Once again, it is time to stand up and be counted, because 2010 is a census year.

Article I, Section 2, of the Constitution of the United States mandates that, “The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of 10 years, in such manner as they shall by Law direct.”

Many people may wonder why a census, or count, of the population is so important that it rates a direct order in the Constitution. The answer is that census data play an important role in determining how government resources are allocated. The number of seats that each state holds in the U.S. House of Representative is based on state population.

More than $400 billion in taxpayer funds are allotted to states or within states each year based on formulas that use population or other census data. These funds are used for things like hospitals or job training centers, schools or senior centers, bridges and other public works projects, and emergency services.

For privacy and security reasons, the 2010 census forms cannot be completed on line, but will be mailed or delivered to primary residences in March. It will contain just 10 questions, including name, sex, age, birth date, race, household relationship, and whether you own or rent your residence.

Neither the form nor actual live census takers will ask for your Social Security number or the legal status of respondents. It will take only a few minutes to complete and mail back in the postage-paid envelope provided. If you do not respond to the census, as required by April 1, expect to be visited by a census taker to obtain information in person.

The Census Bureau will protect personal information, and private information is never published. It is against the law to disclose or publish individual names, addresses, including GPS coordinates; Social Security numbers; or telephone numbers. All information collected is used to produce only aggregated statistical information.

In preparation for the census, the U.S. Census Bureau is now recruiting temporary, part-time census takers. These jobs offer good pay, flexible hours, and paid training. Hundreds of thousands of census workers will be needed across the United States to help locate households and conduct brief personal interviews with residents. Interested applicants can contact their local Census Office, or call 1-866-861-2010.

So stand up and be counted – It is the American thing to do.