Independent agencies are created by Congress to deal with certain matters that no other department of government handles. These agencies are a part of the executive branch. The President appoints the heads of the agencies. Even though these agencies are independent, the other branches of government have some say in how the agencies are run. In the legislative branch, the Senate must approve the President's appointments and Congress must approve the budgets of the agencies. Also, agencies must file reports with Congress once or twice a year.
Sometimes the judicial branch reviews the decisions the other branches make about the independent agencies. Congress may decide that an agency is costing too much money and give the agency less money. Congress sometimes decides that an agency is no longer needed and closes the agency.
Questions to think about in this chapter:
1. Identify the independent agencies and their purpose within the executive branch.
2. Explain the difference between regulatory commissions and executive agencies.
3. Identify and describe the activities of several regulatory commissions.
4. Identify and describe the activities of several executive agencies.