<P> Independent agencies of the United States federal government are those agencies that exist outside the federal executive departments (those headed by a Cabinet secretary) and the Executive Office of the President . In a more narrow sense, the term may also be used to describe agencies that, while constitutionally part of the executive branch, are independent of presidential control, usually because the president's power to dismiss the agency head or a member is limited . </P> <P> Established through separate statutes passed by the Congress, each respective statutory grant of authority defines the goals the agency must work towards, as well as what substantive areas, if any, over which it may have the power of rulemaking . These agency rules (or regulations), when in force, have the power of federal law . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section requires immediate attention for which sense of "independent" is it about? . After reading the talk page, if you can help, please edit this page . (October 2016) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section requires immediate attention for which sense of "independent" is it about? . After reading the talk page, if you can help, please edit this page . (October 2016) </Td> </Tr>

Why is nasa an executive agency not an executive department