Letter of Transmittal WASHINGTON, D. C., January 13, 1949. DEAR SIRS: In accordance with Public Law 162, approved July 7, 1947, the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government has undertaken an examination into the operation and organization of the executive functions and activities. In this examination it has had the assistance of various task forces which have made studies of particular segments of Government. Herewith, it submits to the Congress a study, prepared for the Commission's consideration on the independent regulatory commissions of the Government. The study of each task force naturally is made from its own particular angle. The Commission, working out a pattern for the Executive Branch as a whole, has not accepted all the recommendations of the task forces. Furthermore, the Commission, in its own series of reports, has not discussed all the recommendations of an administrative nature although they may be of importance to the officials concerned. The Commission's own report in this particular field is submitted to the Congress separately. The Commission wishes to express its appreciation to Robert R. Bowie and Owen D. Young, to Harold Leventhal and various staff members who prepared this task force study. A. Scope of the Report B. Method of Preparing the Report II. The Nature of the Independent Regulatory Commission B. Work of the Commissions . C. Basis and Extent of Independence III. Use of the Independent Regulatory Commission A. Nature of the Regulatory Tasks. B. Advantages of Independent Commissions PART TWO. SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ON INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONS VI. United States Maritime Commission 59 B. Status and Composition of Commission E. Research and Policy Analysis . F. Relation to Brookings Recommendations IX. Federal Communications Commission B. Deficiencies in the Commission's Operations C. Status and Composition of Commission A. Present Functions and Organization . B. Coordination between Monetary Policy and Fiscal Policy. C. Internal Responsibility for Federal Reserve Policy Formation A. Functions and Activities of Commission . B. Maintenance of an Independent Commission XIV. Securities and Exchange Commission A. Functions of the Commission . B. Status and Organization of Commission C. Integration of Statutory Requirements Page SUMMARY LETTER December 1, 1948. COMMISSION ON ORGANIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIRS: In accordance with your request, we have made an investigation of the independent regulatory commissions of the Federal Government, and submit herewith our report containing our conclusions and recommendations. We are also submitting as supplements to our report, separate staff reports on each of nine commissions studied. These staff reports were prepared by members of a small staff, according to a common outline, to provide a basis for our report. Each staff report was submitted for criticism to the commission, and to a limited number of qualified individuals such as former commissioners, attorneys, and others representing the regulated industry, and other experts in the field. In preparing our own report, we have had the benefit of the staff reports, of the comments and criticisms on it, and of discussions with others. The staff reports have also been revised by their authors in the light of these comments. We believe that they are especially useful studies of the organization and operations of these agencies. The staff reports were prepared by Messrs. George L. Bach, James M. Burns, Carl F. Farbach, Walter Galenson, William Golub, C. Herman Pritchett, Edward C. Sweeney, Ernest W. Williams, and Miss Irene Till. The project was under the direction of Mr. Bowie, who was assisted by Mr. Harold Leventhal in planning the project and in the supervision of its execution. We are deeply indebted to the members of the staff for their hearty cooperation in carrying through the project. Our report is divided into two parts: Part I (ch. I-V) contains our general conclusions and recommendations. Part II contains a discussion of each of the nine commissions separately (ch. VI-XIV). |