Independent Agencies

Quentin Baek, Stephen Magnuson, Laura Fowler, Adam Link.

BackgroundUntil 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.

BackgroundSeveral independent agencies

administer programs similar to those of the Cabinet departments.

Ex) NASA

Independent AgenciesThe Social Security

Administration is the largest unit today.

Health and Human Services has the largest budget.

Why Independent AgenciesSome 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)

Why Independent AgenciesMost 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.

3 Main Groups.The independent executive

agenciesThe independent regulatory

commissionsThe government corporations.

Independent executive agenciesIncludes most of the independent

agenciesEx) GSA, NASA, EPA (three of the

largest independent executive agencies)

Headed by a single administrator with subunits operating on a regional basis.

Independent executive agenciesThe 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

Independent Executive AgenciesThey have few employeesSmall budgetsRarely attract any attention

Independent Regulatory CommissionsThey stand out because they are

largely beyond the reach of presidential direction and control

There are ten of the agenciesCreated to regulate, police,

important aspects of the nation’s economy

Independent Regulatory CommissionsThe 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.

Independent Regulatory CommissionsThe 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

Quasi-legislative, quasi-judicialThey 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.

Government CorporationsGovernment 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.

Government CorporationsCreated 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

Government CorporationsThe President selects most of the

top officers of government corporations with Senate confirmation.

These public agencies are financed by public funds.

Government CorporationsSome are attached to an

executive department(not independent)

Ex) The Commodity Credit Corporation

Some do have independence.Ex) The Tennessee Valley

Authority

QuestionsWhat 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?