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
<