NAICS 921120 Quarterly Industry Report
Legislative Bodies
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 921120Sector: Public Administration (92)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Legislative Bodies (NAICS 921120) uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau[3], Bureau of Labor Statistics[2], and the SBA[4]. Fair Market Value researchers analyze legislative employment, staffing structures, and intergovernmental comparisons specific to NAICS 921120. Updates occur quarterly to capture redistricting changes, legislative session outcomes, and staffing trends across federal, state, and local legislative bodies.
Industry Definition & Overview
Legislative Bodies (NAICS 921120) encompasses government establishments serving as legislative assemblies and their advisory committees and commissions. This industry covers the U.S. Congress, state legislatures, county boards, city councils, town boards, and tribal legislative bodies. Advisory and study commissions created by or reporting to legislatures also fall within this classification.
The Census Bureau[1] defines the industry to include all establishments where elected or appointed officials draft, debate, and vote on laws, ordinances, and resolutions. Staffing ranges from a few part-time clerks in small towns to thousands of professional staff supporting the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Congress alone employs roughly 30,000 staff across member offices, committee offices, and support agencies such as the Congressional Budget Office and Government Accountability Office.
State legislatures vary in size from New Hampshire's 424-member General Court to Nebraska's unicameral 49-member body. Local councils range from five-member boards in rural towns to 51-member bodies like the New York City Council. The Bureau of Labor Statistics[2] tracks occupational data for government workers, and the Census Bureau's ASPEP survey[3] reported 19.9 million state and local government employees in March 2024. Legislative staff represent a small fraction of that total but wield outsized influence over budgets, taxation, and regulatory policy at every level of government.
What's Included in This Industry
- U.S. Senate and House of Representatives
- State legislatures and general assemblies
- City councils and town boards
- County legislative bodies and boards of supervisors
- Tribal legislative councils
- Legislative advisory commissions and study committees
- Congressional support agencies (CBO, GAO)
- State legislative research and fiscal analysis offices
- Municipal ordinance drafting bodies
- Special district governing boards with legislative authority
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Public Administration | 92 |
| Subsector | Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support | 921 |
| Industry Group | Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support | 9211 |
| NAICS Industry | Legislative Bodies | 92112 |
| National Industry | Legislative Bodies | 921120 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 921110 | Executive Offices | Executive offices that implement and enforce the laws, ordinances, and budgets passed by legislative bodies at every government level |
| 921130 | Public Finance Activities | Public finance offices that manage tax collection and debt administration authorized through legislative appropriations and revenue bills |
| 921140 | Executive and Legislative Offices, Combined | Combined executive and legislative offices in smaller jurisdictions where lawmaking and administration operate under a single organizational structure |
| 921190 | Other General Government Support | General government support establishments providing administrative and operational services that legislative bodies rely on for day-to-day functions |
| 922130 | Legal Counsel and Prosecution | Legal counsel and prosecution offices that interpret and enforce statutes created by legislative bodies through the judicial process |
| 923110 | Administration of Education Programs | Education program administration offices that carry out policies and funding decisions made by legislative appropriations committees |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What government establishments fall under NAICS 921120?
NAICS 921120 covers all government establishments that function as legislative bodies, including Congress, state legislatures, county boards, city councils, and town boards. Legislative advisory commissions and study committees also belong to this code. The Census Bureau[1] specifies that any establishment primarily engaged in legislative functions qualifies.
How are legislative bodies structured differently at federal, state, and local levels?
Congress operates as a bicameral body with the Senate and House of Representatives. All state legislatures except Nebraska are also bicameral. Local legislative bodies include city councils, county boards, and town meetings, which are typically unicameral. Staffing levels vary from tens of thousands at the federal level to part-time clerks in small municipalities.
Does the SBA set a size standard for NAICS 921120?
No. The SBA[7] does not establish size standards for any Sector 92 codes because they cover government establishments. Private firms providing services to legislative bodies are classified under private-sector NAICS codes and may qualify for SBA programs under those classifications.
What NAICS codes are most closely related to 921120 Legislative Bodies?
Key related codes include 921110 (Executive Offices), 921130 (Public Finance Activities), 921140 (Executive and Legislative Offices, Combined), and 922130 (Legal Counsel and Prosecution). The Census Bureau[8] groups 921110 through 921190 under the same subsector for general government support.
What private-sector industries commonly serve legislative bodies?
Law firms (NAICS 541110), management consultants (NAICS 541611), IT service providers (NAICS 518210), and policy research organizations (NAICS 541720) are frequent contractors. Lobbying firms, public affairs consultancies, and staffing agencies also regularly engage with legislative offices.
What specific activities are included in NAICS 921120?
Activities include drafting and debating legislation, holding committee hearings, voting on bills and resolutions, conducting oversight of executive agencies, managing constituent services, and operating legislative research bureaus. According to the Census Bureau[1], advisory and study commissions created by legislatures are also included.
Can businesses that contract with legislative bodies qualify for SBA loans?
Where are legislative bodies concentrated geographically?
The U.S. Congress is based in Washington, D.C. State legislatures meet in their respective state capitals. Local legislative bodies operate in every county seat and incorporated municipality across the country. According to the Census Bureau[3], there are approximately 90,000 local government units in the United States, each with some form of legislative or governing body.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]Census Bureau census.gov
- [2]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [3]Census Bureau's ASPEP survey census.gov
- [4]SBA sba.gov
- [5]7(a) loan program sba.gov
- [6]504 loan program sba.gov
- [7]SBA sba.gov
- [8]Census Bureau census.gov
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