Frequently Asked Questions on the National Census Q: Does the
Federal government have the right to hold a census? Make a
Difference Your support helps the ACLU defend privacy rights and
a broad range of civil liberties. A: Yes. The government has a
compelling interest in collecting some census data -- indeed, it
is a constitutional requirement to "enumerate a census." This
may include basic information such as name and address.1
However, there is some conflict between the right of privacy and
the government's need for information on which to base
legislation and programs to support and implement other
fundamental rights, such as freedom from discrimination. Members
of the public have legitimate concerns about the civil liberties
implications of the national census. Foremost among those
concerns are whether the census violates privacy rights and
whether the government should be allowed to levy fines against
those who refuse to fill out the form. Q: Has census data been
abused in the past? A: Yes. Information g