Every ten years, the U.S. census discover some pretty surprising facts about the country. Like, in 2010, more than 53,000 Americans reported being centenarians – being centenarians that’s right, over 100 years old! But even more interesting is that the census is conducted by the Department of Commerce. Commerce? What’s that all about? Let’s go back to when the country was in its infancy, and the Constitution first gave Congress the power to regulate the sale and movement of products, both nationally and internationally. As the economy evolved from one based on agriculture, to one based on industry, the gap between wealthy business owners who controlled the vast majority of the nation’s wealt and underpaid workers grew wider every year. At the beginning of the 20th century, newly elected President Theodore Roosevelt was determined to wrangle the economy into shape, so everyone had a “Square Deal.” So, in 1903, he established the Department of Commerce and Labor. Its mission included boosting the economy, creating jobs, staying ahead in technology, promoting trade, and even taking care of marine life and coastlines. In 1913, Labor got its own department. Today, the DoC’s work impacts citizens in many interesting ways. By studying market changes, the department works to keep the U.S. economy competitive. By managing the Weather Service, It helps the country to prepare for natural disasters, monitors the climate and supports marine commerce. And by conducting the census, the government can track population changes, which helps determine the number of House of Representatives seats for each state. You don't need to live for a century to see that the Department of Commerce has a considerable impact on the U.S. economy and the lives of countless American citizens. What tools can the DoC use to create a higher standard of living for Americans?