Changes

During a Republican presidential debate earlier this year, Texas Governor Rick Perry famously declared that he would eliminate three entire federal agencies if elected president.  But after saying that, Governor Perry could name only two out of the three, and am embarrassing pause ensued.  Whether this inability was due to forgetfulness or a lack of familiarity with the federal agencies, it did not help his ability to win the Republican nomination.  Perry pulled out of the race entirely a few weeks later.

During a Republican presidential debate earlier this year, Texas Governor Rick Perry famously declared that he would eliminate three entire federal agencies if elected president.  But after saying that, Governor Perry could name only two out of the three, and am embarrassing pause ensued.  Whether this inability was due to forgetfulness or a lack of familiarity with the federal agencies, it did not help his ability to win the Republican nomination.  Perry pulled out of the race entirely a few weeks later.

Several of the agencies below exert their power over Americans by imposing regulations, or rules, on what Americans can do.  Such regulations are adopted pursuant to a "notice and comment" procedure that first gives notice to the public of the proposed regulation, and accepts comments by the public on them.  After receiving the comments, the agency then typically promulgates a final regulation that has the force of law, even though it was never passed by Congress.  Some people, particularly in the Tea Party movement, question whether this is even constitutional, but it has been done for more than a century and is not likely to invalidated by the courts, as long as the regulations can cite some basis in a law passed by Congress.  The growing field of law that deals with regulations by agency is "administrative law," and thousands of attorneys have successful practices working on these issues.

 

 

Several of the agencies below exert their power over Americans by imposing regulations, or rules, on what Americans can do.  Such regulations are adopted pursuant to a "notice and comment" procedure that first gives notice to the public of the proposed regulation, and accepts comments by the public on them.  Notice to the public of a new federal regulations is given by publishing it in the "Federal Register," and then providing a deadline for submitting comments, which can often be sent by email.

 

After receiving the comments, the agency then typically promulgates a final regulation that has the force of law, even though it was never passed by Congress.  Final regulations are published in both the Federal Regulations and in the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.).  They have the force of federal law.

 

Some people, particularly in the Tea Party movement, question whether this is even constitutional, but it has been done for more than a century and is not likely to invalidated by the courts, as long as the regulations can cite some basis in a law passed by Congress.  The growing field of law that deals with regulations by agency is "administrative law," and thousands of attorneys have successful practices working on these issues.

Here are the major federal agencies under the direction of the president:

Here are the major federal agencies under the direction of the president: