A government agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organisation in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of types of agency. Although usage differs, a government agency is normally distinct both from a Department or Ministry, and other types of public body established by government. The functions of an agency are normally executive in character since different types of organisation (such as commissions) are normally used for advisory functions, but this distinction is often blurred in practice.
A government agency may be established by either a national government or a state government within a federal system. (The term is not normally used for an organisation created by the powers of a local government body.) Agencies can be established by legislation or by executive powers. The autonomy, independence and accountability of government agencies also vary widely.
Police: Hospital worker swiped shots, spread hep C Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:18:42 -0400 A former hospital employee may have exposed hundreds or thousands of surgical patients to hepatitis C when she replaced clean needles filled with the powerful painkiller fentanyl with her own dirty needles filled with saline solution.
Health.com picks top beach, lake getaways Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:47:40 -0400 We know your summer vacation time is precious: You want to land where you can truly relax, breathe fresh air, get in some exercise and eat well -- without breaking the bank. That's why we teamed up with a panel of travel and health experts to help us find the healthiest of the nation's most popular beach and lake towns.
Global Gateway to Safety and Health: European Agency for Safety and Health at Work - Global gateway to the principal international occupational safety and health sites in the world, from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work in Bilbao, Spain.
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