An introduction to some of the key agencies that make up the government bureaucracy.

The first Congress created several administrative agencies to deliver government services, with more in the following years. These agencies fall into three different categories.

The executive branch has fifteen different primary executive departments, managed by Congress, the Secretaries of the departments, and the President. Each of these departments has various divisions and bureaus.

Crash Course video discusses reasons for and the ways in which Congress delegates responsibility and authority to outside agencies such as OSHA and the FDA. [6:15]