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Directory Survey of Local Governments
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DIRECTORY SURVEY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
PURPOSE
To identify local governments for the Census of Governments, and provide selected data on local governments. The United States Code, Title 13, authorizes this survey and provides for voluntary responses.
COVERAGE
Special district governments. A government organization must be an identifiable entity, have a governmental character, be active at the start of the census year, and operate with substantial autonomy.
CONTENT
Data collected include information on name and addresses, functions performed (such as education, health services, and police protection), board composition, authorizing legislation, and internet prescence.
FREQUENCY
Government organization data and information are for October of the year preceding the Census (2006, 2001, and so forth). Employment data are for October of the year preceding the Census. The census has been conducted every five years since 1957, for years ending in "2" and "7" (as part of the Census Bureau's periodic Economic Censuses). Reference periods for data vary by census phase.
METHODS
The survey consists of a pre-census directory survey of the more than 89,000 local governments. It includes extensive legal research into government structure by state, as well as a mail-out/mail-back survey, and produces an updated list of all local governments and selected data.
PRODUCTS
Public releases include electronic files followed by printed reports. Printed format includes Volume 1, No 1: Government Organization.
USES
The primary uses include a comprehensive description of state and local government organization in the United States as well as a frame for both the Census of Governments, and its annual surveys.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Provides the only source of periodic information that identifies and describes all units of government in the U.S. and reflects the use of nationally consistent definitions and classifications.
RELATED PROGRAMS
Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances
Annual Public Employment Survey
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