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The '''United States Department of Commerce''' is one of the fifteen departments comprising the [[Cabinet]] of the United States. The department's mission is "is to help make American businesses more innovative at home and more competitive abroad."<ref>[http://www.commerce.gov United States Department of Commerce] US Department of Commerce, retrieved 04/26/2011</ref> It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor in 1903. It was renamed in 1913, and the labor division was transferred to the newly created Department of Labor.  The current secretary of the Commerce Department is [[Gary Locke]]<ref>[http://www.commerce.gov/about-commerce/commerce-leadership/secretary-gary-locke Secretary Gary Locke|Department of Commerce] US Department of Commerce, retrieved 04/26/2011</ref>

The '''United States Department of Commerce''' is one of the fifteen departments comprising the [[Cabinet]] of the United States. The department's mission is "is to help make American businesses more innovative at home and more competitive abroad."<ref>[http://www.commerce.gov United States Department of Commerce] US Department of Commerce, retrieved 04/26/2011</ref> It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor in 1903. It was renamed in 1913, and the labor division was transferred to the newly created Department of Labor.  The current secretary of the Commerce Department is [[Wilbur Ross]], as of 2017.  

==Responsibilities==

==Responsibilities==

Additionally, the secretary of the Department of Commerce is the 10th person in the [[Presidential Line of Succession]].

Additionally, the secretary of the Department of Commerce is the 10th person in the [[Presidential Line of Succession]].

==Current Administration==

==Recent history==

President [[Obama]] had trouble succeeding in confirming a Secretary.  His first nominee, Governor [[Bill Richardson]] withdrew himself after several of his donors were investigated by the federal government.  His second nominee, [[Judd Gregg]], cited irreconcilable problems with the 2010 Census and economic stimulus bill, and also withdrew from the nomination.  The current secretary and third nominee, [[Gary Locke]], was approved by the Senate on March 24, 2009.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/24/senate-confirms-locke-commerce-secretary/ Senate Confirms Locke for Commerce Secretary] Fox News, 03/24/2009</ref>   

President [[Obama]] had trouble succeeding in confirming a Secretary.  His first nominee, Governor [[Bill Richardson]] withdrew himself after several of his donors were investigated by the federal government.  His second nominee, [[Judd Gregg]], cited irreconcilable problems with the 2010 Census and economic stimulus bill, and also withdrew from the nomination.  The current secretary and third nominee, [[Gary Locke]], was approved by the Senate on March 24, 2009.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/24/senate-confirms-locke-commerce-secretary/ Senate Confirms Locke for Commerce Secretary] Fox News, 03/24/2009</ref>