Federal Agencies

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An agency is any government authority besides Congress and the courts.

• defined in Administrative Procedure Act
• Federal agencies fall under the executive branch of the government
  • used to help carry out the day-to-day activities of the government
  • may have many different functions
  • create rules, enforce compliance, and hand out sanctions
  • president oversees federal agencies
  • Federal agencies can be created under other federal agencies
• Congress also can create independent agencies that report directly to it
  • E.g., Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
    • created in 1914 under the Federal Trade Commission Act
    • reports to Congress on its actions
    • led by five commissioners
      • serve 7-year terms
      • nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate
      • president chooses one commissioner to act as chairman
      • no more than three commissioners can belong to the same political party
• Most federal agencies have the power to create and enforce regulations
  • considered equal to the law passed by the federal government
  • Individuals and organizations can be subject to penalties for violating agency rules