Title: Administrative Agencies: Their Structure and Powers
Headings: 5.1
Administrative Agencies: Their Structure and Powers

5.1 Administrative Agencies: Their Structure and Powers
Learning Objectives
Why Have Administrative Agencies?
Why Regulate the Economy at All?
Ideal Conditions for a Free Market
History of Federal Agencies
Classification of Agencies
Powers of Agencies
The Constitution and Agencies

Content: Administrative Agencies: Their Structure and Powers
5.1 Administrative Agencies: Their Structure and Powers
Learning Objectives
Explain the reasons why we have federal administrative agencies. Explain the difference between executive branch agencies and independent agencies. Describe the constitutional issue that questions whether administrative agencies could have authority to make enforceable rules that affect business. Why Have Administrative Agencies? The US Constitution mentions only three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial (Articles I, II, and III). There is no mention of agencies in the Constitution, even though federal agencies are sometimes referred to as “the fourth branch of government.” The Supreme Court has recognized the legitimacy of federal administrative agencies
Governmental units, either state or federal, that have specialized expertise and authority over some area of the economy.