The “executive” and the “independent” administrative agencies. The primary distinction between the two types of agencies is that the heads of executive administrative agencies are appointed by the president and serve “at the president’s pleasure” (meaning that executive agency heads can be discharged by the president at any time, for any reason,) while the commissioners of independent administrative agencies serve fixed terms (they are initially appointed by the president, with the “advice and consent” of the United States Senate,) and cannot be removed except for cause. Serving fixed terms is said to make commissioners of independent administrative agencies less accountable to the will of the executive. Examples of independent administrative agencies include the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Examples of executive administrative agencies include the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Small Business Administration, and the Veteran’s Administration.

Should those administrative agencies currently classified as executive agencies be transformed into independent agencies?

What advantages/disadvantages would result from such a change?

Do executive agency heads owe allegiance to the president?

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The question of whether executive agencies should be transformed into independent agencies is a complex and contentious one and the answer may vary depending on ones perspective There are advantages a... View the full answer