Independent Agencies & Regulatory Commissions

Independent Agencies Independent Agencies- help the president carry out the duties of office Separate from executive departments- perform specialized duties that do not often fit within executive departments Some agencies serve all executive departments Function best as separate and independent organizations

Independent Agencies 65+ independent agencies All of which were created by Congress to perform a specific job U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Farm Credit Administration Small Business Administration National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Several independent agencies assist the entire federal government Office of Personnel Management General Services Administration

Regulatory Commissions Regulatory Commissions- independent agencies that have the power to bring violators of their policies to court (they regulate stuff!) Federal Election Commission (FEC) enforces election laws, controls funding and finances in elections Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSP) sets and enforces safety standards for consumer products Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enforces laws that regulate the buying and selling of stocks and bonds (protects individual Americans’ investments) National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) helps enforce labor laws and prevents unfair labor practices among businesses

Who runs the regulatory commissions? Heads of regulatory commissions and independent agencies are appointed by the president Presidential appointments are then approved by the Senate These officials serve very long terms- one president will never appoint more than few commission leaders Keeps agencies and commissions from being too influenced by party politics

Who runs the regulatory committees? Some criticize that the regulatory commissions have too much power They over-regulate or interfere too much Other people defend regulatory commissions Regulations are needed to protect the public What do you think?

The federal bureaucracy Federal Bureaucracy- the departments and agencies that make up the executive branch Approx. 3 million people Rules and regulations sometimes lead to bureaucratic delays, or “red tape” Dealing with govt. agencies takes a lot of time and you may be bounced from department to department before getting the help you need Nonetheless, the bureaucracy helps keep the executive branch functioning

? What are independent agencies? Give three examples of independent agencies. What are regulatory commissions? Give three examples of regulatory commissions. How do independent agencies and regulatory commissions avoid being influenced by party politics? Why do people criticize independent agencies and regulatory commissions? Why do some people defend them? What is the federal bureaucracy?