What is an agency

= Introduction =

The definition of what constitutions an agency, and where you can find a complete list, is a surprisingly complicated one. Here are a few resources.

= Resources =


 * The Federal Agency index, maintained by Louisiana State University in partnership with FDLP: http://www.lib.lsu.edu/gov/index.html
 * USA.gov's list of department and agencies http://www.usa.gov/Agencies.shtml


 * Legislative attempts to identify agencies (citing the US Code)

EXECUTIVE AGENCY- The term ‘Executive agency’ means any of the following:

(A) An Executive department, as defined in section 101 of title 5, United States Code.

(B) A military department, as defined in section 102 of such title.

(C) A Government corporation, as defined in section 103 of such title.

(D) Any other establishment in the executive branch of the Government (including the Executive Office of the President), other than an independent regulatory agency.

INDEPENDENT REGULATORY AGENCY- The term ‘independent regulatory agency’ means an independent establishment, as defined in section 104 of title 5, United States Code.

Of course, this just gets you the executive branch. You still need to deal with the handful of legislative and judicial agencies.


 * US Code definition of agency

Sec. 105. Executive agency

For the purpose of this title, ``Executive agency means an

Executive department, a Government corporation, and an independent establishment. (Pub. L. 89-554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 379.)


 * CFR definition of federal agency

The CFR includes this definition:

TITLE 1--GENERAL PROVISIONS

CHAPTER I--ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE OF THE FEDERAL REGISTER

PART 1_DEFINITIONS--Table of Contents

Sec. 1.1 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise-- Administrative Committee means the Administrative Committee of the

Federal Register established under section 1506 of title 44, United States Code;

Agency means each authority, whether or not within or subject to

review by another agency, of the United States, other than the Congress, the courts, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the territories and possessions of the United States;


 * List of agencies from the US Government Manual: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/gmanual/


 * List of agencies at cataloged by the Superintendent of Documents at GPO: see SuDoc numbers http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/pubs/explain.html


 * Government Agencies (The Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Institutions) by Donald R. Whitnah examines agencies in a historical context.


 * Andriot's Guide to U.S. Government Publications, which lists just about every Federal government agency ever created