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U.S. Civics Terms

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Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - formerly called the Federal Aviation Agency. This administration was established in 1958, and made part of the Department of Transportation in 1967. It regulates air commerce to promote safety and national defense; controls the use of American airspace by both civilian and military aircraft to ensure safety and efficiency; supports civil aeronautics; helps coordinate research and development of air navigation facilities; develops and operates an air traffic control system for civil and military aircraft; and create and implement programs and rules to control environmental effects of civil aviation, including aircraft noise and sonic boom.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) - established in 1908, and part of the Department of Justice. The FBI investigates most cases in which people are accused of violating federal criminal laws. After investigating these cases, the FBI pursues and arrest people suspected or charged with a federal crime. One of the most famous directors of the FBI was J. Edgar Hoover, who headed the Bureau from 1924 to 1972. Although he made many positive contributions to the FBI and to the nation, he also engaged in unethical behavior, such as wiretapping and maintaining files on individuals he did not like.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - independent agency in the federal executive branch. The FCC regulates interstate and foreign communications; including radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. It helps develop and operate broadcast services, and works to ensure efficient, low-cost service for national and international telephone and telegraphs. In addition, the commission is responsible for using communications to promote the safety of life and property, and strengthening the nation's defense.

Federal Deposit Insurance Commission (FDIC) - independent federal agency, established in 1933 in the aftermath of numerous bank failures after the Great Depression. The FDIC helps preserve public confidence in American banks and other financial institutions. It accomplishes this by providing insurance for bank and thrift deposits up to a legal limit of $100,000. In addition, the FDIC periodically examines banks chartered by the states which are not members of the Federal Reserve system, to make sure that they are sound and that they follow consumer protection laws. When banks and other financial institutions fail, the FDIC liquidates their assets and reimburses insurance funds for the cost of the failures. Congress does not assign money for the operation of the FDIC. Instead, the FDIC gets its income from fees paid by insured banks; interest from required investment of surplus funds; and, if necessary, borrowing up to $30 billion for insurance purposes from the Department of the Treasury.

Federal Reserve System - independent agency in the federal executive branch. Established under the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, the Federal Reserve System ("Fed") is the central bank of the United States. One of the most powerful agencies in the government, it makes and administers policy for national credit and monetary policies. The Fed supervises and regulates bank functions across the country, thus maintaining a sound and stable banking industry, able to deal with a wide range of domestic and international financial demands.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - independent agency in the federal executive branch, established under the Federal Trade Commission Act and the Clayton Act of 1914. The FTC works to promote free and fair competition in the American economic system. It seeks to prevent monopolies or other restraints on trade; and to stop unfair or deceptive trade practices.

Federal judiciary - consists of the nine justices of the US Supreme Court and hundreds of federal judges, all of whom are appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. Federal judges preside over constitutional courts, which include 94 district courts and 12 courts of appeal; and legislative courts, which consists of special courts like tax and military courts.

Federal Deposit Insurance Commission (FDIC) - independent federal agency, established in 1933 in the aftermath of numerous bank failures after the Great Depression. The FDIC helps preserve public confidence in American banks and other financial institutions. It accomplishes this by providing insurance for bank and thrift deposits up to a legal limit of $100,000. In addition, the FDIC periodically examines banks chartered by the states which are not members of the Federal Reserve system, to make sure that they are sound and that they follow consumer protection laws. When banks and other financial institutions fail, the FDIC liquidates their assets and reimburses insurance funds for the cost of the failures. Congress does not assign money for the operation of the FDIC. Instead, the FDIC gets its income from fees paid by insured banks; interest from required investment of surplus funds; and, if necessary, borrowing up to $30 billion for insurance purposes from the Department of the Treasury.

Federal Reserve System - independent agency in the federal executive branch. Established under the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, the Federal Reserve System ("Fed") is the central bank of the United States. One of the most powerful agencies in the government, it makes and administers policy for national credit and monetary policies. The Fed supervises and regulates bank functions across the country, thus maintaining a sound and stable banking industry, able to deal with a wide range of domestic and international financial demands.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - independent agency in the federal executive branch, established under the Federal Trade Commission Act and the Clayton Act of 1914. The FTC works to promote free and fair competition in the American economic system. It seeks to prevent monopolies or other restraints on trade; and to stop unfair or deceptive trade practices.

Federal judiciary - consists of the nine justices of the US Supreme Court and hundreds of federal judges, all of whom are appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. Federal judges preside over constitutional courts, which include 94 district courts and 12 courts of appeal; and legislative courts, which consists of special courts like tax and military courts.

Federalism - system for national government in which some powers are delegated to either national or state government, and other powers are shared between the two levels. This system presented a compromise at the 1787 Constitutional Convention between delegates fighting for a strong central government and delegates concerned about states' rights.

Federalist Papers (1788) - a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison to convince readers to ratify the Constitution in New York State. The essays were later used to promote the ratification of the Constitution in other states. The Federalist Papers stand as a primary on what the writers of the Constitution had in mind when they were creating the document.

Feudalism - economic and political system, widespread in Mediaeval Europe, in which some individuals, called "nobles," owned land, and other individuals, called "serfs," did not. Nobility and serfdom were based on birth and family background, and there was virtually no way for a serf to obtain land. Thus, families with no land rented farmland and obtained protection from nobles, in exchange for services and resources which the serfs provided for the nobles. A rigid and largely oppressive system, it helped foster class consciousness in a society which depended on agriculture for livelihood and, for which, owning land meant having wealth and social status.

Filibuster - a tactic in which a Senator holds the floor for a long time in order to delay or prevent a vote on an issue. Filibusters cannot occur in the House of Representatives, since speaking time is limited.

Financial Management Service - one of the agencies of the Department of the Treasury. The Financial Management Service acts as the central bookkeeper for the federal government, as well as its major financial reporting agency.

Feudalism - economic and political system, widespread in Mediaeval Europe, in which some individuals, called "nobles," owned land, and other individuals, called "serfs," did not. Nobility and serfdom were based on birth and family background, and there was virtually no way for a serf to obtain land. Thus, families with no land rented farmland and obtained protection from nobles, in exchange for services and resources which the serfs provided for the nobles. A rigid and largely oppressive system, it helped foster class consciousness in a society which depended on agriculture for livelihood and, for which, owning land meant having wealth and social status.

Filibuster - a tactic in which a Senator holds the floor for a long time in order to delay or prevent a vote on an issue. Filibusters cannot occur in the House of Representatives, since speaking time is limited.

First Lady - the spouse of the President. Since there has never been a female American President, there has never been a "First Man." The role of the First Lady is largely a social and public relations one. Some First Ladies; such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Barbara Bush, and Hillary Clinton; have chosen social causes to champion. First Lady Hillary Rodham has been controversial because of the strong role she has taken in trying to help shape national policy.

Fiscal policy - government policies which seek to influence the economy through tax and spending policies.

Food and Drug Administration - part of the Public Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA administers federal laws which prohibit the manufacture, shipment, or sale of impure or unsafe foods, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, and other related items; and conducts research on their safety.

Foreign Service - part of the Department of State. The Foreign Service has thousands of ambassadors and staff members, who are trained to represent the United States in embassies, missions, liaison offices, consulates and other agencies in the United States and throughout the world. Ambassadors report to the President via the Secretary of State. They are responsible for implementing US civilian foreign policy within the countries to which they are assigned.

Foreign policy - decisions and programs made by the government which are directly related to issues involving other countries. Sometimes domestic and foreign policies influence each other.

Forest Service - created by the Transfer Act of 1905. The Forest Service bears the responsibility for federal leadership in the management of forest land. It manages the national Forest System, which consists of: 155 national forests, 20 national grasslands and 8 land utilization projects in 44 states, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. In addition, it conducts research to develop technology to protect, manage, use and sustain the nation's forest resources. Its International Forestry Division helps foreign nations promote sustainable development and environmental stability, especially in areas important in global climate.

Founders of the nation - people who made important contributions to the development of the national government.

Framers - term used to refer to the people who attended the Constitutional Convention in 1787 as delegates, or were involved in the writing of the Bill of Rights.

Franchise - the right to vote.

Franking privilege - power of members of Congress to send out mail free, without paying postal charges. This is one of the benefits or perquisites of being a House Representative or Senator, since members of Congress can use mailings to cultivate a positive popular image among their constituents.

Free exercise clause - section of the First Amendment to the US Constitution which forbids the government to make any laws to prohibit the free exercise of religion. This is the basis of the Constitution's protection of the freedom of religion.

Free trade - buying, selling and other financial transactions which are conducted tariffs or other trade barriers.

Freedom of assembly - the right to gather with other people in public. This right is protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

Freedom of expression - right to express oneself and one's views in spoken words, actions, printed materials, assemblies or gatherings and petitions submitted to the government. It refers to the collective rights guaranteed in the First Amendment to the US Constitution: religion, speech, press, assembly and petition.

Freedom of petition - the right to present requests to the government without punishment or reprisal. This right is guaranteed in the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

Freedom of religion - the right to worship according to one's own beliefs. This freedom is guaranteed in the First Amendment to the US Constitution, although the Supreme Court has ruled that this freedom is not absolute.

Freedom of speech - the right to express oneself, with words or actions (verbally or symbolically). This freedom is guaranteed in the First Amendment to the US Constitution; although the Supreme Court has ruled that this freedom is not absolute: it should not be applied when it endangers or harms the lives, liberty or property of others.

Freedom of the press - the right to publish or print without interference from the government, guaranteed in the First Amendment to the US Constitution. This extent of this freedom has been debate by the public, in the legislatures, and in the courts, especially as regard to prior restraint, libel, obscenity and national security.

Full faith and credit - first words of Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution, which requires states to respect the "public acts, records, and judicial proceedings" of all the other states.