Abstract
The Census Bureau of the United States is one of the key Federal Agencies that enhance activities of the government. The Census Bureau is mandated to perform different roles, mainly focusing on the collection of information used by development stakeholders including the government to formulate appropriate policies. The data collected by the Census Bureau also provides an overview of the overall development status of the United States. For instance, it depicts overall economic performance of the entire country or particular social challenges experienced by communities across the country. The roles of census bureau agencies have been appreciated by several countries across the globe. Besides, it will provide a brief history of the agency, including its achievements. Also, the paper provides a discussion regarding the U.S Census Bureau, its mission statement, plans and operational budget. It will also provide a discussion concerning adjudicating, enforcement authority and rulemaking authority of the Census Bureau.
The United States Census Bureau
Mission Statement
The main mission of the United States Census Bureau is to act as the leading source of high quality data concerning the nation’s economic facets as well as the population (United Census Bureau). The agency is driven by the desire respects individual information privacy and confidentiality. Besides, the United States Census Bureau appreciates information dissemination, particularly on issues the affect global economy as well as the population. This is one of the primary reasons the agency ensures that it implements its roles in an open manner (United Census Bureau).
Vision and Values
The Agency appreciates scientific objectivity as well as the appropriate use of its capable workforce to undertake research-oriented innovations (United Census Bureau). Also, it is driven by the need to stay committed towards the fulfilment of the organizational goals and objectives. In this regard, it focuses on achieving the most appropriate and high quality data on a timely basis to enhance development policymaking (United Census Bureau).
History of the United States Census Bureau
August 2nd, 1790 was the first day of the United States Census. It was one year after the inauguration ceremony that was performed to usher President Washington Bush into office. The Census was performed a few months before the second Congressional Session ended. The United States Marshals were assigned the responsibility of undertaking the 1790 Census by the U.S Congress. The Marshals were affiliated to Judicial District and were allowed to exhibit minor extensions or modification in their efforts to collect the census data. Governed census activities take place until 1840; historical evidence indicates that the United States Law stipulated the importance of ensuring that each household was visited (United Census Bureau). The Census information was posted on public places, where they could be accessed by the United States Populace.
Furthermore, the United States Congress stipulated the need to ensure that Census data was disseminated to the sitting President. Historians have mentioned that the 1790 was characterized several issues; for example, six inquiries were made from the head of each household or from any member of each household (United Census Bureau). The Marshalls were also instructed to indicate the number of free white males who were 16 years and above. This age group was considered a potential for military recruitment. Also, there was need to indicate the number of Free white males below the age of 16 years as well as the number of free white females (United Census Bureau). The Marshals were instructed to note the number of any free person including Slaves. However, under the leadership of Thomas Jefferson as the then Secretary of State, U.S Marshals were required to undertake census from 13 states including Maine, Vermont and Kentucky as well as Tennessee (United Census Bureau). Even though the 1790 Census exercise exhibited tremendous success, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington indicated scepticism concerning the final results; this is because they were expecting the number to exceed the 3.9 million inhabitants who had been counted (United Census Bureau).
Roles of the United States Census Bureau Agency
The primary role of the U.S Census Bureau is to collect data; it collects six aspects of data that is released to the general public and other policymakers. For example, the agency collects Decennial Census regarding U.S Housing and Population (United Census Bureau). This process involves collecting data concerning every resident of the United States; it is undertaken every ten years. The purpose of the decennial census is to indicate the population characteristics of the United States and the direction of the population in terms of human development. This information is vital for development policymaking i.e. formulation of plans to build hospitals, construct roads or build schools. Research indicates that the data is used by the U.S Government to allocate development funds (United Census Bureau).
The other aspect of census data collected by the Census Bureau Agency is economic census; it is performed after every five years to assess the performance of businesses in the United States and the overall economic performance. Besides, the agency is responsible for the collection of Census of Governments which assesses the scope and extent of the nation’s local as well as state governments together with public employment conditions, public finance and classification (United Census Bureau).
The United States Census Bureau is also responsible for undertaking American Community Survey; this survey is performed on an annual basis and focuses on sampling on minor percentages of the U.S Population (United Census Bureau). Consequently, it provides data regarding various economic indicators across the United States; for example, indicators of monthly wholesale trade, shipments and manufacturing as well as international trade factors.
Demographics of the United States Census Bureau Agency
Employees
The Census Bureau has its headquarters located in Suitland; the headquarters has been operational since 1942. Currently, there are about 4,285 members of staff that are responsible for the implementation of the agency’s objectives (United Census Bureau). It is considered an affiliate of the United States Department of Commerce; besides, its activities are supervised by ESA (Economics and Statistics Administration). The agency is managed by a John Thompson, who is the director. There are also executive members, for example, the Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, Potok Nancy; the agency has an Associate Director for Performance, Ted Johnson and; the Associate Director for Communications led by Jeannie Shiffer among other executive members (United Census Bureau). During census programs, the company employs temporary census takers; the number of census takers employed varies during the census periods. For instance, the year 1790, there were about 650 Marshals who acted as census takers. In the most recent census activity, that is, in 2010, the agency employed about 635,000 census takers (United Census Bureau).
Agency’s Targeted Audience
The General Public: The U.S Census Agency targets the United States population as one of its key audience. The agency recognizes the importance of informing the general public concerning issues ascribed to demographical changes (United Census Bureau). This approach is considered imperative considering the fact that it provides a platform for the participation of the public, particularly when making policies that have direct impact on various communities or individuals.
The United States Government: The government is also a target audience for the agency. The Census Bureau appreciates the fact that the US government is a key stakeholder in development activities. For example, the government depends on demographic data, economic and community data to determine the amount of resources required in each category (United Census Bureau). This is one of the reasons the agency ensures that census data is transmitted to relevant government stakeholders i.e. stakeholders in the health sector et cetera. The data is also made available to the United States President to enhance development decision-making.
Non-Governmental Development Agencies: Census data generated by the agency is not only important to the general public and U.S Government, but is also crucial to other non-governmental organization (United Census Bureau). For instance, information generated by the Census Bureau can be used by organizations such as the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); these organizations depend on the data to make pertinent decisions concerning resource allocation, implementation of project activities et cetera. Furthermore, information generation by the United States Census data is used by non-governmental organizations such as CDC to determine particular areas that are in need of help in the country.
Plans and Budget
Operational Plans: Census Bureau operates through annual plans and fiscal budgets. Currently, it operates under a five year strategic plan that was implemented in 2013 (United Census Bureau). One of the key goals of the current five-year plan is to enhance excellence through collection and dissemination of high quality, reliable and relevant information. In addition, the Census Bureau currently focuses on achieving customer service excellence by creating a positive rapport with members of the public and other key stakeholders. Organizational excellence is another major goal that the agency aspires to achieve in its current five-year plan; this goal will be achieved by enhancing its anticipatory strategies, improving cost-efficient operations, responsiveness as well as adaptability (United Census Bureau). Consequently, in its five-year strategic plan, the company strives to achieve workforce excellence through encouraging workforce diversity, provision of appropriate skills, motivation and allocation of right duties/jobs. By achieving these goals, the agency will be in a position to facilitate development processes across the United States by disseminating imperative development information (United Census Bureau).
Fiscal Budget: The agency has requested a budget of $1.5 billion to facilitate activities undertaken by the Department of Commerce. In its justification of the budget, it indicates that allocation of the funds will enhance the capacity of the Department of Commerce to achieve its Goals, for example, increasing the number of job opportunities, improving scientific research across the United States and generating accurate data (United Census Bureau). The Census Bureau has also justified the budget, arguing that it will enhance development policymaking and improve trading activities. It is important to acknowledge that the current budget has seen tremendous increment compared to the previous years. For example, in 2011, the agency requested funds from the federal government amounting to $1.0 billion (United Census Bureau).
The current fiscal budget is expected to support activities of the agency for a period of four years, that is, from 2013 to 2014. Even though the current budget is relatively high, the agency has placed emphasis that it is committed to ensure cost-efficient operations as well as the generation of high quality data. The discretionary budget for the Census Bureau is also expected in the forthcoming years from the current $663 million. For instance, the agency has projected that the 2017 discretionary budget will be about $910 million while a discretionary budget increment in 2018 is expected to reach $1.8 billion (United Census Bureau).
Organization’s Rule Making Authority
The United States Census Bureau Agency is an affiliate organization to the United States Federal Statistical Authority. All departments that are affiliated with the Federal Statistical System are mandated to provide appropriate data for economic and social policymaking process. However, the rulemaking authority for the Census Bureau is the United States Department of Commerce. The Department of Commerce was commissioned by the current U.S President, Barrack Obama (United Census Bureau). The primary of objective of this department is to encourage or facilitate economic development by increasing job opportunities and improving living standards. Furthermore, the department of Commerce has the responsibility to development various aspects of infrastructure across the United States; the department considers infrastructure as tools of economic development. Besides, it promotes technological advancements as well as competitiveness. However, to develop these socio-economic aspects, the department depends on demographic and economic information; therefore, the role of the Census Bureau comes in handy. Information gathered by the agency is used to facilitate economic decision-making processes including the formulation of industrial benchmarks, guidelines and standards (United Census Bureau).
The Operational guidelines implemented by the Department of Commerce are not only applicable to the Census Bureau Agency, but also other Bureaus such as the Economic Analysis Bureau et cetera. The Department of Commerce is also responsible for the formulation of the Bureau’s operational plans and fiscal budgets (United Census Bureau). Additionally, the Department of Commerce creates a platform for networking between the Census Bureau and other key stakeholders including government agencies (United Census Bureau).
Census Bureau Policies: The Census Bureau is guided by certain internal policies; for instance, it has implemented policies that are focused towards the protection of privacy of information collected during Census programs. The protection of the privacy of information complies with certain Federal laws such as the Privacy Act; this act provides a code of fair data practices that guide the use, collection and dissemination (“Privacy Act Of 1974”). The Privacy act also requires concerned stakeholders including Federal Agencies to provide public notices regarding structures of records available within the Federal Registers (“Privacy Act Of 1974”).
Enforcement Authority
Activities performed by the United States Census Bureau are enforced by different stakeholders as discussed below:
The Census Advisory Committee: The main role of this committee is to administer, manager and provide direction to the activities performed by the United States Census Bureau (United Census Bureau). The committee also provides a forum where the agency’s director interacts with other key stakeholders so that they can exchange information regarding strategies that will improve operations of the agency such as data collection, decennial census, surveys et cetera. The committee also offers extensive pieces of advice to the director and engage in discussions with a primary purpose of addressing various aspects of policies that affect its operations. Besides, the Census Advisory Committee ensures that there is implementation of research oriented activities, geared towards identification of cost-efficient operational techniques (United Census Bureau). The Census Advisory Committee was formed by the Secretary of Commerce and is required to comply with the operational standards set by the Federal Advisory Committee (United Census Bureau).
“The Federal Economic Statistics Advisory Committee”: Similarly, this committee is responsible for advising Census Bureau Director and other relevant directors concerning issues ascribed to data collection and census. Moreover, the committee is mandated to ensure that it undertakes regular meetings with key stakeholders regarding demographical development, economics as well as social aspects of the United States (United Census Bureau). Through the Census Information Centre, the agency is capable of engaging in partnerships with other relevant stakeholders to ensure that local communities are provided with appropriate training, information access as well as effective technical support (United Census Bureau). This strategy is considered key to the success of various under-served communities as it improves their capacities to perform planning and development decision-making.
Adjudication Authority
The Census Bureau is mandated by Title 12 as well as the 26th Title of the United States Constitution Code:
References
“13 U.S. Code § 191 - Geographic Scope of Censuses.” LII / Legal Information Institute. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/13/191 (April 13, 2016)
“Privacy Act Of 1974.” https://www.justice.gov/opcl/privacy-act-1974 (April 13, 2016).
“History.” Title 26, U.S. Code. https://www.census.gov/history/www/reference/privacy_confidentiality/title_26_us_code_1.html (April 13, 2016).
United Census Bureau. “What We Do.” https://www.census.gov/about/what.html (April 13, 2016).
