An answer to a query has a well-defined lineage expression (alternatively
called how-provenance) that explains how the answer was derived. Recent work
has also shown how to compute the lineage of a non-answer to a query. However,
the cause of an answer or non-answer is a more subtle notion and consists, in
general, of only a fragment of the lineage. In this paper, we adapt Halpern,
Pearl, and Chockler's recent definitions of causality and responsibility to
define the causes of answers and non-answers to queries, and their degree of
responsibility.