese Hindi Romanian Ukrainian

Creole Hungarian Russian Urdu

Croatian Italian Samoan Vietnamese

Czech Ilocano Serbian Yiddish

Dutch

I. Are there differences in the ways you count big cities and small rural

towns?

Improving our address list is a key element in making sure we reach people

everywhere in the U.S. Partnerships with local governments and American

Indian tribal officials is the first step in making sure our address list

is as accurate as possible. Every address will receive a letter in advance

of the census, the questionnaire, and a thank you/reminder card, but the

way these items are delivered will vary between big cities and rural areas.

In places where street addresses are used for mail delivery by the U.S.

Postal Service, we will mail the questionnaire to the residence. In rural

areas where rural route/box number, post office box, and/or general

delivery addresses are used, enumerators will canvass each block before the

census to create an address list of all living quarters. At the time of the

census, enumerators will deliver questionnaires to each address and check

the address list again to ensure that it includes every housing unit.

J. Why are the address list and maps so important for Census 2000?

The address list and related maps are the foundation of a complete and

accurate census. Some of the people not counted in the 1990 census were

missed because the Census Bureau did not know their housing units existed.

A complete address list will ensure that Census 2000 will be accurate.

Up-to-date maps will help the Census Bureau verify where each housing unit

is located.

K. Can the local or tribal government use the address list for other

purposes?

The only purpose for which this address list can be used is to conduct

Census 2000 and other Census Bureau programs. Only individuals who agree,

under oath, to keep the address information confidential may review the

address list.

By law (Title 13, United States Code), the Census Bureau cannot share the

individual answers it receives with others, including welfare agencies, the

Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Internal Revenue Service,

courts, or police. The military personnel who help with the census on-base

are sworn to protect the confidentiality of your answers. Anyone who breaks

this law can receive up to 5 years in prison and $5,000 in fines. The law

works B millions of questionnaires were processed during the 1990s without

any breach of trust.

L. Will the Census Bureau provide funds to support local or tribal address

lists and map review activities?

The Census Bureau has no funding to reimburse local or tribal governments

for money or staff time they spend on address list and map review

activities. This is a partnership program. The participating government

agrees to review and update these materials. Better maps and a better

address list will lead to a better census, which will assure that local and

tribal governments receive their full allocation of federal funding based

on population.

Participating governments should contact their Census Bureau regional

offices by electronic mail or telephone with any questions. The Census

Bureau established a help desk at 1-888-879-6656 for localities with

computer readable files and this number will remain operational until at

least August 2000. The Census Bureau has offered regional planning agencies

and the State Data Centers the opportunity to assist the Census Bureau in

implementing the program.

II. Participation in the Census

A. Why should people fill out their census forms?

Participating in the census is in the individuals= own self interest.

People who answer the census help their communities obtain Federal and

state funding and valuable information for planning schools, hospitals,

roads, and more. For example, census information helps decision makers

understand which neighborhoods need new schools and which ones need greater

services for the elderly. But they will not be able to tell what your

neighborhood needs if you do not fill out your census form.

B. How is the privacy of the respondents protected?

The numbers we publish are combined with thousands of answers from people

in your neighborhood and across the country. No one, except sworn Census

Bureau employees, can see your questionnaire or link your name with your

responses. In fact, the law provides severe penalties for any census

employee that makes your answers known.

III. The Census Questionnaire

A. Why does the census form have room for only six people?

The Census Bureau decided to adopt a six-person questionnaire for Census

2000, which would apply to both the short and long-form questionnaires.

Planning estimates put the number of mailback households with seven or more

persons at slightly more than one million households versus about four

million households with six or more persons.

B. Why do census forms have so many questions?

Every question in Census 2000 is required by law to manage or evaluate

Federal programs or is needed to meet legal requirements stemming from U.S.

court decisions such as the Voting Act. In addition, the data collected by

the is as much a part of our Nation=s infrastructure as highways and

telephone lines. Federal dollars supporting schools, employment services,

housing assistance, highway construction, hospital services, programs for

the elderly, and more are distributed based on census data.

C. How much money is distributed by the Federal government based on the

Census?

Twenty -two of the 25 largest Federal funding grant programs of fiscal year

1998 are responsible for $162 billion being distributed to state, local,

and tribal governments, and about half of this money was distributed using

formulas involving census population data, according to a report by the

General Accounting Office. We expect that at least $182 billion will be

distributed based on formulas using Census 2000 data.

D. Why does the Census need to know about race?

Race is key to implementing any number of Federal programs and it is

critical for the basic research behind numerous policy decisions. States

require these data to meet legislative redistricting requirements. Also,

they are needed to monitor compliance with the Voting Rights Act by local

jurisdictions. Race data are required by Federal programs that promote

equal employment opportunity and to assess racial disparities in health and

environmental risks. The Census Bureau has included a question on race

since the first census in 1790.

E. Why does the Census Bureau collect information on Hispanic origin?

The 1970 decennial census was the first to have a question on Hispanic

origin on the sample or "long" census form. Since 1980 this question has

appeared on the 100 percent or "short" form. Hispanic origin data are

needed for the implementation of a number of Federal statutes such as the

enforcement of bilingual election rules under the Voting Rights Act and the

monitoring and enforcement of equal employment opportunities under the

Civil Rights Act. Additionally, information on people of Hispanic origin is

needed by local governments to run programs and meet legislative

requirements at the community level. For example, these data are used to

help identify segments of the population who may not be receiving medical

services under the Public Health Act or to evaluate whether financial

institutions are meeting credit needs of minority populations under the

Community Reinvestment Act.

F. What questions are on the census forms?

The following questions will be on the short form (100%) questionnaire that

everyone receives: Tenure (whether a housing unit is owned or rented),

Name, Sex, Age, Relationship to household, Hispanic Origin, and Race. The

long form (sample) questionnaire, which goes to an average of one in six

households, has the short form questions plus additional questions on the

following subjects:

Social characteristics of Population: marital status, place of

birth/citizenship/year of entry, education-school enrollment/educational

attainment, ancestry, residence 5 years ago (migration), language spoken at

home, veteran status, disability, grandparents as care givers.

Economic characteristics of Population: labor force status (current), place

of work and journey to work, work status last year,

industry/occupation/class of worker, income (previous year).

Physical characteristics of Housing: units in structure, number of rooms,

number of bedrooms, plumbing and kitchen facilities, year structure built,

year moved into unit, house heating fuel, telephone, vehicles available,

farm residence.

Financial characteristics of Housing: value of home, monthly rent, shelter

costs (selected monthly owner costs).

G. How much does it cost to obtain the long form (sample) data?

The long form is a cost effective tool for gathering information needed to

evaluate and implement Federal and state programs. In 1990, the long form

added only 11 to 19 percent to the total cost of the census, according to a

National Academy of Sciences panel.

H. Does the long form questionnaire decrease the response rate?

Before 1940, everyone had to answer all the questions that the census

collected. The long form questions B asked only of a sample of households B

was introduced as a way to collect more data, more rapidly, without

increasing respondent burden.

The National Academy of Sciences Panel on Census Requirements in the Year

2000 and Beyond looked at the question of whether the long form discourages

participation in the census. They found that the difference in mail return

rates between the long and short forms in 1990 reduced the overall mail

return rate by less than one percentage point.

I. Why do you have one question on race and another question on Hispanic

origin?

The Census Bureau considered using a combined race and Hispanic origin

question in the 1990 Census. On October 30, 1997 the Office of Management

and Budget (OMB) issued "Standards for Maintaining, collecting, and

Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity." All federal agencies,

including the Census Bureau, who collect and report data on race and

ethnicity must follow these standards. Race and ethnicity are considered to

be two separate and distinct concepts in this standard, and OMB accepted

the Interagency Committee for the Review of the Racial and Ethnic Standards

recommendation that two separate questions -- one for race and one for

ethnicity or Hispanic origin -- be used whenever feasible to provide

flexibility and ensure data quality.

J. Does the Census Bureau collect data on Hispanic subgroups other than

Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban?

Yes. In Census 2000, like in the 1990 Census, the Hispanic origin question

has a write-in line which is used to obtain write-in responses of Hispanic

subgroups other than the major groups of Mexican, Cuban, and Puerto Ricans.

Persons with other Hispanic origins such as Salvadoran, Nicaraguan,

Argentinean, and so on, will be able to write in their specific origin

group. In fact, the Census Bureau's code list contains over 30 Hispanic or

Latino subgroups. For Census 2000 maximum detail on Hispanic subgroups will

be made available in micro data files while data products containing

tabulations will report less detail information.

K. How does the layout of the race question correspond to the changes in

the classification of race as directed by OMB?

Unlike the 1990 census, the Asian or Pacific Islander category will be

separated into two categories B AAsian@ and ANative Hawaiian or Other

Pacific Islander. Also, the wording of the question AMark one or more

racesY@ and the wording and placement of the Native Hawaiian and Pacific

Islander (Guamanian, Samoan, Other categories) corresponds to the

classification changes in race by OMB.

L. Why were some questions on the 1990 form deleted from the 2000?

Deciding which subjects to include is an interactive process involving the

Census Bureau, the Office of Management and Budget, and the U.S. Congress.

To balance concerns about the intrusiveness of the decennial census, the

many requirements placed on Federal agencies, and the needs of state,

local, and tribal governments to manage programs, only those subjects that

had specific Federal legislative justification were recommended for Census

2000.

M. Why were some of the questions on the 1990 short form moved to the

Census 2000 long form?

For Census 2000, the Census Bureau has proposed subjects on the short form

only when data are both needed in response to legislative requirements and

required at the block levelB the smallest level of geography for which we

report information. Therefore, we moved five subjects that were asked of

every housing unit in 1990 to the long form, which will go out to a sample

of housing units in 2000. These subjects include marital status, units in

structure, number of rooms, value of home, and monthly rent.

N. Why did you add questions to the Census 2000 form that were not in the

1990 Census?

Only one new subject was added to the Census 2000 questionnaire:

grandparents as care givers. This addition complies with legislation passed

by the 104th Congress requiring that the decennial census obtain

information about grandparents who have primary responsibility for care of

grandchildren (Title 13, United States Code, Chapter 5, Section 141).

O. What have you done to make it easier to fill out the form?

The Census Bureau has been working with private sector designers to produce

forms that are easy to read and understand, simple to fill out and mail

back, and help people understand the importance of answering the census.

Some of the user-friendly features include the following:

* Symbols to help guide;

* A larger, easier to read type face;

* Navigational aids to guide the respondent through the questionnaire;

* Instructions written directly on the form instead of in a separate guide;

and

* Graphics that illustrate census benefits.

P. What are the specific differences in the way you are planning to conduct

the 2000 census from the way it was done in 1990?

Although there are many aspects of Census 2000 that are different from the

1990 Census, the key differences are:

* Using address information provided by the U.S. Postal Service.

* Asking state, local, and tribal governments to help correct census maps

and address lists.

* First time utilizing paid advertising by extremely qualified experts.

* Creating a new "user-friendly" questionnaire that will be simpler and

easier for respondents to understand and fill out.

* Digitally capturing of forms enabling us to scan responses directly into

computers that can read handwriting.

* Using "matching" software that allows us to check individual blocks and

identify multiple responses from the same household. This allows the Census

Bureau to provide more opportunities for the public to respond, including

placing forms called "Be Counted" documents in community locations across

the country.

Q. How long does it take to complete the forms?

Compared with 1990, there is a significant improvement in the estimated

time required to complete both the short and long forms. In 1990, it was

estimated to take 14 minutes to complete the short form and 43 minutes to

complete the long form. For Census 2000, it will only take about 10 minutes

to complete the short form and 38 minutes for the long form.

R. Isn't there an easier way that would take less time and money, such as

use of public records or private companies, to compile the population

figures?

No other government agency has information on every person in the United

States. And no private company is equipped to bring on the number of

temporary workers needed to take the census. Some people think that the

Postal Service ought to do the census. The Postal Service delivers all the

questionnaires that are mailed to individual addresses and picks up and

returns the bulk of them. But we still need to hire temporary workers to

visit those households that do not mail back a questionnaire. The key job

for postal workers is to assist the U.S. Census in developing the address

list and to locate mailboxes. Right now, the best way for American

taxpayers to save money on the census is to fill out and mail back their

census questionnaire.

IV. Census 2000 Data

A. When will data from the census be available?

For data products required by law [Title 13, United States Code], we will

deliver the products on or before the specified dates. These data products

include delivery of the state population counts to the President within

nine months of Census Day (on or before December 31, 2000). These counts

are used to reapportion the seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

P.L 94-171 requires the Census Bureau to provide selected census

tabulations to the states by April 1 of the year following the census year.

States use these tabulations for redistricting; that is, to redraw the

boundaries of Congressional districts as well as other areas used for state

and local elections. Under the Voting Rights Act, the Census Bureau is

required to provide the states with race and ethnic data for small

geographic areas to be used for the redistricting process specified in P.L.

94-171.

Other products will be released in a flow basis from June, 2001, through

September, 2003.

B. How will data from Census 2000 be made available?

Census 2000 data will be disseminated mainly using a new data retrieval

system called the American FactFinder (AFF). Census 2000 data products will

be available on a flow basis beginning January 2001. The American

FactFinder will be accessible to the widest possible array of users through

the Internet, through intermediaries, including the nearly 1,800 State Data

Centers and affiliates, the 1,400 Federal Depository libraries and other

libraries, universities, and private organizations.

The American FactFinder will find and retrieve the information needed at

the geography of choice from some of the largest census databases. The

American FactFinder is accessible directly from the Census Bureau=s new

website.

Census 2000 will offer five categories of products:

Profiles

Demographic Profiles for both 100 percent and sample data

(AFF CD-ROM; print); and Congressional District Profiles, for

both 100 percent and sample data( AFF; CD-ROM; print by special

request).

Printed Reports

Demographic Profiles and Table Shells (AFF; CD-ROM; print)

Populations Totals (AFF, CD-ROM, print by special request).

Electronic Files

Redistricting Data Public Law 94-171 Summary File (AFF; CD-ROM;

print by special request); 100 percent Summary File (AFF; CD-ROM;)

Sample Summary File (AFF; CD-ROM)

Congressional District Summary Files (AFF: CD-ROM)

Quick Tables and Geographic Summary Tables

(AFF; some CD-ROM; some in print)

Microdata Files.

Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) 5% File (AFF; CD-ROM)

Full microdata tabulations (AFF).

Finding Traditional 1990 Census Products in Census 2000

1990 Title Description 2000

Population and CPH-2 Reports Historical Printed Reports

population and

Housing Unit Counts housing totals

with boundary and

annexation

information

Population and CPH-3 Reports Both 100 percent American

Housing and sample FactFinder

Characteristics for population and Summary Files &

Census Tracts and housing data Quick Tables

Block Numbering published for

each MSA/PMSA

portion of each

state

Census of CP-1, Population and Printed Reports &

Population and housing for Metro Quick Tables

Census of Housing CP-2 and urban areas

Reports for

Metropolitan Areas CH-1,

and Urbanized Areas

CH-2

Subject Summary SSTS Includes American

Tape Files and electronic files FactFinder

Subject Reports CP-3 and some

corresponding custom

CH-3 reports covering cross-tabula-

specific tions

populations and

housing subjects

and subgroups

Equal Employment Basic EEO File Tabulations for Census Bureau

Opportunity (EEO) detailed analysts working

occupations, with federal

educational agencies through

attainment, age, reimbursable

sex, race, and tabulation

Hispanic origin agreements

County-to-County County-to-County A reimbursable Census Bureau

Migration File Migration File product preceded analysts working

the release of with reimbursable

the standard tabulations

product agreements

Zip Code File STF3B Census Bureau American

purchased FactFinder

equivalency ZIP

Code file to

produce STF3

B. When will data from the census be available?