U.S. Department of Commerce

Commerce, U.S. Department of, executive department of the U.S. government responsible for commercial policies and programs, formed in 1913, when the former Department of Commerce and Labor (established 1903) was divided in 2. It is headed by the secretary of commerce, a member of the cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The secretary is the president's chief adviser on federal policies affecting commerce and industry. Principal divisions of the department are: Office of Business Economics, Bureau of Foreign Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Business and Defense Services Administration, Coast and Geodetic Survey, and National Bureau of Standards.