TABLE- Selected Independent Regulatory Agencies NAME DATE FORMED PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONS ral Reserve System Board of 1913 Determines policy with respect to interest rates, credit availability rno ors (Fed) and the money supply (1, 650 employees) Federal Trade Commission(FTC) 1914 Prevents businesses from engaging in unfair trade practices stops (1, 007 employees) the formation of monopolies in the business sector, protects consumer rights Securities and exchange 1934 Regulates the nations stock exchanges in which shares of stocks Commission (SEC) are bought and sold: requires full disclosure of the financial pro 2,946 employees) files of companies that wish to sell stocks and bonds to the public Federal Communications 1934 Regulates all communications by telegraph, cable, telephone, radio Commission(FCC) and television (1, 946 employees) National Labor Relations Board (NLRB 1935 Protects employees rights to join unions and bargain collectively (2,000 employees) with employers; attempts to prevent unfair labor practices by both employers and unions Equal Employment Opportunity 1964 Works to eliminate discrimination based on religion, gender, race. Commission (EEOC) color, national origin, age, or disability: examines claims of (2,746 employees) discrimination Federal Election Commission(FEC) 1974 Ensures that candidates and states follow the rules established by (347 employees the Federal Election Campaign Act Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) 1974 Ensures that electricity-generating nuclear reactors in the United (2, 763 employees tates are built and operated safely regularly inspects the operations of such reactors