A government or state agency, sometimes an appointed commission, is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the
machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an
administration. There is a notable variety of agency types. Although usage differs, a government agency is normally distinct both from a department or
ministry, and other types of public body established by
government. The functions of an agency are normally executive in character since different types of organizations (''such as commissions'') are most often constituted in an advisory role—this distinction is often blurred in practice however, it is not allowed.
A government agency may be established by either a national government or a state government within a federal system. ''The term is not normally used for an organization created by the powers of a local government body''. Agencies can be established by legislation or by executive powers. The autonomy, independence, and accountability of government agencies also vary widely.
History
Early examples of organizations that would now be termed a government agency include the British
Navy Board, responsible for ships and supplies, which was established in 1546 by King Henry VIII and the British
Commissioners of Bankruptcy established in 1570.
From 1933, the
New Deal saw growth in US federal agencies, the "
alphabet agencies" as they were used to deliver new programs created by legislation, such as the
Federal Emergency Relief Administration.
From the 1980s, as part of
New Public Management, several countries including Australia and the United Kingdom developed the use of agencies to improve efficiency in public services.
Australia
Canada
France
Administrative law in France refers to ''autorité administrative indépendante'' (AAI) or Independent Administrative Authorities. They tend to be prominent in the following areas of public policy;
* Economic and financial regulation
* Information and communication
* Defence of citizens' rights
Independent Administrative Authorities in France may not be instructed or ordered to take specific actions by the government.
Germany
Greece
The
General Secretariat for Macedonia and Thrace (
Greek: Γενική Γραμματεία Μακεδονίας-Θράκης), previously
Ministry for Macedonia and Thrace (
Greek: Υπουργείο Μακεδονίας-Θράκης) is a government agency of the
Hellenic Republic that is responsible for the
Greek regions of
Macedonia and
Thrace.
Iceland
India
The term ''agency'' in India has several meanings; for example, the
Cabinet and the parliament Secretariat describes itself
[Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India a]
accessed June 30, 2006 as a "''nodal agency'' for coordination amongst the ministries of the Govt. of India". Most notably as an international feature, what appear to be independent agencies (''or apex agencies'') include some that have active roles for Ministers: such as, the
National Security Council (India)|National Security Council, the
Indian Council of Agricultural Research, and the
Planning Commission, which is chaired
ex officio by the Prime Minister.
Russian Federation
Russia has had many government agencies throughout its history. The
USSR had the secretive
KGB.
Today, Russian government agencies such as the
FSB,
FSO, and the
GRU use
Spetsnaz or other masked operators for any missions.
Other organizations include
Kremlin and presidential security.
Sweden
The Government agencies in Sweden are
State controlled organizations who act independently to carry out the policies of the
Government of Sweden. The
Ministries are relatively small and merely policy-making organizations, allowed to control agencies by policy decisions but not by direct orders. This means that while the agencies are subject to decisions made by the Government, Ministers are explicitly prohibited (so-called ban on ''
ministerstyre'') from interfering with the day-to-day operation in an agency or the outcome in individual cases as well.
In addition to the State and its agencies, there are also local government agencies, which are extensions of
municipalities and
county councils.
United Kingdom
Agencies in the United Kingdom are either
executive agencies answerable to
government ministers or
non-departmental public bodies answerable directly to one of the
parliaments or devolved
assemblies of the United Kingdom. They are also commonly known as
Quangos.
Agencies can be created by enabling legislation by the
Parliament of the United Kingdom,
Scottish Parliament or the
National Assembly for Wales.
Agencies in England usually answer to Westminster or the British Government. In Scotland, they usually answer to the
Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliament and in Wales to the National Assembly for Wales.
Some have remits that cover the entire UK and these organizations are funded by and answer to the British Government.
United States
The
Congress and
President of the United States delegate specific authority to government agencies to
regulate the complex facets of the modern
American federal state. Also, most of the 50
U.S. states have created similar government agencies. Each of the 50 states' governments is similar to the national government with all but one having a bicameral legislature.
The term "government agency" or "administrative agency" usually applies to one of the
independent agencies of the United States government, which exercise some degree of independence from the President's control. Although the heads of independent agencies are often appointed by the government, they can usually be removed only for cause. The heads of independent agencies work together in groups, such as a commission, board or council. Independent agencies often function as miniature versions of the
tripartite federal government with the authority to
legislate (through the issuing, or "promulgation" of
regulations), to
adjudicate disputes, and to
enforce agency regulations (through enforcement personnel). Examples of independent agencies include the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC),
Federal Reserve Board,
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the
Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
A broader definition of the term "government agency" also means the
United States federal executive departments that includes the President's
cabinet-level departments, and their sub-units. Examples of these agencies include the
Department of Energy (DOE) and the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which is a bureau of the
Department of the Treasury.
Most federal agencies are created by Congress through
statutes called "
enabling acts" which define the scope of an agency's authority. Because the
Constitution does not expressly mention federal agencies (as it does the three branches), some commentators have called agencies the "headless fourth branch" of the federal government. However, most independent agencies are technically part of the executive branch, with a few located in the legislative branch of government. By enacting the
Administrative Procedure Act (APA) in 1946, Congress established some means to oversee government agency action. The APA established uniform
administrative law procedures for a federal agency's promulgation of rules and adjudication of claims. The APA also sets forth the process for
judicial review of agency action.
See also
*
Classification of the Functions of Government
*
Government-owned corporation
*
Regulatory agency
*
Statutory authority
*
Statutory corporation
References
Further reading
*
Machinery of Government Reform: Principles and Practice' in "The Organisation of Central Government Departments: A History 1964–1992", ESRC Whitehall Programme at
Nuffield College, University of Oxford. (accessed October 16, 2018)
External links
Encyclopedic Dictionary of Public Administration, AgencyFind Government & Non-Government Jobs in Easy Way
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