Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Government Agency shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Government Agency offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Government Agency at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Government Agency? Wrong! If the Government Agency is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Government Agency then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Government Agency? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Government Agency and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Government Agency wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Government Agency then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Government Agency site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Government Agency, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Government Agency, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
A
government agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of types of agency. Although usage differs, a government agency is normally distinct both from a Department or
Ministry (government department), and other types of public body established by
government. The functions of an agency are normally executive in character since different types of organisation (such as commissioners) are normally used for advisory functions, but this distinction is often blurred in practice.
A government agency may be established by either a national government or a state government within a federal system. (The term is not normally used for an organization created by the powers of a local government body.) Agencies can be established by legislation or by executive powers. The autonomy, independence and accountability of government agencies also vary widely.
History
Early examples of organizations that would now be termed a government agency include the British
Navy Board, responsible for ships and supplies, which was establishedA brief history of the Royal Navy, Royal Navy Museum, accessed at June 9, 2006 1546 by King Henry VIII and the British "Commissioners of Bankruptcy" establishedMacleavy, J. and O. Gay (2005)
The Quango Debate, House of Commons Library Research Paper 05/30, p.8 accessed at June 9, 2006 in 1570. The United States
Library of Congress was foundedGeneral information, Library of Congress, accessed at June 9, 2006 in 1800 and is, unusually, an agency of the legislative branch of government.
From 1933, the
New Deal saw rapid growth in US federal agencies, the
alphabet agencies as they were used to deliver new programs mandated by legislation, such as
FERA.
From the 1980s, as part of New Public Management, several countries including Australia and the United Kingdom developed the use of agencies to improve efficiency in public services.
Government agencies of Canada
Government agencies of India
See also Government of India#Independent Executive Agencies
The term
agency in India has several meanings. For example, the Cabinet Secretariat describes itselfCabinet Secretariat, Government of India at, accessed June 16, 2006 as a "
nodal agency for coordination amongst the ministries of the Govt.of India". Most notably as an international feature, what appear to be independent agencies (or
apex agencies) include some that have active roles for Ministers: such as, the
National Security Council (India), the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, and the Planning Commission, which is chaired ex-officio by the Prime Minister.
Government agencies of Sweden
The Government agencies in Sweden are state controlled organizations who act independently to carry out the policies of the Swedish Government. The Government Ministries are relatively small and merely policy-making organizations, allowed to control agencies by policy decisions but not by direct orders. A Minister is explicitly prohibited from interfering with the day-to-day operation in an agency or the outcome in individual cases. While no minister is allowed to give orders to agencies personally, they are subject to decisions made by the Government.
Government agencies of the United Kingdom
Agencies in the United Kingdom are either Executive Agency answerable to
political minister or non-departmental public body answerable directly to one of the
parliaments or devolved
Deliberative assembly of the United Kingdom.
Agencies can be created by enabling legislation by the Parliament of the United Kingdom,
Scottish Parliament or the
National Assembly for Wales.
Agencies in England usually answer to Westminster or the British Government. In Scotland they usually answer to the
Scottish Executive or the Scottish Parliament and in Wales to the National Assembly for Wales.
Some have remits that cover the entire UK and these organisations are funded by and answer to the British Government.
Government agencies in the United States
The Congress of the United States and President of the United States delegate specific authority to government agencies to
regulation the complex facets of the modern
United States Federal republic. Also, most of the 50 U.S. states have created similar government agencies, but with limited, state-level regulatory power. The term "government agency" is usually applied to
- Independent agencies of the United States government that exercise some degree of independence from the President's control. Although the heads of Independent Agencies are often appointed by the President, they usually can only be removed for cause. The heads of Independent Agencies work together in groups, such as a commission, board or council. Independent Agencies often function as miniature versions of the Separation of powers under the United States Constitution federal government with the authority to legislation (through the issuing, or "promulgation" of regulations), to adjudication disputes, and to enforcement agency regulations (through enforcement personnel). Examples of independent agencies include the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Most federal agencies are created by Congress through
statutes called "enabling statutes", that define the scope of an agency's authority. Because the
United States Constitution does not expressly mention federal agencies (as it does the three branches), some commentators have called agencies the "headless fourth branch" of the federal government. However, most independent agencies are technically part of the executive branch, with a few located in the legislative branch of government. By enacting the
Administrative Procedure Act (APA) in 1946, Congress established some means to oversee government agency action. The APA established uniform
administrative law procedures for a federal agency's promulgation of rules, and adjudication of claims. The APA also sets forth the process for
judicial review of agency action.
A broader definition of the term also encompasses:
- United States Federal Executive Departments that include the President's United States Cabinet, and their sub-units.
See also
References
Further reading
- Machinery of Government Reform: Principles and Practice in "The Organisation of Central Government Departments: A History 1964-1992", ESRC Whitehall Programme accessed at Nuffield College, University fo Oxford June 9, 2006
A
government agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an
intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of types of agency. Although usage differs, a government agency is normally distinct both from a Department or Ministry (government department), and other types of public body established by
government. The functions of an agency are normally executive in character since different types of organisation (such as
commissioners) are normally used for advisory functions, but this distinction is often blurred in practice.
A government agency may be established by either a national government or a state government within a federal system. (The term is not normally used for an organization created by the powers of a local government body.) Agencies can be established by legislation or by executive powers. The autonomy, independence and accountability of government agencies also vary widely.
History
Early examples of organizations that would now be termed a government agency include the British
Navy Board, responsible for ships and supplies, which was establishedA brief history of the Royal Navy, Royal Navy Museum, accessed at June 9, 2006 1546 by King Henry VIII and the British "Commissioners of Bankruptcy" establishedMacleavy, J. and O. Gay (2005)
The Quango Debate, House of Commons Library Research Paper 05/30, p.8 accessed at June 9, 2006 in 1570. The United States
Library of Congress was foundedGeneral information, Library of Congress, accessed at June 9, 2006 in 1800 and is, unusually, an agency of the legislative branch of government.
From 1933, the New Deal saw rapid growth in US federal agencies, the
alphabet agencies as they were used to deliver new programs mandated by legislation, such as
FERA.
From the 1980s, as part of
New Public Management, several countries including Australia and the United Kingdom developed the use of agencies to improve efficiency in public services.
Government agencies of Canada
Government agencies of India
See also Government of India#Independent Executive Agencies
The term
agency in India has several meanings. For example, the
Cabinet Secretariat describes itselfCabinet Secretariat, Government of India at, accessed June 16, 2006 as a "
nodal agency for coordination amongst the ministries of the Govt.of India". Most notably as an international feature, what appear to be independent agencies (or
apex agencies) include some that have active roles for Ministers: such as, the National Security Council (India), the
Indian Council of Agricultural Research, and the
Planning Commission, which is chaired ex-officio by the Prime Minister.
Government agencies of Sweden
The Government agencies in Sweden are state controlled organizations who act independently to carry out the policies of the Swedish Government. The Government Ministries are relatively small and merely policy-making organizations, allowed to control agencies by policy decisions but not by direct orders. A Minister is explicitly prohibited from interfering with the day-to-day operation in an agency or the outcome in individual cases. While no minister is allowed to give orders to agencies personally, they are subject to decisions made by the Government.
Government agencies of the United Kingdom
Agencies in the United Kingdom are either
Executive Agency answerable to
political minister or non-departmental public body answerable directly to one of the parliaments or devolved Deliberative assembly of the United Kingdom.
Agencies can be created by enabling legislation by the
Parliament of the United Kingdom, Scottish Parliament or the National Assembly for Wales.
Agencies in England usually answer to Westminster or the British Government. In Scotland they usually answer to the Scottish Executive or the Scottish Parliament and in Wales to the National Assembly for Wales.
Some have remits that cover the entire UK and these organisations are funded by and answer to the British Government.
Government agencies in the United States
The
Congress of the United States and
President of the United States delegate specific authority to government agencies to regulation the complex facets of the modern United States
Federal republic. Also, most of the 50 U.S. states have created similar government agencies, but with limited, state-level regulatory power. The term "government agency" is usually applied to
- Independent agencies of the United States government that exercise some degree of independence from the President's control. Although the heads of Independent Agencies are often appointed by the President, they usually can only be removed for cause. The heads of Independent Agencies work together in groups, such as a commission, board or council. Independent Agencies often function as miniature versions of the Separation of powers under the United States Constitution federal government with the authority to legislation (through the issuing, or "promulgation" of regulations), to adjudication disputes, and to enforcement agency regulations (through enforcement personnel). Examples of independent agencies include the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Most federal agencies are created by Congress through
statutes called "enabling statutes", that define the scope of an agency's authority. Because the
United States Constitution does not expressly mention federal agencies (as it does the three branches), some commentators have called agencies the "headless fourth branch" of the federal government. However, most independent agencies are technically part of the executive branch, with a few located in the legislative branch of government. By enacting the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) in 1946, Congress established some means to oversee government agency action. The APA established uniform
administrative law procedures for a federal agency's promulgation of rules, and adjudication of claims. The APA also sets forth the process for
judicial review of agency action.
A broader definition of the term also encompasses:
- United States Federal Executive Departments that include the President's United States Cabinet, and their sub-units.
See also
References
Further reading
- Machinery of Government Reform: Principles and Practice in "The Organisation of Central Government Departments: A History 1964-1992", ESRC Whitehall Programme accessed at Nuffield College, University fo Oxford June 9, 2006
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