The
United States Census Bureau (officially the
Bureau of the Census, as defined in Title) is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System responsible for producing data about the
American people and
economy.
The primary mission of the Census Bureau is conducting the
U.S. Census every ten years, which allocates the seats of the
U.S. House of Representatives to the
states based on their population. In addition to the decennial census, the Census Bureau continually conducts dozens of other
censuses and
surveys, including the
American Community Survey, the U.S. Economic Census, and the
Current Population Survey. Furthermore, economic and foreign trade indicators released by the federal government typically contain data produced by the Census Bureau. All together, the censuses and surveys conducted by the Census Bureau help allocate over $400 billion in federal funds every year and help
states, local communities, and businesses make informed decisions.
The Census Bureau is situated within the
U.S. Department of Commerce and its
director is appointed by the
President of the United States.