U.S. Department of Commerce

The U.S. Department of Commerce is one of more than a dozen U.S. executive-branch government agencies; this one administers programs and rules having to do with economic development and technological advancement. The head of the agency is the Secretary of Commerce, who is appointed by each president at the beginning of their administration (subject to Senate approval) and is usually invited to be a member of the President's cabinet

Among the Department's sub-agencies are:

• Bureau of Industry and Security
• Economics and Statistics Administration
  • Bureau of the Census
  • Bureau of Economic Analysis
• Economic Development Administration
• International Trade Administration
• Minority Business Development Agency
• National Institute of Standards and Technology
• National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
• National Technical Information Service
• National Telecommunications and Information Administration
• Patent and Trademark Office