CONSUMER RELATED REGULATORY AGENCIES
Thursday, March 06, 2008 07:22 PM
The role of the United States federal government in consumer issues - those situations where the public must select products and services from providers worldwide is broad. The ancient Latin concept of Caveat Emptor - "let the buyer beware"- was a policy that purchasers are on their own and could not hold sellers for misconduct in preparation or representation of products and services. Government has slowly evolved a regulatory process for the protection of consumers against the predatory aspects of business in general.
The federal government has struggled from the beginning about federal supervision - interference in the opinion of business - of business and manufacturing activities for the benefit of the ultimate consumer. Historically - business, trade, and mercantile interests have had great influence in government policy - whether by persuasion or by bribe. That influence is still there in the 21st century - it is a major issue in the 2008 federal elections in terms of the role of lobbyists and campaign contributors.
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The regulatory process on consumer products is multi-layered - much of it obscure because it occurs early in the way products are managed and created. As an example, the health regulations related to poultry are important because the products are subject to contamination throughout the policy and dangerous to health in general if not watched. Breeding stock are certified, hatcheries are severely supervised, medication and antibiotics are controlled, eggs are under strict health rules, and meat products are supervised from killing plants to ultimate grocery outlets. This chain of regulation and supervision includes dozens of agencies - working largely for the benefit of the ultimate consumer. This same multi-layered process applies throughout the country in many forms.
This page on www.Presidential-Appointments.org isolates some of the consumer regulatory entities for more in depth consideration. These are organizations in the federal government which deal with products - the general category of "consumer" products. There are complex appointment issues involved - and important to citizens and consumers.
Regulatory agencies are usually governed by a small group of Presidential appointments which require confirmation by the United States Senate. These nominations are usually for a specific term - such as three years, five years, etc. Some are for as long as twelve years. These terms extend beyond the end of each Presidential stay in the White House. Some appointments - by custom or by statute - are divided between the political parties. The President is able to designate the Chair of most regulatory agencies and of course often selects a member of his party for that position.
The "consumer" agencies are hot political forums. The political parties profess entirely different policies about consumer regulation. Historically - Republicans attempt to minimize government regulation of business and industry. Since the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1933 to 1945 Democrats have created many many agencies which supervise and regulate the conduct of manufacturers and business in general. The are the front lines of the battle between business and ultimate buyers.
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The terms of the appointees overlap so they expire at different times over each four year Presidential terms. In most cases, a President cannot appoint all the members during one four year term. This is a part of the general scheme of checks and balances built into the federal law that makes absolute, and quick, control of an agency from happening.
If the President fails to nominate a chair, or the term of the incumbent ends by resignation, death, disability, or the term expires, and a new Chair is not confirmed and sworn in, another member of the the governing group can can be made "Acting Chairman". That person can act for 210 days (30 weeks) in most situations with the powers of the Chairman.
Each agency is governed by the statute by which it is created by the Congress and the President, by Administrative Statutes, procedures and federal court orders, and by their own rules which have been prepared under the law and published in the Federal Register. The governing rules determine actual procedural matters, procedures for operation of the agency, and matters which relate to regulations, fines, judgments, and other punishments which can be promulgated by the agency.
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