To help you target your marketing strategies to us, we've provided brief descriptions about each area at the Census Bureau. For more specific information about a certain area, links have been provided (if available).

Census 2010 Publicity Office – Develops, implements, and coordinates an integrated marketing program for Census 2010, including paid advertising, direct mail, public relations, partnerships, and local outreach.

Congressional Affairs Office – The Congressional Affairs Office (CAO) is responsible for responding to Census data inquiries from Congress. Advises on all Congressional matters regarding the Census Bureau’s activities and serves as the primary point of coordination for maintaining liaison on such activities with the Congress in collaboration with the Departmental Under Secretary for the Economic Affairs and the Assistant Secretary for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs.

Public Information Office – The Public Information Office offers a variety of services to help publicize Census data releases or promote Census products or services. Media are increasingly interested in reporting about and covering Census Bureau activities, including those associated with the 2010 census, American Community Survey and other census and survey programs. Many also may want to film or photograph the activities in progress.

Equal Employment Opportunity Officer – Shall provide guidance and assistance to Bureau officials in Equal Employment Opportunity matters and shall plan and direct the Bureau’s Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action programs, consistent with Departmental guidance and policies as delegated by the Director, office of Civil Rights.

Policy Office – Serves in a central coordinating role for the analysis, development, and implementation of Bureau-wide policies and related issues.

Human Resources Division – Provides integrated work force and organization planning and development services in support of Bureau needs, including facilitation support and personnel management services, including position classification and pay administration, recruitment and employment training, employee relations and services, payroll services, and personnel operations. The division shall, in collaboration with the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, also provide assurance of equal opportunity in all Census Bureau employment matters.

Financial and Administrative Systems Division – Provides central financial and administrative systems support for the Bureau, including its participation in the Commerce Administration Management System (CAMS); manages office automation support for the organizational units under the Principal Associate Director and Chief Financial Office and perform management analysis and staff support services for the Bureau.

Administrative and Customer Services Division – Provides administrative services, including property, space, records and facilities management, and publications and graphic arts services, including printing, mail and forms management, publications design, and distribution; develops generalized publications and graphics software; prepares statistical compendia such as the Statistical Abstract of the U.S. and catalogs, manuals, and other reference materials; creates and disseminates electronic data products, including data tapes, CD-ROM, Internet, on-line services; and administers electronic and printed data dissemination and customer services programs.

Acquisition Division – Provides contracting services and processes all purchase actions for all Bureau programs.

Budget Division – Performs budget functions, including preparation and submission of official budget estimates and justification, allocation and control of all funds, setting budget policy and procedures, and disseminating budget information throughout the Bureau.

Finance Division – Performs financial analysis, establishes accounting policies, maintains financial accounts, prepares financial reports, and provides technical oversight of payroll services for the Census 2000.

Computer Services Division – Operates and manages the electronic computers and related ancillary equipment of the Bureau. Plans for and provides the activities required to maintain this equipment at required hardware performance levels. Performs associated coordination for data keying, scheduling, staging, tape library, and on-line data file services.

Telecommunications Office – Develops operational plans for and conducts research and tests of new or more efficient methods of providing data communication services to the Bureau. Assures proper maintenance of telecommunications resources. Designs solutions leading to the acquisition of new equipment in support of the Bureau’s overall data communications objectives.

Information Systems Support and Review Office – Provides program management of Bureauwide information technology contracts. Coordinates and reviews information technology, strategic, and tactical plans, benefit/cost analyses, and requirements initiatives.

Systems Support Division – Plans and provides for activities required to maintain and modify operational support software at performance levels necessary to meet mission objectives. Develops and maintains automated data processing (ADP) and related standards. Approves new or redesigned ADP systems to ensure conformation with the Bureau’s central ADP systems standards. Directs and provides services such as user ADP training, software documentation, program optimization, and consultation on applications designed to meet informational needs of the user community. Serves as the focal point for receiving and resolving trouble reports to facilitate the effective use of the Bureau’s ADP resources.

Technologies Management Office – Develops and implements computer assisted data collection and related support operations. Oversees the development of automated instruments for Computer Assisted Interviewing (CAI) applications. Serves as liaison with production software contractors and coordinates the activities of multifunctional data collection centers throughout the country.

National Processing Center – Conducts statistical processing operations for assigned current and special surveys or censuses. Provides related administrative and logistics services for assigned programs. Exercises such authority in personnel and other management areas as is specially delegated. Administers a personal census service to furnish information about individuals as reflected by census records, as provided by law.

Field Division – Plans, organizes, coordinates, and carries out the Census Bureau’s field data collection program; maintains and administers a flexible field organization through the regional offices, regional census centers, and temporary district and other branch or area offices. Provides for the effective deployment of field personnel to assure the efficient conduct of data collection at the local level.

Customer Liaison and Marketing Services Office – The Customer Liaison and Marketing Services Office (CLMSO) establishes and maintains relationships with data user communities, organizations, and the public to help increase awareness, access, understanding and use of Census Bureau information.

Economic Planning and Coordination Division – Provides overall direction for planning, budgeting, and coordinating the Economic Censuses and related programs. Directs a number of programs and activities related to maintaining, managing, and improving the Census Bureau’s directory of businesses, the Business Register. Identifies administrative data from other agencies and conducts research related to using and improving these data. Develops standards, procedures, and computer specifications supporting the Census Bureau’s Economic Census and coordinates the planning, processing, and conduct of most current statistics programs.

Economic Statistical Methods and Programming Division – Supports and improves economic censuses and survey programs through the joint development and implementation of sound statistical, programming, and survey methods; and seeks to ensure that statistical methodology, survey operations, automated processes, and computer programs and systems are consistent, broadly understood, and implemented in all economic areas.

Company Statistical Division – Formulates and develops the overall plans and programs for the collection, processing, and dissemination of statistical data from special surveys related to the financial position of U.S. companies and business enterprises, their characteristics, ownership, organizational structure, and investment behavior; and economic censuses of the outlying areas, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which are taken every 5 years.

Service Sector Statistics Division – Formulates and develops overall plans and programs for the collection, processing, and dissemination of statistical data from special and current surveys and censuses regarding business enterprises engaged primarily in the distribution of goods and services. Performs non-mechanical processing for current division programs. Conducts research and prepares analytical reports, monographs, and special studies. Develops overall plans and programs for the collection, processing, and dissemination of statistical data from surveys or censuses relating to the transportation industry.

Foreign Trade Division – Formulates and develops overall plans and programs for the collection, processing, review, linkage with other economic data, and dissemination of statistical data regarding various aspects of the export and import trade of the United States. Plans and develops computer systems for processing foreign trade data and directs non-mechanical processing for division programs. Maintains international commodity classification systems and conducts methods research on assigned programs, including international comparability of trade statistics. Establishes and monitors quality assurance programs. Prepares reports, monographs, and special studies.

Governments Division – Formulates and develops overall plans and programs for the collection, processing, and dissemination of statistical data from special and current surveys and censuses regarding state and local governments. Plans and develops systems and prepares computer programs for the processing equipment. Conducts research on governmental operations and finances. Prepares analytical reports, monographs, and special studies.

Manufacturing and Construction Division – Formulates and develops plans and projects for an integrated statistical data program related to the construction industries and activities and manufacturing and mineral industries and commodities, including the collection, processing, and dissemination of comprehensive data from censuses and monthly, quarterly, and annual surveys. Conducts methodological support and research activities.

Decennial Management Division – Provides overall direction in implementing Census 2000 under the direction of the Associate Director for Decennial Census. Directs Census 2000 operations and project management overall systems integration activities. Monitors the allocation of financial resources of the Decennial Directorate. Maintains the Census 2000 Management Information System. Provides computer support for Census 2000 and supports Census 2000 efforts to establish partnerships with state, local, and tribal government.

Decennial Systems Contracts Management Office – Manages the development and implementation of major Census 2000 contracts, including development and implementation of the data capture system, acquisition and hardware, software, telecommunications, and integration services required to support the temporary offices, acquisition of other support, such as printing of census forms and conduct of telephone questionnaire assistance. Ensures that all requirements, functions, and system interfaces for contracted systems are identified and compatible; ensures that all hardware and software is adequate and that all changes are controlled. Monitors the cost, schedule and technical performance milestones for each system and ensures appropriate standards and supportability requirements are established and met. Manages development of software and systems necessary to support collection, processing, and tabulation systems, including management of a Beta site contract to support this integration effort.

Geography Division – Plans, coordinates, and administers all geographic and cartographic activities needed to facilitate the Census Bureau’s statistical programs throughout the United States and its territories. Manages the Census Bureau’s programs to continuously update the features, boundaries, and geographic entities in its nationwide, automated geographic support system called TIGER—the Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing System—and its Master Address File (MAF). Conducts research into geographic concepts, methods, and standards needed to facilitate the Census Bureau’s data collection and data dissemination programs. Devises systems and methodologies to provide specialized maps, geographic reports, and computer files for publication and electronic dissemination. Provides expert advice on geographic and cartographic methods and practices appropriate for statistical programs.

Decennial Statistical Studies Division – Develops and coordinates the application of mathematical statistical techniques in the design and conduct of decennial censuses.

Demographic Surveys Division – Plans and develops specifications, surveys design, and methodology for and provides technical direction over, the development of statistical data collection in current and special surveys. Plans and develops systems and prepares computer programs for the processing of applicable data on electronic data processing equipment. Performs non-mechanical processing for special surveys and conducts surveys and methodology studies for other agencies.

Housing and Household Economic Statistical Division – Formulates and develops overall plans and programs for the collection, processing, and dissemination of statistical data on the current and projected housing and socioeconomic characteristics of the nation. Conducts analytical research and prepares special analytical and interpretative reports, monographs and special studies. Plans and develops specifications for clerical and computer processing of housing and socioeconomic data.

Demographic Statistical Methods Division – Develops and coordinates the application of mathematical statistical techniques in the design and conduct of statistical surveys in the demographic fields.

Population Division – Formulates and develops overall plans and programs for the collection, processing, and dissemination of national and international statistical data from special and current surveys and censuses. Prepares estimates and projections of the population. Plans and develops systems and prepares computer programs for the processing of population data on electronic data processing equipment. Conducts special studies and publishes analytical reports and monographs. Directs the International Programs Center.

Computer Assisted Survey Research Office – Develops policy recommendations and provides overall coordination for research and testing activities related to Bureau efforts to use automation and telecommunications to integrate the collection, capture, processing and dissemination of data. Recommends and coordinates, as appropriate, the development of concepts, approaches, schedules, organizational restructuring, selection of hardware, development and/or acquisition of software, funding; and evaluations.

Planning and Research and Evaluation Division – Provides technical expertise and executive leadership to the planning of future censuses and surveys, the coordination of policy and program-related activities for future censuses: researching the operational feasibility of using administrative records in census and survey programs; evaluating major phases of census work; and performing analyses on proposed methods for improving census coverage, data quality, timeliness, statistical enhancements, and cost effectiveness.

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Page Last Modified: July 15, 2008