The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903. It was subsequently renamed to the Department of Commerce on March 4, 1913, and its bureaus and agencies specializing in labor were transferred to the new Department of Labor.

The mission of the department is to "promote job creation and improved living standards for all Americans by creating an infrastructure that promotes economic growth, technological competitiveness, and sustainable development." Among its tasks are gathering economic and demographic data for business and government decision-making, issuing patents and trademarks, and helping to set industrial standards.

It is administered by the United States Secretary of Commerce. From 1903 to 1913, it was administered by the United States Secretary of Commerce and Labor. Employees of the Department serve under the Competitive Service and Excepted Service. Most domestic positions are Competitive Service and most foreign positions are Excepted Service. In accordance with the Foreign Service Act of 1980, the Secretary is entitled to use the Foreign Service personnel system for positions that require service abroad.

Operating units

• Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)
• Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA)
  • Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
  • Bureau of the Census
• Economic Development Administration (EDA)
• International Trade Administration (ITA)
• Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  • National Weather Service (NWS)
  • Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps (NOAA Corps)
• National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
• Patent and Trademark Office (PTO)
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
• National Technical Information Service (NTIS)

<gallery> Image:USDeptofCommerceMainEntrance.jpg|Main entrance of U.S. Department of Commerce Image:Commerce_Building_aerial_view_from_Pennsylvania.jpg|Aerial view of U.S. Department of Commerce Image:Department of Commerce.JPG|Front view of U.S. Department of Commerce building </gallery>

See also

• Federal Trade Commission
• United States Commercial Service
• United States Chamber of Commerce
• Small Business Administration

External links

• United States Department of Commerce Official Website
• Department Of Commerce Meeting Notices and Rule Changes from The Federal Register RSS Feed
• US Commercial Service
• Department of Commerce Representation in the UK

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