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Independent Agencies

Independent Agencies. Quentin Baek , Stephen Magnuson, Laura Fowler, Adam Link. Background. Until the 1880s, nearly all that the Federal Government did was done through its Cabinet departments. Since then, Congress has created a large number of addition agencies – the independent agencies.

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Independent Agencies

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  1. Independent Agencies Quentin Baek, Stephen Magnuson, Laura Fowler, Adam Link.

  2. Background • Until the 1880s, nearly all that the Federal Government did was done through its Cabinet departments. • Since then, Congress has created a large number of addition agencies – the independent agencies. • They number nearly 150.

  3. Background • Several independent agencies administer programs similar to those of the Cabinet departments. • Ex) NASA

  4. Independent Agencies • The Social Security Administration is the largest unit today. • Health and Human Services has the largest budget.

  5. Why Independent Agencies • Some have been set up outside the regular departmental structure simply b/c they do not fit well within any department. • Ex) GSA(The General Services Administration.) • Ex) OPM(The Office of Personnel Management)

  6. Why Independent Agencies • Most of the agencies are independent only in the sense that they are not located within any of the 15 Cabinet departments. • They are not independent of the President and the executive branch.

  7. 3 Main Groups. • The independent executive agencies • The independent regulatory commissions • The government corporations.

  8. Independent executive agencies • Includes most of the independent agencies • Ex) GSA, NASA, EPA (three of the largest independent executive agencies) • Headed by a single administrator with subunits operating on a regional basis.

  9. Independent executive agencies • The most important difference between these independent executive agencies and the 15 executive departments is simply that they do not have Cabinet status. • They sometimes attract public notice. • Ex) The Civil Rights Commission, The Peace Corps, The Federal Election Commission, and the National Transportation Safety Board

  10. Independent Executive Agencies • They have few employees • Small budgets • Rarely attract any attention

  11. Independent Regulatory Commissions • They stand out because they are largely beyond the reach of presidential direction and control • There are ten of the agencies • Created to regulate, police, important aspects of the nation’s economy

  12. Independent Regulatory Commissions • The independent regulatory commissions’ large measure of independence from the White House comes mainly from the way in which Congress has structured them. • Each is headed by a board or commission made up of five to seven members appointed by the President with Senate consent.

  13. Independent Regulatory Commissions • The officers of five of these agencies can be removed by the President only for those causes Congress has specified • Unlike other independent agencies, the regulatory commissions are also quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial • That is, Congress has given them certain legislative-like and judicial-like powers

  14. Quasi-legislative, quasi-judicial • They exercise the quasi-legislative powers when they make rules and regulations • They exercise the quasi-judicial powers when they decide disputes in those fields in which Congress has given them policing authority.

  15. Government Corporations • Government Corporations are within the executive branch and subject to the President’s direction and control • Unlike the others, they were set up by Congress to carry out certain business-like activities.

  16. Government Corporations • Created when Congress chartered the Bank of the United States in 1791. • Congress set up dozens of corporations to carry out emergency programs. • There are now more than 50 of these agencies • Ex) U.S. Postal Service, FDIC, NPCA, PBGC, TVA

  17. Government Corporations • The President selects most of the top officers of government corporations with Senate confirmation. • These public agencies are financed by public funds.

  18. Government Corporations • Some are attached to an executive department(not independent) • Ex) The Commodity Credit Corporation • Some do have independence. • Ex) The Tennessee Valley Authority

  19. Questions • What were the three main groups of independent agencies? • What is the major difference between independent executive agencies and the 15 executive department? • What was the word for the regulatory commissions to exercise when they make rules? • Which of the three groups was set up by Congress to carry out certain business-like activities? • How many independent agencies are there today?

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