U.S. Census Bureau
The Federal Geographic Data Committee

Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)
Subcommittee on Cultural and Demographic Data (SCDD) Charter


U,S Census Bureau

Table of Contents

U.S Census Bureau

I. PURPOSE OF THE EXHIBIT

This exhibit designates the lead agency for the coordination of Federal agency activities related to geospatially referenced cultural and demographic data financed in whole or part by Federal funds and defines the responsibilities of the Subcommittee on Cultural and Demographic Data (SCDD) in establishing mechanisms for coordinated development, use, sharing, and dissemination of these data.

II. AUTHORITY

Under the authority granted by the Office of Management and Budget in its Circular A-16, as revised in October, 1990, the responsibility to coordinate government-wide activities related to cultural and demographic geospatially referenced data is assigned to the Department of Commerce. This government-wide leadership for the coordination of cultural and demographic geospatially referenced data is carried out under the policy guidance and oversight of the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC). Pertinent enabling authority also resides in the language of the acts, codes, mandates, and so forth defining the functions and responsibilities of the member agencies, as follows:

III. LEAD AGENCY

The Department of Commerce, exercising its responsibility for the coordination, management, and dissemination of cultural and demographic geospatially referenced data, delegates lead agency responsibility to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Census Bureau will develop and implement a plan to coordinate activities related to cultural and demographic spatial data among Federal and non-Federal agencies and will report on its activities to the FGDC. In carrying out its government-wide leadership in coordinating these data categories, the Census Bureau is directly responsible to the FGDC and will ensure compliance with the objectives and guidance it provides.

IV. SUBCOMMITTEE

The SCDD is established under the authority granted by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in its revised Circular A-16 to coordinate government-wide activities related to cultural and demographic geospatially referenced data under the policy guidance and oversight of the FGDC. Coordinating government-wide activities includes development and maintenance of government-wide standards for the description, documentation, and exchange of specific geospatially referenced data categories.

V. MEMBERSHIP

The SCDD shall consist of representatives designated by the Federal agencies 1) that collect, or finance the collection of, cultural and demographic geospatially referenced data as part of their mission or 2) that have direct application of these data through legislated mandate. Agency representatives are expected to be persons who are knowledgeable about the use of cultural and demographic geospatially referenced data within their organization. Each member agency of the SCDD shall designate its representative, an alternate if necessary, and changes thereto, by memorandum from that agency to the FGDC Executive Secretary (hereafter called the Executive Secretary). Other Federal organizations may be added with the concurrence of the SCDD Chairperson. Federal organizations can request membership by writing to the Executive Secretary. The SCDD shall be chaired by the representative from the Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau. The SCDD also may invite non-Federal participation, on an ad hoc basis, to provide information and briefings as determined by the needs of the SCDD .

VI. RESPONSIBILITY

Responsibilities of the SCDD include the following:

VII. PROCEDURES

SCDD meetings shall be held at the call of the SCDD Chairperson, and shall be held at least semi-annually. Normally, notification of meeting and an agenda will be distributed to the representatives of the SCDD and to the Executive Secretary 14 days in advance of the meeting. All decisions shall be on the basis of consensus. When consensus is not reached, the SCDD Chairperson will promptly refer the issue to the FGDC Coordination Group for resolution. The SCDD Chairperson shall consult with the Chairperson of the Coordination Group before implementing any SCDD decisions or actions when such decisions or actions may affect any other geospatially referenced data category or concern to the FGDC. The SCDD shall submit its proposed operating plan for the upcoming year to the Executive Secretary for review and concurrence. The SCDD may establish additional rules and procedures for conducting business.

VIII. SUBGROUPS

The SCDD may create working groups, task groups, subgroups, or further subdivisions, at the discretion of the SCDD Chairperson, as appropriate to carry out its activities and meet its responsibilities. The establishment of any subgroup of more than 12 months duration and the abolishment of any such subgroup requires the approval of the FGDC Coordination Group. Participation in these groups may be drawn from its member organizations and from other Federal agencies, as appropriate.

IX. COORDINATING MECHANISMS

The SCDD will employ these mechanisms that are best suited to meeting its responsibilities, such as subcommittee meetings, national user forums, annual requirements solicitations, user surveys and analyses, cultural and demographic geospatially referenced data user workshops, research initiatives, and cooperative ventures with the Federal and non-Federal sectors. The SCDD Chairperson will coordinate the SCDD’s activities with other FGDC subcommittees, working groups, and other FGDC components. The coordination activities do not need the prior approval of the Coordination Group but that group will be kept informed by the Chairperson’s participation on the FGDC Coordination Group.

X. REPORTS

The SCDD shall report to the FGDC Steering Committee annually, by December 31, describing the activities of the SCDD . This annual status report shall be submitted to the Executive Secretary and shall contain accomplishments of the past calendar year, an operating plan for activities planned for the upcoming year, a brief discussion of problems encountered and other matters of interest, including photographs, diagrams, and other materials that may be of value for inclusion in the annual FGDC report to the Office of Management and Budget.

The SCDD shall submit the operating plan for the upcoming year for FGDC Steering Committee review and concurrence through the FGDC Coordination Group.

Special reports and technical papers describing special projects, coordination with other subcommittees and the development of status graphics or catalogs and informational or educational brochures on the use and availability of cultural and demographic geospatially referenced data may also be requested by the FGDC during the reporting period. The SCDD Chairperson shall provide a draft report of the SCDD meetings, including SCDD recommendations and action items, to all SCDD representatives for review prior to approval. The SCDD Chairperson shall provide the final report of SCDD meetings to all SCDD representatives, the Executive Secretary and the chairpersons of the FGDC Coordination Group, subcommittees, and working groups.

XI. TERMINATION

The SCDD shall remain in existence until terminated by the FGDC Steering Committee. At that time, the FGDC shall ask the Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau to develop a new exhibit describing how it will undertake its responsibility for coordinating the cultural and demographic geospatially referenced data activities of the Federal Government.

U.S Census Bureau

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division,
National Geographic Partnerships Team