4.1 Discussion- Regulatory Agencies

Define and discuss the objective of the United States government’s creation and implementation of an independent regulatory agency. 

 These agencies are run by a commission outside of the direct control of the President or Congress.

Select one of the following independent regulatory agency and briefly discuss its function.  Feel free to attach news articles that comment on the function or duties of the Regulatory Commission.

• Federal Reserve Board
• Federal Communications Commission
• Securities and Exchange Commission
• Federal Trade Commission

Independent Regulatory Agencies:

i)       “Agencies created by Congress to act outside of the Cabinet and have the authority to regulate a specific activity or interest.”  Congress sought to create commission that could develop expertise and provide continuity  of policy with respect to economic issues because neither Congress not the courts have the time or specific talents to do so.  –The agencies are a body of experts.

Note:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  is an Executive Agency and not a regulatory agency.  The Administrator of the EPA serves "at the pleasure of the president," and can be removed.

ii)      Run by a “Board or Commission” with a Chairman

iii)     Appointed By President, approved by Congress, Cannot be removed by President (Humphrey’s Executor v. U.S. 1935) unless they fail to uphold oaths of duty.  “Independent panel of experts as far removed as possible from the immediate political pressure.”

3.1 Assigned Videos- Bureaucracy

3.2 Assigned Videos- Agency Lawmaking - Administrative Law

Each student is required to post a 200 word response to the question.

The student then must post at least a 100 word response to at lease two other student posts

Please review How to participate and answer a Discussion Question for specifics on how to post to this discussion to get full credit.