BUREAU

BUREAU n. (plural bureaus or bureaux) 1. North American a chest of drawers. • British a writing desk with drawers and typically an angled top openingdownward to form a writing surface. 2 (abbreviation bur.) an office or department for transacting particular business: a news bureau | the London bureau of the Washington Post. • a government department: the intelligence bureau.

BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS, AND EXPLOSIVES. A unit in the Department of Homeland Security responsible for enforcing laws relating to firearms and explosives and laws relating to the production, taxation, and distribution of alcohol and tobacco products. Formerly called the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and a part of the Department of the Treasury, its law-enforcement functions were transferred in the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Pub. L. 107-296.

BUREAU OF ARMS CONTROL. Unit in the US Department of State responsible for directing US participation in multilateral arms control negotiations and in the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. It also monitors developments relating to arms control and weapons development. 

BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS. A unit in the US Department of State responsible for protecting US citizens and interests abroad. Through its Office of Passport Services it issues over 7 million passports each year. 

BUREAU OF DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND LABOR. A unit in the US Department of State responsible for developing policy on human rights and freedoms and for preparing the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. 

BUREAU OF DIPLOMATIC SECURITY. A unit of the US Department of State responsible for protecting the Secretary of State and domestic and foreign dignitaries, for investigating criminal activities, such as identity-document fraud involving US passports and visas, and for developing security programs for protecting diplomats and American interests worldwide. The Bureau employs special agents (members of the US Foreign Service) who are located throughout the United States and in scores of embassies worldwide. It also operates the Diplomatic Courier Service and supervises the transportation of classified documents and materials. Also termed Diplomatic Security Service. 

BUREAU OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS. A unit in the US Department of Commerce responsible for compiling and analyzing data about the US economy. It is a part of the Department's Economics and Statistics Administration. 

BUREAU OF ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS AFFAIRS. A unit in the US Department of State responsible for developing policy on international matters relating to food, communications, energy, air, transportation, and maritime affairs. 

BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING. A unit in the US Department of the Treasury responsible for designating and printing the countries paper currency, postage stamps, treasury securities, and other documents. 

BUREAU OF EXPORT ADMINISTRATION. The former name of a bureau in the US Department of Commerce that issues export licenses and enforces export control laws. The units name was changed in 2002 to the Bureau of Industry and Security. 

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. A unit in the US Department of the Interior responsible for helping Indian and Alaskan native people manage their affairs under the trust relationship with the US, and for promoting programs for their benefit. Originally created as part of the War Department in 1824, the bureau was transferred to the Interior Department in 1849. 

BUREAU OF INDUSTRY OF SECURITY. A unit in the US Department of Commerce responsible for issuing export licenses and enforcing export control laws. The bureau is charged with furthering US national security, foreign policy, and economic interests, while furthering the growth of US exports. It was named the Bureau of Export Administration until 2002. 

BUREAU OF INTELLIGENCE AND RESEARCH. A unit in the US Department of State responsible for coordinating activities of US intelligence agencies to ensure consistency with US foreign policy. The bureau also monitors foreign public and media opinions. 

BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL LABOR AFFAIRS. A unit in the US Department of Labor responsible for helping formulate policy on international matters that affect American workers. For example, the bureau compiles and publishes worldwide data on child labor practices and on foreign labor markets and programs. It also studies the labor consequences of immigration, proposals, and legislation. 

BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. A unit in the US Department of State responsible for coordinating the narcotics and anti-crime assistance activities of the department and for advising the President, the Secretary of State, and others on international narcotics matters. 

BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION AFFAIRS. A unit in the US Department of State responsible for coordinating US diplomatic participation in the United Nations and other international organizations and conferences.

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. An independent agency in the US Department of Labor responsible for compiling and analyzing statistical information on unemployment and the economy. The bureau reports on employment, unemployment, consumer and producer prices, consumer expenditures, import and export prices, wages and employee benefits, productivity and technological change, employment projections, and occupational illness and injury. 

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. The unit within the US Department of the Interior responsible for managing the national resource lands (some 450,000,000 acres) and their resources and for administering the mineral resources connected with acquired land and the submerged lands of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The bureau was established on July 16, 1946, by consolidating the General Land Office (established in 1812) and the Grazing Service (established in 1934). See 43 USCA SS 1731 et seq. Abbr. BLM.

BUREAU OF NONPROLIFERATION. A unit in the US Department of State responsible for leading efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, delivery systems, and advanced conventional arms. Also termed Nonproliferation Bureau. 

BUREAU OF OCEANS AND INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS. A unit in the US Department of State responsible for coordinating US ocean, environment, and health policies. 

BUREAU OF POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS. A unit in the US Department of State responsible for analyzing defense related policy issues, managing security-assistance funds, and coordinating peacekeeping and humanitarian operations. Also termed Political Military-Affairs Bureau. 

BUREAU OF POPULATION, REFUGEES, MIGRATION. A unit in the US Department of State responsible for formulating policy and administering US assistance and admissions programs for refugees and others. 

BUREAU OF PRISONS. The unit in the US Department of Justice responsible for operating the federal prison system. It oversees all federal penal and correctional facilities, assists states and local governments in improving their correctional facilities, and provides notice of prisoner releases. 18 USCA SS 4041 et seq.

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION. A unit in the US Department of the Interior that built dams in 17 western states and is now responsible for selling hydroelectric power from those dams and water from the reservoirs. Among the 600 dams constructed are Hoover Dam and Grand Coulee Dam. 

BUREAU OF THE CENSUS. A unit in the US Department of Commerce responsible for conducting and publishing the census as required by the US Constitution to be taken every 10 years. Established in 1902, the bureau also conducts other population surveys and estimates as required by law. It is a part of the Department's Economics and Statistics Administration. Also termed Census Bureau. 

BUREAU OF THE PUBLIC DEBT. A unit in the US Department of the Treasury responsible for issuing and redeeming treasury bills, notes, and bonds, and for managing the US savings bond program. 

BUREAU OF TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS. A unit in the US Department of Transportation responsible for compiling and publishing transportation statistics.