| Regulatory Program |
Year Started |
Commission (Date Created) |
| Railroad and trucking industries1 |
1887 |
Interstate Commerce Commission, replaced by Surface Transportation Board (1995) |
| The nation's money supply |
1913 |
Federal Reserve Board |
| Unfair competition and deceptive acts or practices |
1914 |
Federal Trade Commission |
| Foods, drugs, and medical services |
1930 |
Food and Drug Administration |
| Savings and loan associations2 |
1932 |
Federal Home Loan Bank |
| Communications3 |
1934 |
Federal Communications Commission |
| Securities and financial markets |
1934 |
Securities and Exchange Commission |
| Employees' rights to organize; unfair labor practices |
1935 |
National Labor Relations Board |
| Nuclear energy |
1946 |
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (1974), from the old Atomic Energy Commission |
| Waterborne offshore commerce |
1961 |
Federal Maritime Commission |
| Discrimination by employers and unions4 |
1964 |
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission |
| Pollution control5 |
1970 |
Environmental Protection Agency |
| Workplace safety |
1970 |
Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
| Consumer product safety |
1972 |
Consumer Product Safety Commission |
| Energy6 |
1977 |
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
Based on, and revised and updated from Dye, Thomas R. 2001. Top Down Policymaking. New York: Chatham House, 146-147.
Footnotes:
1. formerly included broad authority over interstate commerce
2. home mortgage loans
3. radio, television, wire, and cable
4. race, gender, and age
5. air, water, solid waste, pesticides, radiation, and toxic substances
6. transportation and sale of natural gas and electricity; licensing of hydroelectric power projects; transportation of oil by pipeline