Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency

Government statistics are widely used to inform decisions by policymakers, program administrators, businesses and other organizations as well as households and the general public. Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency, Seventh Edition will assist statistical agencies and units, as well as other agencies engaged in statistical activities, to carry out their responsibilities to provide accurate, timely, relevant, and objective information for public and policy use. This report will also inform legislative and executive branch decision makers, data users, and others about the characteristics of statistical agencies that enable them to serve the public good.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
SUMMARY
PART I: Introduction
THE VALUE OF NATIONAL STATISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES
FEDERAL STATISTICAL AGENCIES AND UNITS
THE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL STATISTICS AND THIS REPORT
PART II: Principles
PRINCIPLE 1: Relevance to Policy Issues and Society
PRINCIPLE 2: Credibility Among Data Users and Stakeholders
PRINCIPLE 3: Trust Among the Public and Data Providers
PRINCIPLE 4: Independence from Political and Other Undue External Influence
PRINCIPLE 5: Continual Improvement and Innovation
PART III: Practices
Practice 1: A Clearly Defined and Well-Accepted Mission
Practice 2: Necessary Authority and Procedures to Protect Independence
Practice 3: Commitment to Quality and Professional Standards of Practice
Practice 4: Professional Advancement of Staff
Practice 5: An Active Research Program
Practice 6: Strong Internal and External Evaluation Processes for an Agency's Statistical Programs
Practice 7: Coordination and Collaboration with Other Statistical Agencies
Practice 8: Respect for Data Providers and Protection of Their Data
Practice 9: Dissemination of Statistical Products That Meet Users' Needs
Practice 10: Openness About Sources and Limitations of the Data Provided
REFERENCES
APPENDIX A: Legislation and Regulations That Govern Federal Statistics
APPENDIX B: Organization of the Federal Statistical System
APPENDIX C: Some International Frameworks and Guidance Relevant for Federal Statistics
Committee on National Statistics