American Government / Unit 8 Gov 400 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Classifying an Agency
The idea
An agency is classified by asking three questions in order: who heads it, how removable are they, and does it charge for services.
In practice
Take three organizations. First, an organization headed by a single secretary who serves at the president's pleasure and runs a broad policy area — questions one and two land it: a cabinet department. Second, a five-member commission with staggered terms and a rule that no more than three members share a party; the president's removal hand is deliberately weakened — an independent regulatory agency, and the staggered terms are the tell. Third, an organization that sells postage or train tickets and covers costs from revenue — question three decides: a government corporation. The residual case — headed by an administrator, outside any department, but without the commission armor or the revenue model — is the independent executive agency. Run the questions in order and record which answer decided; the type predicts the president's leverage, which is why the classification exists.
Where people slip
Names mislead — "commission," "administration," and "service" appear across the types; structure, not title, classifies.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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