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About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Representing your ideas—and interests—in Washington for nearly a century.

Mission Statement  |  The Policymaking Process  |  Programs and Affiliates


The Associated Press called the U.S. Chamber “the country’s most influential trade association”.  (1/11/2011)

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations. More than 96% of U.S. Chamber members are small businesses with 100 employees or fewer.

As the voice of business, the Chamber's core purpose is to fight for free enterprise before Congress, the White House, regulatory agencies, the courts, the court of public opinion, and governments around the world.

A January 2010 public opinion survey conducted by Harris Interactive found that Americans rank the U.S. Chamber of Commerce among the top five best-known and respected organizations in Washington. The Chamber consistently leads the pack on lobbying expenditures.

From its headquarters near the White House, the Chamber maintains a professional staff of hundreds of the nation's top policy experts, lobbyists, lawyers, and communicators. Special initiatives covering energy, infrastructure, education and training, and workforce rules help drive the pro-business agenda.

The Chamber is also active in shaping legal policy through its in-house law firm, the National Chamber Litigation Center (NCLC), and through the Institute for Legal Reform (ILR).

The Chamber's International Division works in collaboration with more than 100 American Chambers of Commerce in countries around the world. The Chamber also runs the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), a program of the National Endowment for Democracy.

Through its growing network of grassroots business activists, the Chamber makes a tremendous impact educating voters, turning out the business vote, and advancing legislation on Capitol Hill.

Over the past year, the Chamber hosted more than 2,500 programs, meetings, seminars, and forums with various participants, including members of the Obama administration, members of Congress, and dozens of international leaders.

The Chamber continues to drive the agenda on job creation through its Campaign for Free Enterprise, a comprehensive, multiyear campaign to support free enterprise through national advertising; grassroots advocacy; citizen, community, and youth engagement; and research and ideas leadership.

The leadership is equally diverse, with more than 100 corporate and small business leaders from all sectors serving on the board of directors.

If your organization is not a member of the U.S. Chamber, there are plenty of reasons it should be. Learn more about chamber,  association, and business membership.

Mission Statement

"To advance human progress through an economic, political and social system based on individual freedom, incentive, initiative, opportunity, and responsibility."

The Policymaking Process

The fundamental activity of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is to develop and implement policy on major issues affecting business. Key to this effort is the work of committees, subcommittees, task forces, and councils involving more than 1,500 representatives of member corporations, organizations, and the academic community who serve voluntarily. In almost every instance, significant policy and public issue positions originate with one of these Chamber components. Learn more about the Chamber's policymaking process.

Programs and Affiliates

  • Business Civic Leadership Center - an organization devoted to facilitating corporate civic and humanitarian initiatives.
  • The Center for International Private Enterprise - a Chamber-led project of the National Endowment for Democracy that helps emerging nations develop the free market practices and institutions they need to succeed in the global economy.
  • The Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness - to maintain and advance America's global leadership in capital formation by supporting capital markets that are the most fair, efficient, and innovative in the world.
  • Friends of the U.S. Chamber - Friends of the U.S. Chamber is composed of Americans like you from every walk of life - people who want to make a difference and are committed to ensuring the strength of our economy, especially in these challenging times. In a time defined by talk of change, Friends of the U.S. Chamber is a way to make it happen. Demand action by joining us today.
  • The Global Intellectual Property Center - to champion intellectual property as vital to creating jobs, saving lives, advancing global economic growth, and generating breakthrough solutions to global challenges.
  • The International Division - our trade and foreign affairs experts who work to lower barriers and expand our members' commercial interests across the globe.
  • The Institute for a Competitive Workforce - the Chamber affiliate that focuses on workforce development and education issues.
  • The Institute for Legal Reform - the Chamber affiliate that challenges lawsuit abuse on many fronts, fights for legal reform legislation, and educates voters in state judicial and attorney general races.
  • The National Chamber Foundation - our public policy think tank that drives the debate, develops the data and arguments, and influences policy options on the most critical business issues.
  • The National Chamber Litigation Center - our law firm that defends business interests and sues government agencies.
  • The Political Program - the Chamber's aggressive political action component that endorses, supports, raises money, and turns out the vote for pro-business congressional candidates from both parties who are engaged in key races.
  • TradeRoots - a sustained grassroots trade education program supporting free trade legislation and helping chambers, communities, and governors assist small and medium-size companies to expand into the global marketplace.
  • U.S. Chamber Small Business Nation - U.S. Chamber Small Business Nation is a community that was founded on the open exchange of information and ideas, while creating the opportunity for small businesses to speak with a unified voice. Bringing together America's small businesses – the engine of economic growth – will strengthen individual endeavors while amplifying the collective voice of business. Join the conversation today!