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Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency Sixth Edition (2017) / Chapter Skim
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Principle 4: Independence from Political and Other Undue External Influence
Pages 51-54

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From page 51...
... It is also essential that a statistical agency have a widely acknowledged position of independence from political and other undue external influence in developing, producing, and disseminating statistics, together with the necessary authority to protect independence (see Practice 2)
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From page 52...
... and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) , were changed from presidential appointees with Senate confirmation (the NCES commissioner 34 Agencies headed by career civil servants, many of whom hold their positions for long periods of time, include the Bureau of Economic Analysis; the Bureau of Transportation Statistics; the Economic Research Service in the U.S.
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From page 53...
... In addition, it can be helpful when a specified percentage of a department's budget is set aside for its statistical agency, which signals the importance of the statistical agency function. While such organizational aspects as direct access to the secretary of the agency's department and separate budgetary authority facilitate a strong position of independence, they are neither necessary nor sufficient.
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  • civil servant
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  • professional judgment
  • rungs below
  • organizational aspects
  • administrative rungs
  • civil servants

  • agricultural statistics
  • external input
  • budgetary authority
  • parent department
  • changed statistical


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