Independent United States Authorities
Independent United States authorities are established by law through Congress . The tasks of the authority are determined within the framework of this establishment law. It can also be authorized to issue ordinances with legal status in its area of responsibility. The concept of independence must not be understood here to mean that the authorities are independent of instructions from the government. Instead, independent here just means that they do not belong to any ministry directly.
The ministries of the United States make the most of the federal government in many areas but are covered by independent authorities. Most belong to the executive branch , a few are subordinate to the legislature , such as the Government Accountability Office or the Library of Congress .
The tasks and goals of the independent authorities are very different. Some are regulators responsible for overseeing specific areas of the economy. Others have service and advisory functions for the federal government or companies and private individuals. They were mostly set up when an area of work became too complex to be managed as a department of a ministry. The Environmental Protection Agency was established in 1970 to coordinate the activities of the federal government in the field of environmental protection.
Authorities
The main independent authorities are:
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
The Central Intelligence Agency is the USA's premier foreign intelligence agency . Until the Director of National Intelligence was established in 2005, the CIA also coordinated the cooperation of all intelligence services.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulates futures and options markets in the USA and protects trading partners from manipulation , abusive trading practices and fraud. Through effective supervision and regulation, the CFTC enables the markets to perform their important tasks for the economy by providing a mechanism for price formation and offsetting price risks.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The Environmental Protection Agency is the regulatory and supervisory authority for all areas of environmental and nature protection in the USA. Your responsibilities range from protected animal species to waste from the chemical industry.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
The Federal Communications Commission is one of the independent agencies of the United States created by Congress. It regulates the communication channels radio , television , satellite and cable.
Federal Reserve Board
The Federal Reserve is the central bank of the United States.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The Federal Trade Commission is the central regulator of the American economy. It is responsible for the supervision of mergers ( antitrust authority ) and at the same time the highest authority for consumer protection .
General Services Administration (GSA)
The General Services Administration is responsible for the acquisition, procurement, operation, and maintenance of federal assets, buildings, and equipment. The GSA also manages the US automotive fleet and overseas telecommunications and childcare facilities.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
The NASA , established in 1958, is the civilian US National Aeronautics and Space.
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
The National Archives and Records Administration is the federal archive in which files and other archive material of the government and parliament are kept. It also maintains a large image database on the Internet.
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
The federal labor relations agency is responsible for the implementation of the most important US labor law, the National Labor Relations Act. The agency can take action against unfair labor practices and protects workers' right to vote on whether to be represented by trade unions .
National Science Foundation (NSF)
The National Science Foundation supports research and teaching in science and technology in the United States through grants, contracts and other agreements with universities, high schools, non-commercial institutions, and smaller businesses. The NSF stimulates cooperation between universities, industry and government and promotes international cooperation in the fields of science and technology.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
The National Transportation Safety Board is responsible for solving accidents in the transportation sector ( railways , aviation , shipping , pipelines and highways).
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
The OPM is a central office for the personnel management of all civil employees of the federal authorities. The authority, founded in 1979, currently has 4,189 employees.
The Peace Corps
The Peace Corps was founded in 1961 . It trains volunteers for a two-year service abroad and places them in the individual countries. Peace Corps volunteers are active in 80 countries and support the locals in agriculture, handicrafts, health care, the preservation of nature and education.
United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission is responsible for overseeing trading in securities in the United States.
Small Business Administration (SBA)
The Small Business Administration was founded in 1953 to advise, support and protect smaller businesses. The SBA secures bonds to small businesses, helps victims of floods and other natural disasters, and promotes the development of sole proprietorships. The SBA also endeavors to secure contracts for small businesses to supply the federal government with goods and services.
Social Security Administration (SSA)
The Social Security Administration (headquartered in Baltimore , Maryland ) is the executive body of the US state social insurance system , which provides old-age, disability, survivor's and health insurance benefits for retirees Medicare . In order to receive these benefits, most Americans pay Social Security contributions on their income. The subsequent benefits are based on the amount of the employee's contributions.
Surface Transportation Board (STB)
The Surface Transportation Board is the supervisory and antitrust authority for the transport sector (excluding air traffic). With the entry into force of the STB Reauthorization Act on December 18, 2015, the STB became an independent federal agency.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
The United States Agency for International Development is responsible for US economic and humanitarian aid programs in the Third World as well as in Central and Eastern Europe and the newly independent countries of the former Soviet Union . USAID supports programs in four areas - population and health, broad-based economic growth, the environment and democracy.
United States Postal Service (USPS)
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is a US state-owned company that offers postal services and has a monopoly on certain postal services.