Legal Status
Census Bureau
Census Bureau
The U.S.Census Bureau was established as a permanent office by act of March 6, 1902 (32 Stat. 51). The major functions of the Census Bureau are authorized by the Constitution, which provides that a census of population shall be taken every 10 years, and by laws codified as title 13 of the United States Code. The law also provides that the information collected by the Census Bureau from individual persons, households, or establishments be kept strictly confidential and be used only for statistical purposes.
The Census Bureau is responsible for the the decennial censuses of population and housing; the quinquennial censuses of State and local governments, manufacturers, mineral industries, distributive trades, construction industries, and transportation; current surveys that provide information on many of the subjects covered in the censuses at monthly, quarterly, annual, or other intervals; the compilation of current statistics on U.S. foreign trade, including data on imports, exports, and shipping; special censuses at the request and expense of State and local government units; publication of estimates and projections of the population; publication of current data on population and housing characteristics; and current reports on manufacturing, retail and wholesale trade, services, construction, imports and exports, State and local government finances and employment, and other subjects.
- Agency URL:
- http://www.census.gov/
- Parent Agency
- Commerce Department
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2010 Census Redistricting Data Program Commencement of Phase 2: The Voting District/Block Boundary Suggestion Project
This notice announces the commencement of Phase 2 of the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program: The Voting District/Block Boundary Suggestion Project. This second phase specifically provides States the opportunity to submit their voting districts (election precincts, wards, etc.) to the Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) for the development...
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2010 Census Redistricting Data Program Commencement of Phase 1: State Legislative District Project
This notice announces the commencement of Phase 1 of the 2010 Redistricting Data Program: The State Legislative District Project. This first phase specifically provides States the opportunity to provide their legislative districts (House and Senate) to the Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) for the development of data products by legislative...
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Establishment of the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program
This notice announces and seeks comments on the establishment of the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program. Required by law, the program provides States the opportunity to specify the small geographic areas that they wish to receive 2010 decennial census population totals for the purpose of reapportionment and redistricting.
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Foreign Trade Statistics Regulations: Amendment to Clarify Exporter (U.S. Principal Party in Interest) and Forwarding or Other Agent Responsibilities in Preparing the Shipper's Export Declaration or Filing Export Information Electronically Using the Automated Export System and Related Provisions
The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) is amending the Foreign Trade Statistics Regulations (FTSR) to clarify the responsibilities of exporters and forwarding or other agents in completing the Shipper's Export Declaration (SED), or filing the information electronically using the Automated Export System (AES), and to clarify provisions for...
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Clarification of Exporters' and Forwarding Agents' Responsibilities; Authorizing an Agent To Prepare and File a Shipper's Export Declaration on Behalf of a Principal Party in Interest
The U.S. Census Bureau (Census Bureau) proposes amending the Foreign Trade Statistics Regulations (FTSR), 15 CFR part 30, to clarify the responsibilities of exporters and forwarding agents in completing the Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) and to clarify provisions for authorizing forwarding agents to prepare and file an SED or file the export...
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Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Survey of State Government Research and Development
The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
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Innovations for Public Opinion Research
The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) is publishing this notice in the Federal Register to request comments from the public and other government agencies on innovations for measuring and tracking public opinion towards the Census Bureau and the 2020 Census. The Census Bureau is looking to encourage and promote statistical, research, and...
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Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; National Survey of Children's Health
The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
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Block Groups for the 2020 Census-Final Criteria
Block groups are statistical geographic subdivisions of a census tract defined for the tabulation and presentation of data from the decennial census and selected other statistical programs. Block groups also will be used to tabulate and publish estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS) after 2020 and potentially data from other Bureau...
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Census Tracts for the 2020 Census-Final Criteria
Census tracts are relatively permanent small-area geographic divisions of a county or statistically equivalent entity defined for the tabulation and presentation of data from the decennial census and selected other statistical programs. The Census Bureau is publishing this notice in the Federal Register to announce final criteria for defining...
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Census County Divisions (CCDs) and Equivalent Entities for the 2020 Census-Final Criteria
Census county divisions (CCDs) and equivalent entities are statistical geographic entities established cooperatively by the Census Bureau and officials of state and local governments in 21 states where minor civil divisions (MCDs) either do not exist or have been unsatisfactory for reporting statistical data. The primary goal of the CCD program...
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Census Designated Places (CDPs) for the 2020 Census-Final Criteria
Census designated places (CDPs) are statistical geographic entities representing closely settled, unincorporated communities that are locally recognized and identified by name. They are the statistical equivalents of incorporated places, with the primary differences being the lack of a legally defined boundary and an active, functioning...