What is the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)?

The Merit Systems Protection Board is an Independent Federal Agency responsible for the administration of legal and ethical protocol employed within Civil Service employment; civil service is defined as employment by State and Federal government undertaken within the United States of America – the expanse of Civil Service spans the vast array of government employment, ranging from Congressional employment to the law enforcement agents:

Both the hiring and promotion practices within Civil Service are required to adhere to standards and conditions rooted within a merit-based system in lieu of hiring and advancement undertaken as a result of bias, prejudice, and favoritism

As expressed within the Equal Rights Act of 1964, no individual will be subjected to any means of discrimination concerning their respective advancement, opportunity, and wellbeing

The Origin of Merit-based Civil Service

In 1883 – after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, which took place when Charles Guiteau shot and killed President Garfield resulted in the passing of legislative reform concerning both the appointment and hiring processes within the realm of Civil Service employment. As a result of his assassination, the Federal Government passed the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act in order to establish a Federal system and standard ensuring that the administrative process latent within Civil Service employment would be subject to the same regulatory terms and conditions required of civilian employment practices:

Civil Service examinations were required by all applicants

Civil Service employees were prohibited from the appointment, as well as the termination mandated by elected officials
Awards of promotion and advancement were limited to the analysis of individual merit and performance

MSPB Quick Facts

The following details outline the structuring of the MSPB:
The MSPB was founded in 1978 in conjunction with the establishment of the Office of Personnel management; within the same year, the United States Civil Service Agency was abolished, as well
The headquarters of the MSPB are located in Washington, D.C.

The MSPB is administered by Susan Tsui Grunddman, who was appointed by President Barack Obama; in addition to the administrator, the MSPB is overseen by an executive board responsible for the regulation and oversight of operations and management

Independent Government Agencies

Independent Federal Agencies are typically without a single director or executive; in contrast, independent government agencies – such as the MSPB – are overseen by an executive directorial board; due to this fact, the Judicial Branch retains less managerial oversight of the MSPB than its agency counterparts. Although the President of the United States retains administrative jurisdiction over the MSPB, the presence of a committee of directors allows for a decreased executive authority over hiring, staffing, and administration.

MSPB: Legal Information and Further Assistance

You may find both the primary address and telephones number of the MSPB below:

United States Merit Systems Protection Board

1615 M Street, NW

Washington, D.C.

20419

(202) 653-7200

What is the Federal Executive Institute (FEI)?

The Federal Executive Institute is an Independent Federal Agency residing within the State of Virginia; the FEI serves as the primary educational facility and developmental institutions implemented for the professional and managerial cultivation of professional training for Federal officials employed within government departments and agencies rooted within the public sector; the public sector is defined as the realm of Federal employment responsible for the provision of government systems, programs, and monetary transaction involving the collective – and individual – citizenship of the United States of America.

What is the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation?

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is a corporation within the United States Government formally created by the passing of the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation provides deposit insurance, which formally guarantees the safety of deposits in member banks of up to $250,000 per deposit, for consumers and customers of the respective financial institutions. As of last year, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, better known as the FDIC, insures deposits at over 7,700 financial institutions throughout the United States of America.

In addition to insuring deposits, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation also examines and supervises certain financials institutions for safety and soundness, as well as performs specific consumer-protection functions. Furthermore, the Federal Deposit Corporation will help construct and manage banks who have failed as a result of massive debts incurred.

To become insured, a financial institution must meet several insurance requirements established by the FDIC. Member banks must follow specific liquidity and reserve requirements; these levels are classified in five groups according to the specific risk-based capital ratio present: Well capitalized (10% or higher), adequately Capitalized (8% or higher), Undercapitalized (8% or lower), Significantly Undercapitalized (less than 6%) and critically undercapitalized (less than 2%).

What is the Federal Labor Relations Authority?

The Federal Labor Relations Authority is an independent agency of the United States Federal Government that is responsible for governing labor relations between the federal government and its employees.

The Federal Labor Relations Authority was created by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978; it stands as a quasi-judicial body with three full-time members who are each appointed for five-year terms by the President of the United States with the advice and subsequent consent of the Senate. One member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority is appointed by the President to serve as chairman, chief executive officer and chief administrative officer of the board.

The Federal Labor Relations Authority adjudicates disputes arising under the Civil Service Reform Act; the committee is responsible for deciding cases regarding the negotiability of collective bargaining agreement proposals, exceptions to grievance arbitration awards and appeals concerning unfair labor practices and representation petitions.

What is the Federal Maritime Commission?

The United States Federal maritime Commission is an independent federal agency responsible for the regulation of oceanborne transportation in the foreign commerce industries of the United States of America. The mission of the Federal Maritime Commission is to regulate certain activities of international shipping lines, known as ocean common carriers, marine terminals operators and ocean transportation intermediaries who operate within the foreign commerce industries.

What is the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service?

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is an independent agency of the United States Federal Government, responsible for providing mediation services to industry, communities, and government agencies throughout the world. In a simplistic sense, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is responsible for settling or resolving disputes between organizations and communities throughout the globe.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service was created under the terms of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947 (also known as the Taft-Hartley Act), to replace the United States Conciliation Service operating within the Department of Labor. When created, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service offered services upon request or in disputes affecting interstate commerce and was originally required to be notified within 30 days of the expiration of a contract where either side proposed some sort of modification or a request of termination for the existing contract.

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Quick Facts

The following details outline the administration of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service:

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service was founded on June 23 of 1947

The headquarters of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service are located in Washington, D.C.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is responsible for the jurisdiction over the Federal Government of the United States of America

The head of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is Agency Director George Cohen

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service operates with approximately 275 employees

What is an Independent Government Agency?

An independent agency of the United States Federal Government is a department or organization that exists outside of the federal executive departments or those headed by a Cabinet secretary. In a more specific sense, the term Independent Government Agency, is used to describe agencies that, while constitutionally operating within the executive branch, are free from presidential authority or control, as a result of the President’s limited membership within the agency.

Independent government agencies are established through separate statutes passed by the United States Congress; each respective statutory grant of authority will define the goals or mission that the agency must work towards, in addition to the substantive areas, if applicable, over which the Independent Agency may have the power of rulemaking. These agency regulations, when enforced, maintain the power of federal law.

What is the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission?

The Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission is an independent adjudicative agency of the United States Federal Government responsible for providing administrative trial and appellate review of legal disputes which specifically arise under the regulations and statutes outlined under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Amendments Act, better known as the Mine Act of 1977.

What is the In Q Tel?

The In Q Tel is a non-profit venture capital firm that invests in high-tech companies for the sole purpose of equipping the Central Intelligence Agency with the most updated and technologically-advanced equipment in the world. In summation, In Q Tel is responsible for supporting the United States’ intelligence capability through investment.

Originally called Peleus, In Q tel was formally launched in 199 under the direction of Gilman Louie. As it is maintained now, the mission of In Q Tel is to identify and invest in companies who develop cutting-edge technologies that serve the nation’s security interests.

What is the Election Assistance Commission?

The Election Assistance Commission is an independent agency of the United States Government that was formally created by the passing of the Help America Vote Act of 2002. Through this legislation, the Election Assistance Commission serves as the national clearinghouse and resource of information center regarding election administration.

What is the Environmental Protection Agency?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government responsible for protecting human health and the environment through drafting and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by the United States Congress.

The Environmental Protection Agency conducts a variety of environmental assessments, research initiatives and educational programs to inform the public and policymakers as to the overall health of the environment. The primary responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency revolves around setting and enforcing national standards, under a variety of environmental laws, in direct consultation with state and local governments. By doing so, the Environmental Protection Agency can delegate monitoring and enforcement responsibility to individual states and Native American Tribes located throughout the United States.