| Dear Letters Editor: The only section of Title 13 that authorizes all the intrusive questions on the census form (other than the single question about "how many people") such as name, sex, age, ethnicity, and race is Sec. 101 (cited in full below). The terms "defective," "dependent, " and "delinquent" are not defined anywhere in Title 13. Without bothering to research these definitions, it appears that when Director Kenneth Prewitt, in his letter included with the Census 2000 form, says, "Your privacy is protected by law (Title 13 of the United States Code), which also requires that you answer these questions." What he means is "you are required by law to answer these questions because you are presumed to be defective, dependent, delinquent, or a criminal." So if you ain't, don't. TITLE 13 - CENSUS CHAPTER 3 - COLLECTION AND PUBLICATION OF STATISTICS SUBCHAPTER V - MISCELLANEOUS -HEAD- Sec. 101. Defective, dependent, and delinquent classes; crime -STATUTE- (a) The Secretary may collect decennially statistics relating - (1) to the defective, dependent, and delinquent classes; and (2) to crime, including judicial statistics pertaining thereto. (b) The statistics authorized by subsection (a) of this section shall include information upon the following questions, namely: age, sex, color, nativity, parentage, literacy by race, color, nativity, and parentage, and such other questions relating to such subjects as the Secretary deems proper. (c) In addition to the decennial collections authorized by subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the Secretary may compile and publish annually statistics relating to crime and to the defective, dependent, and delinquent classes. Dave Wheeler |
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