independent agencies of the United States government

Independent agencies of the United States government are those that exist outside of the departments of the executive branch. Established through separate statutes passed by the U.S. Congress, each respective statutory grant of authority defines the goals the agency must work towards, as well as what substantive areas, if any, it may have the power of rulemaking over. These agency rules (or regulations), while in force, have the power of federal law.
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