What is title 13 of the US code?
Asked by: Zoey Williamson | Last update: January 29, 2026Score: 4.1/5 (5 votes)
Title 13 of the U.S. Code governs the U.S. Census Bureau, outlining its authority to conduct censuses, collect data, and crucially, providing strict legal protections for the confidentiality of collected information, making it a federal crime to disclose personally identifiable census data. This law mandates data secrecy, with severe penalties (fines, prison time) for Census employees or anyone who violates confidentiality, ensuring private data isn't used against individuals or businesses by other agencies.
What is title 13 of the United States code?
AN ACT To revise, codify, and enact into law, title 13 of the United States Code, entitled "Census". Chapter Sec.
Are you legally required to respond to a census?
Yes, responding to the U.S. Census is required by federal law (Title 13 of the U.S. Code), making it mandatory for all residents, with penalties like fines possible for non-compliance, though prosecution is rare, as the Census Bureau focuses on encouraging participation by highlighting its civic duty and importance for funding and representation.
Do you have to let a census worker in my house?
If you wish to independently confirm that the person at your door is a Census Bureau employee, you can enter their name in the Census Bureau's staff search website (https://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/main/email.cgi) or contact the Regional Census Center for your area. A census taker will never ask to enter your home.
What happens if you don't fill out a US census survey?
If you don't fill out the U.S. Census, you are technically breaking federal law and could face fines, but prosecutions are extremely rare; the Census Bureau will send reminders and eventually an enumerator (door-to-door) to collect information, and your non-response means your community loses out on crucial funding and representation for things like schools, roads, and hospitals, as data accuracy impacts resource allocation.
U.S. Code: Title 13 - Census
Can I refuse a census survey?
Yes, you can refuse, but it's legally required for the mandatory decennial census and other surveys, with federal law (Title 13, U.S. Code) stating penalties, including fines up to $5,000, for failure to respond, though prosecution is rare, and you can often skip specific questions or provide partial answers, but this prompts follow-ups to get complete data for resource allocation.
Do I have to fill out the census in 2025?
Yes, if you receive a U.S. Census survey (like the American Community Survey) in 2025, you are legally required to fill it out, as the Constitution mandates a count of everyone in the U.S. every 10 years, and the Census Bureau uses these surveys for vital data, though prosecution for non-response is rare, with focus on encouraging participation and cost-efficiency.
What happens if you don't answer the door for the census?
Am I required to fill out my 2020 Census form? Participation is mandatory, as described in Title 13 of the U.S. Code. Refusal to respond can result in a fine. However, no one has been prosecuted for failing to respond to the census since the 1970 Census.
Are census workers still going door to door in 2025?
🚨 LAST CALL to Complete the 2025 Special Census Online! 🚨 The deadline for online submittals is TODAY. ⏰ Starting September 1st, U.S. Census Bureau workers will begin going door-to-door to collect responses from households that did not complete the census online. 👉 Didn't receive a census mailer?
Who is not required to complete the census?
Every person must complete the census, although some personal questions are not compulsory.
Why do some people refuse to do the census?
Researchers who work with census data know that people don't participate in the census for different reasons –- several of which may be related to fear over how data is stored and used.
When was the last census taken in the United States?
The last U.S. Census was conducted in 2020, counting every resident on April 1, 2020, and marked the first time households were invited to respond online, by phone, or by mail, with data used for federal funding and political representation. The next census is scheduled for 2030, as these decennial counts happen every 10 years.
What does the 14th Amendment say about the census?
Specifically, section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment provides that Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed.
What is title 13 information?
Sections 9 and 214 of Title 13
Copies of census reports, which have been so retained, shall be immune from legal process, and shall not, without the consent of the individual or establishment concerned, be admitted as evidence or used for any purpose in any action, suit, or other judicial or administrative proceeding.
What is Article 13 3 in simple words?
(3)In this article, unless the context otherwise requires,- (a)"law" includes any Ordinance, order, bye-law, rule, regulation, notification, custom or usage having in the territory of India the force of law; (b)"laws in force" includes laws passed or made by Legislature or other competent authority in the territory of ...
Do you legally have to fill out the American Community Survey?
If your address was selected for the American Community Survey, you are legally obligated to answer all the questions, as accurately as you can.
Can I ignore a census survey?
Yes, you can refuse, but it's legally required for the mandatory decennial census and other surveys, with federal law (Title 13, U.S. Code) stating penalties, including fines up to $5,000, for failure to respond, though prosecution is rare, and you can often skip specific questions or provide partial answers, but this prompts follow-ups to get complete data for resource allocation.
Why do they wait 72 years to release the census?
Census records are sealed for 72 years primarily for privacy, ensuring personally identifiable information remains confidential long after individuals are likely to still be alive, protecting them from potential misuse, with the number 72 likely chosen around 1952 as slightly longer than the average life expectancy at the time, though the exact historical reason is debated. This policy, known as the "72-Year Rule," was codified into federal law in 1978, balancing public access for genealogy with individual privacy rights, with records becoming public after the 72-year period.
How do I know if the census letter is real?
To know if a Census letter is real, check the return address for "U.S. Census Bureau" and "Jeffersonville, Indiana," look for a census.gov web address if online, and remember they'll never ask for your full SSN, money, or bank details; you can also call your regional Census office to verify. The initial contact is always by mail for surveys like the American Community Survey (ACS).
Has anyone ever been fined for not doing the census?
In practice, though, no one has been prosecuted for not filling out the census since 1970, according to a 2014 PolitiFact article. However, even if you don't get fined for not filling out the census form, there are some good reasons you should do it anyway.
What happens if you don't fill out the census in 2025?
If you don't fill out the census (like the American Community Survey), it's a federal offense, and while penalties can include fines up to $5,000, the Census Bureau usually follows up with reminders, door-to-door visits, and uses a "carrot over the stick" approach, as prosecution for non-response is rare, but your community loses out on vital data for funding and representation.
Can I leave questions blank on the census?
It's important to note you can leave some questions blank, if needed. For example, if you do not see your gender identity listed on the Census (the Census only lists “male” and “female” as options), you can opt to leave that portion of the Census blank.
What happens every 10 years after a census?
Apportionment is the process of dividing the seats in the House of Representatives among the 50 states based on the population figures collected during the decennial census. The U.S. Constitution mandates that an apportionment of representatives among the states must be carried out every 10 years.
What happens if you don't file the census?
If you don't fill out the U.S. Census, you are technically breaking federal law, which can lead to fines (up to $100 for refusal, higher for false info), but prosecution is extremely rare; instead, the Census Bureau sends workers for follow-up, and non-response leads to undercounting, affecting your community's share of federal funds and political representation.