Subjects of census submitted for 2010

The U.S. Census Bureau submitted the subjects it plans to address in the 2010 Census to Congress Friday. Those subjects include gender, age, race, ethnicity, relationship and whether people own or rent their homes.

The 2010 Census is expected to take less than 10 minutes to complete. The subjects, which must be submitted to Congress three years before Census Day on April 1, 2010, reflect a need for data and the agency's commitment to eliminating redundant questions, said Louis Kincannon, Census Bureau director.

Friday, the Bureau also submitted its planned subjects for the American Community Survey, an annual survey to collect socioeconomic and housing data, which is replacing the census long-form.

"Our goal is to provide a questionnaire that is quick and easy to complete to ensure that respondents fill it out and mail it back," Kincannon said.

Census data directly affect how more than $200 billion per year in federal and state funding is allocated to local, state and tribal governments. The data also are used for other planning decisions, such as emergency preparedness.

The actual questions that will appear on the 2010 Census questionnaire must be submitted to Congress by March 31, 2008.