0:04 beginning in March the US Census Bureau
0:06 will invite households across the
0:09 country to participate in the 2020
0:12 census but what is the census simply put
0:15 the census is a headcount of every
0:18 person living in the United States to be
0:19 sure the government represents the
0:22 people the US Constitution requires a
0:26 population count every ten years ever
0:29 since 1790 the census has determined the
0:31 number of seats each state receives in
0:34 the US House of Representatives it is
0:37 and always has been a cornerstone of our
0:39 democracy we still use it to determine
0:42 representation but leaders also use the
0:45 data to make decisions your response
0:47 helps guide planning for the future of
0:50 our communities the 2020 census will
0:52 help inform decisions on how billions of
0:54 dollars are allocated annually for
0:56 critical public services like roads
0:58 schools hospitals and health care
1:01 clinics fire and emergency response
1:03 services and hundreds of other programs
1:07 in 2020 for the first time you'll be
1:10 able to complete the census online by
1:13 phone or by mail it asks a few simple
1:15 questions like how many people live in
1:18 your home on April 1st including their
1:19 age and sex and if there are any
1:21 children living there you should know
1:24 that by law all census responses are
1:26 completely confidential and your
1:28 personal information cannot be shared
1:31 with any law enforcement agencies every
1:34 person counts no matter who you are or
1:36 where you live so whether your family
1:39 has participated for decades or the 2020
1:41 census will be your first we all have a
1:43 role in shaping the future of our country
