The Responsibilities and Authority of the Secretary of Commerce
Dennis AuBuchon
October 24, 2009
The Department of Commerce has an historic mission to foster, promote, and develop foreign and domestic commerce of the United States. This involves legislative and administrative additions to encompass broadly the responsibility to foster, serve, and promote the Nation´s economic development and technological advancement. In these economic times this is a difficult task but this department has several areas with which they are involved to accomplish their mission. The mission statement in the preceding sentences was taken from the Department of Commerce web site. The activities which are part of the functions and programs of the department are authorized by the Departments organic statute (Act of February 14, 1903, 32 stat. 825) or by other legislation.
To accomplish their mission the following list of activities are provided to identify all the various actions being taken by the Department of Commerce:
Participating with other Government agencies in the creation of national policy, through the President´s Cabinet and its subdivisions.
Promoting and assisting international trade.
Strengthening the international economic position of the United States
Promoting progressive domestic business policies and growth.
Improving comprehension and uses of the physical environment and its oceanic life.
Ensuring effective use and growth of the Nation´s scientific and technical resources.
Acquiring, analyzing, and disseminating information regarding the Nation and the economy to help achieve increased social and economic benefit.
Assisting states, communities, and individuals with economic progress.
The Department of Commerce has had several milestones since it was created in 1903 the latest of which was the establishment of the Technology Administration in 1988 to promote the Nation´s economic competitiveness (15 u.s.c. 3704)
When researching the information about this department I found much more than I even imagined the commerce department over which it has jurisdiction. The Department of Commerce like other government departments is comprised of several bureaus and agencies each with their own area of responsibility and mission. The list below identified areas of responsibility for which the department had but I personally had not made the connection to the department, though they make sense.
Bureau of Industry and Security
Advance U.S. national security, foreign policy, and economic objectives by ensuring an effective export control and treaty compliance system and promoting continued U.S. strategic technology leadership.
Economics and Statistics Administration
Bureau of Economic Analysis
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) promotes a better understanding of the U.S. economy by providing the most timely, relevant, and accurate economic accounts data in an objective and cost-effective manner. Core values involve integrity, quality, excellence, responsiveness and innovation.
Census Bureau
Economic Development Administration
To lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy.
International Trade Administration
The mission is to create prosperity by strengthening the competitiveness of U.S. industry, promoting trade and investment, and ensuring fair trade and compliance with trade laws and agreements.
Minority Business Development Administration
The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce is the only federal agency dedicated to advancing the establishment and growth of minority-owned firms in the United States
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOAA is an agency that enriches life through science. Our reach goes from the surface of the sun to the depths of the ocean floor as we work to keep citizens informed of the changing environment around them.
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
An agency in the U.S. Department of Commerce that serves as the executive branch agency principally responsible for advising the President on telecommunications and information policies.
Patent and Trademark Office
National Institute of Standards and Technology
NIST is a non-regulatory federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce. NIST's mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life.
National Technical Information Service
The mission supports the Department of Commerce mission to promote the nation's economic growth by providing access to information that stimulates innovation and discovery. This organization was created through public law 102-245, Section 108 and the American Technology Preeminence Act of 1991
One recent activity that the Department of Commerce has initiated is the use of Twitter. It is an effort by the Secretary to connect with Americans from all walks of life, especially U.S. businesses and entrepreneurs that use the micro blogging service. With all the activities, bureaus and agencies which make up this department this is one way that citizens of the United States can keep abreast of this department´s activities and actions. I think it is great.
The information provided in this article is an effort to help citizens understand all the efforts being made by the federal government to help the economy prosper. The federal government gets a bad rap in many cases but there is much going on within this department and others that are aimed to help the economy. Granted some actions by individuals may not be the best or we may not understand the reasoning in the decisions made but we have a right as citizens to ask questions and get involved. We as citizens must understand that individuals who work for all levels of government work for us not us for them. We have a right to hold them accountable for their actions in relation to their responsibilities and authority.
The Department of Commerce today is involved in many activities which have been identified in this article. The efforts of all the bureaus and agencies are an important function of our government. As with any agency or department of government the right decisions must be made to accomplish their mission. It is important to understand how this department conducts their operations and responsibilities which have an impact on the perception the public has not only of the department but government in general.
To accomplish their mission the following list of activities are provided to identify all the various actions being taken by the Department of Commerce:
Participating with other Government agencies in the creation of national policy, through the President´s Cabinet and its subdivisions.
Promoting and assisting international trade.
Strengthening the international economic position of the United States
Promoting progressive domestic business policies and growth.
Improving comprehension and uses of the physical environment and its oceanic life.
Ensuring effective use and growth of the Nation´s scientific and technical resources.
Acquiring, analyzing, and disseminating information regarding the Nation and the economy to help achieve increased social and economic benefit.
Assisting states, communities, and individuals with economic progress.
The Department of Commerce has had several milestones since it was created in 1903 the latest of which was the establishment of the Technology Administration in 1988 to promote the Nation´s economic competitiveness (15 u.s.c. 3704)
When researching the information about this department I found much more than I even imagined the commerce department over which it has jurisdiction. The Department of Commerce like other government departments is comprised of several bureaus and agencies each with their own area of responsibility and mission. The list below identified areas of responsibility for which the department had but I personally had not made the connection to the department, though they make sense.
Bureau of Industry and Security
Advance U.S. national security, foreign policy, and economic objectives by ensuring an effective export control and treaty compliance system and promoting continued U.S. strategic technology leadership.
Economics and Statistics Administration
Bureau of Economic Analysis
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) promotes a better understanding of the U.S. economy by providing the most timely, relevant, and accurate economic accounts data in an objective and cost-effective manner. Core values involve integrity, quality, excellence, responsiveness and innovation.
Census Bureau
Economic Development Administration
To lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy.
International Trade Administration
The mission is to create prosperity by strengthening the competitiveness of U.S. industry, promoting trade and investment, and ensuring fair trade and compliance with trade laws and agreements.
Minority Business Development Administration
The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce is the only federal agency dedicated to advancing the establishment and growth of minority-owned firms in the United States
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOAA is an agency that enriches life through science. Our reach goes from the surface of the sun to the depths of the ocean floor as we work to keep citizens informed of the changing environment around them.
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
An agency in the U.S. Department of Commerce that serves as the executive branch agency principally responsible for advising the President on telecommunications and information policies.
Patent and Trademark Office
National Institute of Standards and Technology
NIST is a non-regulatory federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce. NIST's mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life.
National Technical Information Service
The mission supports the Department of Commerce mission to promote the nation's economic growth by providing access to information that stimulates innovation and discovery. This organization was created through public law 102-245, Section 108 and the American Technology Preeminence Act of 1991
One recent activity that the Department of Commerce has initiated is the use of Twitter. It is an effort by the Secretary to connect with Americans from all walks of life, especially U.S. businesses and entrepreneurs that use the micro blogging service. With all the activities, bureaus and agencies which make up this department this is one way that citizens of the United States can keep abreast of this department´s activities and actions. I think it is great.
The information provided in this article is an effort to help citizens understand all the efforts being made by the federal government to help the economy prosper. The federal government gets a bad rap in many cases but there is much going on within this department and others that are aimed to help the economy. Granted some actions by individuals may not be the best or we may not understand the reasoning in the decisions made but we have a right as citizens to ask questions and get involved. We as citizens must understand that individuals who work for all levels of government work for us not us for them. We have a right to hold them accountable for their actions in relation to their responsibilities and authority.
The Department of Commerce today is involved in many activities which have been identified in this article. The efforts of all the bureaus and agencies are an important function of our government. As with any agency or department of government the right decisions must be made to accomplish their mission. It is important to understand how this department conducts their operations and responsibilities which have an impact on the perception the public has not only of the department but government in general.
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