1. Independent agencies of the United States federal government are those agencies that exist outside of the federal executive departments, are not headed by a Cabinet secretary. They are agencies that, while constitutionally part of the executive branch, are independent of presidential control, usually because the president's power to dismiss the agency head or a member is limited. Established through separate statutes passed by the Congress, each respective statutory grant of authority defines the goals the agency must work towards, as well as what substantive areas, over which it may have the power of rulemaking. These agency rules and regulations, while in force, have the power of federal law.

2. Executive independent agencies General services Administration- maintains government buildings NASA- our space program EPA- Environmental protection agency The Peace corps- administered through the department of state The civil rights commission The Federal Elections commission The National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB)

3. Independent regulatory commissions These are independent government agencies that regulate a specific area of government

4. The federal reserve Federal Trade commission Securities and exchange commission Federal Communications Commission National labor relations board Federal maritime Commission Consumer product safety commission Nuclear Regulatory Commission Commodity Futures Trading Commission Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

5. Government corporations Set up by Congress to perform business-like tasks FDIC- insures bank accounts to $250,000 National railroad passenger corporation Pension benefit Guaranty Corporation

6. The Civil Service 2.7 million people work for the federal government. Just over half do not have a bachelor’s degree. Civil Service jobs are based on merit. Applicants take the civil service exam.

7. Office of personnel Management Conducts background checks on prospective civil service employees Keeps a register of the scores of people who take the exam.

8. The Hatch Act 1939 Forbids civil service employees from running for political office.

9. Why work for the government? Benefits. Sundays and Federal holidays off. Many government jobs still rely on a pension system which is now rare in the private sector.