Michelle Bachmann claims Constitution only requires you to answer how many people are in your household

Michele Bachmann says the Constitution only requires her to tell the census "how many people are in our home."
Michele Bachmann on Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 in a Washington Times interview

Condensed story from 2009 Pulitzer prize winner, Politifact.com Click here for Full Story.

Here's what the Constitution actually says:

"Representation and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this Union, according to their respective numbers ... 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 ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct."

So the Constitution itself does not contain any requirement, as Bachmann claims.

We draw your attention to the last clause, "in such a manner as they shall by law direct." The "they" in that sentence refers to members of Congress. They write laws about the content of the Census and require that people answer the questions.

What's more, a law passed by Congress requires people to answer "any of the questions on any schedule submitted to him in connection with any Census" from the U.S. Census.

Bachmann is not only wrong here, she is engaging in fearmongering that encourages people to break the law. And in doing so, she's falsely telling people that the Constitution would support them.

So Michele Bachmann --- Are you Kidding?