Consumer Rights and Laws
Surveillance Pricing: How Your Data Shapes What You Pay
Two shoppers can be offered different prices for the same product because of their personal data, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). A personal offer…
Independent Regulatory Commissions
Independent regulatory commissions are federal bodies that write and enforce rules for a particular part of the economy or public life. Congress gave them a measure of independence from the president and the regular departments so they can make decisions over the long term. They usually have several members who come from different parties.
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October 9last updated
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The Webby-recognized AI behind our articles »
Latest in Independent Regulatory Commissions
Independent Regulatory Commissions
Why Congress Created Agencies the President Can’t Fire—And Whether That Still Holds
On February 18, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that attempts to bring agencies that Congress set up to be independent from the president—the Consumer…
Securities and Exchange Commission
When Corporate Restructuring Triggers SEC Disclosure Requirements
What it didn't explain: why federal law required this disclosure at all, what happens to companies that miss the four-business-day deadline, or how investors are supposed…
Independent Regulatory Commissions
The Fourth Branch: How Federal Agencies Shape the Economy
In the vast machinery of the United States federal government, there exists a unique class of institutions that defies the neat tripartite separation of powers taught…
Topics in Independent Regulatory Commissions
Money and finance
These bodies oversee banks, credit unions, markets, and lending: Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Credit Union Administration, Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Farm Credit Administration.
Communications and mail
These bodies oversee the airwaves, phone and internet service, and postal rates: Federal Communications Commission and Postal Regulatory Commission.
Energy and safety
These bodies oversee energy markets, nuclear power, and dangerous products: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Trade and business
These bodies oversee competition, advertising, and shipping: Federal Trade Commission and Federal Maritime Commission.
All Articles on Independent Regulatory Commissions
The SEC’s Playbook for Spotting Market Manipulation
On January 6, 2026, SanDisk Corporation's stock jumped approximately 27.6 percent in a single trading day. Behind every dramatic surge sits the SEC's monitoring…
The 50-Year Mortgage: What It Is and Why Analysts Are Concerned
Housing affordability in the United States has become a central concern for many Americans. High home prices and rising interest rates are pricing many…
Can the FCC Force a TV Host Off the Air? The Kimmel Case, Explained
In September 2025, a media firestorm erupted when Disney-owned ABC abruptly suspended its flagship late-night program, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, announcing at the time that…
Is the FCC Ready for the Digital Age? A 90-Year-Old Agency Faces Modern Challenges
In the heart of the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the Communications Act of 1934, a piece of legislation from…
How America’s Communications Watchdog Has Shaped the Media
For a century, the Federal Communications Commission has wrestled with technology that outpaces the laws designed to govern it. From the crackle of early…
How the FCC Controls Your Phone, TV, and Internet
From the smartphone in your pocket and the Wi-Fi that connects it, to the emergency alerts that buzz across a city, the Federal Communications…
When the FCC Can Revoke Your Broadcast License
The radio frequencies that carry our favorite songs, the television signals that bring news into our homes, and the wireless spectrum that connects our…
Should Companies Stop Filing Quarterly Earnings Reports?
For more than 50 years, quarterly earnings reports have set the rhythm of American capitalism. Every 90 days, publicly traded companies face a "moment…
Is America’s Electric Grid Safe? The White House Plan to Protect Power Infrastructure
The U.S. electric grid powers everything from hospitals to data centers, but aging infrastructure and mounting threats have pushed grid security to the top…
How to Contact the FTC: Reporting Fraud, Identity Theft, and Business Violations
The Federal Trade Commission protects American consumers from deceptive business practices and maintains fair market competition. Established in 1914, this federal agency investigates misleading…