Community, city and regional chambers
Chambers of Commerce in the United States can be considered community, city, regional, state, or nationwide (United States Chamber of Commerce). City Chambers work at the local level to bring the business community together to develop strong local networks that can lead to business-to-business exchanges. In most cases, city chambers work with their local government, such as their mayor, their city council, and local representatives to develop pro-business activities.
City Chambers
In 2005, there were 2,800 chambers of commerce in the United States and 102 chambers representing U.S. businesses abroad. According to the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), there are approximately 3,000 chambers of commerce that employ at least one person, and “thousands more are founded as purely volunteer organizations.”
State Chambers
State chambers of commerce differ significantly from local and regional chambers of commerce because they work on state and sometimes federal issues that affect the business community. Just as a local chamber is critical to the local business community, state chambers serve a unique function by acting as an outsider voice on important business legislation that impacts the business community and is critical to shaping legislation in their respective state. State Chambers work with their governor, state representatives, state senators, U.S. Congressional leaders, and U.S. senators. Compared to state trade associations, which serve as a voice and resource for a specific industry, state chambers are considered an authoritative voice representing the entire business community to improve and protect a better business environment.
National and international chambers
Meeting national or international information needs is a key service provided by these chambers of commerce. In most cases, these services are free of charge to members; some offer personal and/or business services for very low fees (e.g., membership in other associations such as the NRA).
Mandatory or public law chambers
Under the compulsory or public law model, businesses of a certain size, type, or sector are required to become members of a chamber. This model is common in the European Union (e.g., France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria), as well as in Japan and Indonesia. The main tasks of the chambers are to promote foreign trade, professional training, regional economic development, and general services to their members. The Chambers have been endowed by the state with public administration powers in various areas, which they exercise to manage order. The Chambers also have an advisory function; this means that the Chambers must be consulted whenever a new law affecting industry or trade is proposed.
Continental/private law chambers
Under the private model, which exists in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom, as well as in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark, companies are not required to become members of a chamber. However, companies often become members to develop their business contacts and, in the case of local chambers (the most common level of organization), to demonstrate a commitment to the local economy. Although governments are not required to consult chambers on proposed legislation, they are often consulted given their local influence and membership.