Sometimes called the 4th branch of government!

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Independent Agencies

• Sometimes called the 4th branch of government!

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Independent Agencies operate outside the 15
cabinet departments and fulfill very important
functions!
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Reasons to exist OUTSIDE the cabinet

• Some agencies are independent because their
  function does not fit will into any of the
  existing departments (ex. NASA would that be
  technology defense transportation?)
• Some are independent to protect their officials
  from political pressures (ex. Civil Rights
  Commission which would investigate complaints
  against the government)

NASA the National Aeronauticaland Space
Administration wasfounded to help keep
Americacaught up with the Soviets inspace
exploration.
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More Reasons to Exist OUTSIDE the Cabinet

• Some are independent to make them more responsive
  to interest group pressures (ex. The
  Environmental Protective Agency or EPA)
• Some are independent because of the peculiar and
  sensitive nature of their function (all
  independent regulatory commissions IRCs fall
  into this category)

The Environmental ProtectionAgency attempts to
limit pollution by creating and enforcing
regulations.
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The Independent Executive Agencies

• Most of the independent agencies fall into this
  category
• They are organized under a single administrator
  and have subunits that operate on a regional
  basis
• These would be considered line agencies

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Independent Regulatory Commissions

• Regulatory implies that these agencies make and
  enforce rules for certain aspects of the public
  or private sectors most regulate an important
  aspect of the nations economy!

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Some critics of independent agencies would argue
that there are too manyregulations, and that
they are more of a burden than a help!
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These are largely NOT under the control of the
President

• Members of the commissions are appointed by the
  President and approved by the Senate for long,
  staggered terms.
• These boards and commissions must be made up of
  members of both parties (bipartisan), and members
  may not be removed for political reasons.

The Federal TradeCommission (FTC)
wasestablished to limit unfairbusiness
practices.
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These Commissions are QUASI-legislative and
QUASI-judicial

• Quasi means partially
• Quasi-legislative means that the commission can
  establish rules and regulations to be followed
• Quasi-judicial means these commissions determine
  if their rules have been violated and invoke the
  punishment!

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How do independent regulatory commissions
exercise legislative powers? How do independent
regulatory commissions executive and judicial
powersback up the legislative powers?
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The 4th Branch of Government?

• Perhaps since these bodies possess all three
  powers (legislative, executive and judicial) and
  seem to be the exception to system of checks and
  balances.
• The power of these regulatory commissions is
  controversial, and was decreased under Presidents
  Reagan and G.H. Bush

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Where are these two men? What gives you the
clue? How does the artist feel about reducing
the size of the government?
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The Government Corporation

• These agencies were created to serve the public
  they offer services that the private sector can
  not or will not.

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Government Corporations

• These corporations are within the executive
  branch, and they are under the control of the
  President.
• The top offices are appointed by the President
  with Senate confirmation and all of the
  employees are public officials.
• Most of the employees are hired through the Civil
  Service

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Examples of Government Corporations

• U.S. Post Office and Amtrak
• These corporations operate with long-term grants
  from Congress but try to finance
  themselvesthrough user fees.

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Government Corporation Controversy?

• Some controversy exists as to whether government
  corporations are compatible with the democratic
  governments requirement that all public agencies
  be accountable to the public.

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The artist is commenting on what has happened to
the size and responsibilities of the government.
You should recognize the additions that have
been added. What do you suppose the artist is
trying to say?