Legal Question in Constitutional Law in Illinois

Census- As I recall, I answered only the questions of number of residents at my residence and the fact that it is my only residence. I felt this was a fair reply to their request. The goverment apparently feels I owe them more. They stopped at my house and left a leaflet to contact them. I feel this is unnecessary as I already gave my answers. They now sent me a notice that I would have to fill out the American Community Survey as well as another census form. Harrassment and now an attempt to bully me. Is there currently a restraining order by a federal judge against the prosecution of American citizens for not answering their intrusive questions?

What is their next move and what should be mine?


Asked on 7/26/10, 2:32 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

Your next move should be to answer the forms they have sent you. There is no injunction against prosecuting people who refuse to answer the census (though I believe few of them are ever prosecuted), nor can there be.

Answering the census is one of the very few affirmative duties American citizens have. That duty is not limited to whichever questions each citizen considers fair.

Bear in mind that the census bureau is *very* serious about protecting the confidentiality of our responses. No individual, business or government entity (aside from the census bureau itself) has ever been allowed to look at anyone's answers. The FBI can't find out what you said, and neither can the IRS, the ICE or any other entity. No court has the authority to order the bureau to reveal this information. Every census bureau employee with access to anyone's answers is sworn to keep them secret for life; violating this oath is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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Answered on 7/26/10, 5:51 pm


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