What is the Department of Commerce?

The Department of Commerce is a cabinet-level department of the United States government working to create economic growth and opportunity in the United States. To support this mission of advancement and growth, the DOC has adopted several strategic goals including:

• accelerating American leadership,
• enhancing job creation,
• strengthening U.S. Economic and National Security,
• meeting constitutional requirements,
• supporting economic activity,
• and bringing in customer-centric service excellence.

In summary, the department focuses on advancing economic growth and creating jobs and opportunities for the American people

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How was the Department of Commerce Created?

In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt established the Department of Commerce and Labor. Ten years later in 1913, a separate department was created by President Howard Taft to oversee the bureaus and agencies specializing in labor. Thus, this department was renamed as the Department of Commerce. During the late 1860s, after the civil war, the labor leaders of the US started to mounting pressure to create a Department of Labor. A non-Cabinet level Department of Labor was established in 1888 by President Chester Arthur. The department was mainly responsible for gathering information about working people in the US. During late 1890s demands were raised to create a department to represent the interest of the business. Labor leaders demanded if businesses get a Cabinet-level department, labor should also get the same. President Theodore Roosevelt elevated Labor to Cabinet status and created a single department to oversee both the Commerce and Labor as he believed by working together both would prosper. However, in the following years, labor leaders argued that labor and business were working in the opposite direction and finally in 1913 it was split into two departments. In 2012, President Barack Obama proposed to close the Department of Commerce and replace it with a new Cabinet-level department focused on trade and exports. The new department would include Office of the United States Trade Representative, Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the United States Trade and Development Agency, and the Small Business Administration. According to the Obama administration, this reorganization would save $3 billion and help in doubling US exports in the next five years. This proposal of the Obama administration attracted criticism from the different quarters and was ultimately rejected by Congress.

Structure of the Department of Commerce 

Secretary of Commerce(Deputy Secretary of Commerce)

1. Economic Development Administration.
2. Minority Business Development Agency.
3. National Technical Information Service.
4. National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
5. Office of Business Liaison.
6. Office of the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration.
7. Office of the Chief Information Officer.
8. Office of Executive Secretariat.
9. Office of the General Counsel.
10. Office of Inspector General.
11. Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs.
12. Office of Security.
13. Office of Policy and Strategic Planning.
14. Office of Public Affairs.
15. Office of White House Liaison.

Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs

1. Bureau of the Census.
2. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
3. Economics and Statistics Administration.
4. Office of the Chief Economist.

Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security

1. Bureau of Industry and Security.
2. Office of Export Enforcement.

Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property

1. Patent and Trademark Office.

Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade

1. International Trade Administration.
2. United States Commercial Service.

Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere

1. National Marine Fisheries Service.
2. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
3. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps.
4. National Ocean Service.
5. National Weather Service.
6. Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.
7. Office of Marine and Aviation Operations.

Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology

1. National Institute of Standards and Technology.