agency
Other forms: agencies
An agency usually provides a service, like an aid organization or a government bureau. If you're looking for a job, an employment agency might be able to help.
The Latin word agere means "to do or manage," and it's a fitting ancestor for agency, a word that means an institution that manages or specializes in something. As a secret agent, you might work for the CIA, or Central Intelligence Agency. I hope you look good in black. The noun agency also refers to the power or ability to do something, as in the William McKinley quote, "War should never be entered upon until every agency of peace has failed.”
Definitions of agency
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the state of being in action or exerting power“the agency of providence”“she has free agency”
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types:
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Frankenstein
an agency that escapes control and destroys its creator
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type of:
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action, activeness, activity
the state of being active
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Frankenstein
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the state of serving as an official and authorized delegate or agent
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synonyms:
delegacy, representation
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types:
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free agency
(sports) the state of a professional athlete who is free to negotiate a contract to play for any team
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legal representation
personal representation that has legal status
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virus
a harmful or corrupting agency
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type of:
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state
the way something is with respect to its main attributes
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free agency
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a business that provides a specialized service
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types:
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ad agency, advertising agency
an agency that designs advertisement to call public attention to its clients
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credit bureau
a private firm that maintains consumer credit data files and provides credit information to authorized users for a fee
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detective agency
an agency that makes inquiries for its clients
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employment agency, employment office
an agency that finds people to fill particular jobs or finds jobs for unemployed people
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commercial agency, mercantile agency
an organization that provides businesses with credit ratings of other firms
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news agency, news organisation, news organization, press agency, press association, wire service
an agency to collects news reports for newspapers and distributes it electronically
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service agency, service bureau, service firm
a business that makes its facilities available to others for a fee; achieves economy of scale
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travel agency
an agency that arranges personal travel
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transfer agent
an agency (usually a bank) that is appointed by a corporation to keep records of its stock and bond owners and to resolve problems about certificates
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syndicate
a news agency that sells features or articles or photographs etc. to newspapers for simultaneous publication
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type of:
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business, business concern, business organisation, business organization, concern
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
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an administrative unit of government“the Central Intelligence Agency”
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synonyms:
authority, bureau, federal agency, government agency, office
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examples:
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Air Force Research Laboratory
a United States Air Force defense laboratory responsible for discovering and developing and integrating fighting technologies for aerospace forces
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Army High Performance Computing Research Center
a United States defense laboratory to conduct research in high-performance computing for defense technology applications; a partnership of government and university and industry
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Naval Research Laboratory
the United States Navy's defense laboratory that conducts basic and applied research for the Navy in a variety of scientific and technical disciplines
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United States Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory
a defense laboratory of the Criminal Investigation Command; the United States Army's primary forensic laboratory in support of criminal intelligence
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types:
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executive agency
an agency of the executive branch of government
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FDA, Food and Drug Administration
a federal agency in the Department of Health and Human Services established to regulate the release of new foods and health-related products
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CDC, Center for Disease Control and Prevention
a federal agency in the Department of Health and Human Services; located in Atlanta; investigates and diagnoses and tries to control or prevent diseases (especially new and unusual diseases)
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CTC, Counterterrorist Center
an agency that helps the Director of Central Intelligence coordinate counterterrorist efforts in order to preempt and disrupt and defeat terrorist activities at the earliest possible stage
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NPC, Nonproliferation Center
an agency that serves as the focal point for all Intelligence Community activities related to nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their missile delivery systems
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Bureau of the Census, Census Bureau
the bureau of the Commerce Department responsible for taking the census; provides demographic information and analyses about the population of the United States
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NOAA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
an agency in the Department of Commerce that maps the oceans and conserves their living resources; predicts changes to the earth's environment; provides weather reports and forecasts floods and hurricanes and other natural disasters related to weather
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NCDC, National Climatic Data Center
the part of NOAA that maintains the world's largest active archive of weather data
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National Weather Service
the federal agency in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that is responsible for weather forecast and preparation of weather maps
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Technology Administration
an agency in the Department of Commerce that works with United States industries to promote competitiveness and maximize the impact of technology on economic growth
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NIST, National Institute of Standards and Technology
an agency in the Technology Administration that makes measurements and sets standards as needed by industry or government programs
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NTIS, National Technical Information Service
an agency in the Technology Administration that is a primary resource for government-funded scientific and technical and engineering and business related information
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DARPA, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
the central research and development organization for the United States Department of Defense; responsible for developing new surveillance technologies since 9/11
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Department of Defense Laboratory System, LABLINK
a defense laboratory that provides essential services in fundamental science for national security and environmental protection and provides technologies that contribute to industrial competitiveness
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DOEI, Department of Energy Intelligence
an agency that collects political and economic and technical information about energy matters and makes the Department of Energy's technical and analytical expertise available to other members of the Intelligence Community
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PHS, United States Public Health Service
an agency that serves as the office of Surgeon General; includes agencies whose mission is to improve the public health
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NIH, National Institutes of Health
an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services whose mission is to employ science in the pursuit of knowledge to improve human health; is the principal biomedical research agency of the federal government
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BJA, Bureau of Justice Assistance
the bureau in the Department of Justice that assists local criminal justice systems to reduce or prevent crime and violence and drug abuse
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BJS, Bureau of Justice Statistics
the agency in the Department of Justice that is the primary source of criminal justice statistics for federal and local policy makers
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INS, Immigration and Naturalization Service
an agency in the Department of Justice that enforces laws and regulations for the admission of foreign-born persons to the United States
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US Border Patrol, United States Border Patrol
the mobile law enforcement arm of the Immigration and Naturalization Service that detects and prevents illegal entry of aliens into the United States
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Bureau of Diplomatic Security, DS
the bureau in the State Department that is responsible for the security of diplomats and embassies overseas
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Foreign Service
the part of the State Department that supplies diplomats for the United States embassies and consulates around the world
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Bureau of Intelligence and Research, INR
an agency that is the primary source in the State Department for interpretive analyses of global developments and focal point for policy issues and activities of the Intelligence Community
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FWS, US Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service
an agency in the Department of the Interior that conserves and protects fish and wildlife and their habitats; assesses the environmental impact of pesticides and nuclear power site and hydroelectric dams and thermal pollution
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National Park Service
an agency of the Interior Department responsible for the national parks
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Financial Management Service
the federal agency in the Treasury Department that manages the government's disbursement and collection systems and provides central accounting and financial reporting
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OIS, Office of Intelligence Support
agency that oversees the intelligence relationships of the Treasury's offices and bureaus and provides a link between the Intelligence Community and officials responsible for international economic policy
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Comptroller of the Currency
the agency of the Treasury Department responsible for controlling the currency
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Bureau of Customs, Customs Bureau, Customs Service, USCB
the agency of the Treasury Department that enforces import tariffs
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Bureau of Engraving and Printing
the agency of the Treasury Department that produces currency
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IRS, Internal Revenue Service
the bureau of the Treasury Department responsible for tax collections
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FAA, Federal Aviation Agency
an agency in the Department of Transportation that is responsible for the safety of civilian aviation
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TSA, Transportation Security Administration
an agency established in 2001 to safeguard United States transportation systems and insure safe air travel
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GAO, Government Accounting Office, United States Government Accounting Office
an independent nonpartisan federal agency that acts as the investigative arm of Congress making the executive branch accountable to Congress and the government accountable to citizens of the United States
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Navy, US Navy, USN, United States Navy
the navy of the United States of America; the agency that maintains and trains and equips combat-ready naval forces
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U. S. Coast Guard, US Coast Guard, United States Coast Guard
an agency of the Department of Transportation responsible for patrolling shores and facilitating nautical commerce
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NAWCWPNS, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division
the principal agency of the United States Navy for research and development for air warfare and missile weapon systems
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NSW, Naval Special Warfare
the agency that provides units to conduct unconventional and counter-guerilla warfare
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NSWC, Naval Surface Warfare Center
the agency that provides scientific and engineering and technical support for all aspects of surface warfare
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NUWC, Naval Underwater Warfare Center
the agency that provides scientific and engineering and technical support for submarine and undersea warfare systems
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ONI, Office of Naval Intelligence
the military intelligence agency that provides for the intelligence and counterintelligence and investigative and security requirements of the United States Navy
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MCIA, Marine Corps Intelligence Activity
an agency of the United States Marine Corps that provides responsive and broad intelligence support for the worldwide Marine Corps organization
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Air Force, U. S. Air Force, US Air Force, USAF, United States Air Force
the airforce of the United States of America; the agency that defends the United States through control and exploitation of air and space
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AFISR, Air Force ISR, Air Force Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance
an agency focused on ensuring that the United States military attains information superiority; operates worldwide ground sites and an array of airborne reconnaissance and surveillance platforms
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independent agency
an agency of the United States government that is created by an act of Congress and is independent of the executive departments
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ARDA, Advanced Research and Development Activity
an agency of the Intelligence Community that conducts advanced research and development related to information technology
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Defense Logistics Agency
a logistics combat support agency in the Department of Defense; provides worldwide support for military missions
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DRMS, Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service
the organization in the Defense Logistics Agency that inventories and evaluates and sells reusable United States government surplus
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DTIC, Defense Technical Information Center
the agency in the Department of Defense that provides scientific and technical information to federal agencies and their contractors
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law enforcement agency
an agency responsible for insuring obedience to the laws
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OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
a government agency in the Department of Labor to maintain a safe and healthy work environment
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organ
a government agency or instrument devoted to the performance of some specific function
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Patent Office, Patent and Trademark Office Database
the government bureau in the Department of Commerce that keeps a record of patents and trademarks and grants new ones
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GPO, Government Printing Office, US Government Printing Office, United States Government Printing Office
an agency of the legislative branch that provides printing and binding services for Congress and the departments and establishments of the federal government
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NGB, National Guard Bureau
the agency that administers the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard; provides liaison between the Army and the Air Force and various National Guard units
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Army, U. S. Army, US Army, USA, United States Army
the army of the United States of America; the agency that organizes and trains soldiers for land warfare
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AI, Army Intelligence
an agency of the United States Army responsible for providing timely and relevant and accurate and synchronized intelligence to tactical and operational and strategic level commanders
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BMDO, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization
an agency in the Department of Defense that is responsible for making ballistic missile defense a reality
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DISA, Defense Information Systems Agency
a combat support agency in the Department of Defense responsible for developing and operating and supporting information systems to serve the needs of the President and the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff
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NGA, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
a combat support agency that provides geographic intelligence in support of national security
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CCRC, Casualty Care Research Center
an agency in the Department of Defense that is a national center for research on all aspects of injury control and casualty care
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FHA, Federal Housing Administration
the federal agency in the Department of Housing and Urban Development that insures residential mortgages
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local authority
an administrative unit of local government
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customs
the government agency that oversees and collects duties on imported goods
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AEC, Atomic Energy Commission
a former executive agency (from 1946 to 1974) that was responsible for research into atomic energy and its peacetime uses in the United States
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NRC, Nuclear Regulatory Commission
an independent federal agency created in 1974 to license and regulate nuclear power plants
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EPA, Environmental Protection Agency
an independent federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment
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FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency
an independent agency of the United States government that provides a single point of accountability for all federal emergency preparedness and mitigation and response activities
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Council of Economic Advisors
an executive agency responsible for providing economic advice to the President
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CIA, Central Intelligence Agency
an independent agency of the United States government responsible for collecting and coordinating intelligence and counterintelligence activities abroad in the national interest; headed by the Director of Central Intelligence under the supervision of the President and National Security Council
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ICC, Interstate Commerce Commission
a former independent federal agency that supervised and set rates for carriers that transported goods and people between states; was terminated in 1995
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NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
an independent agency of the United States government responsible for aviation and spaceflight
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NARA, National Archives and Records Administration
the independent agency that oversees management of federal government records including presidential libraries and historic collections
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NLRB, National Labor Relations Board
an independent agency of the United States government charged with mediating disputes between management and labor unions
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NSF, National Science Foundation
an independent agency of the federal government responsible for the promotion of progress in science and engineering by supporting programs in research and education
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Postal Rate Commission
an independent federal agency that recommends changes in postal rates
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US Postal Service, USPS, United States Postal Service
an independent federal agency that provides mail processing and delivery service for individuals and businesses in the United States
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US Postal Inspection Service, United States Postal Inspection Service
the primary law enforcement arm of the United States Postal Service
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NSC, National Security Council
a committee in the executive branch of government that advises the president on foreign and military and national security; supervises the Central Intelligence Agency
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Council on Environmental Policy
the executive agency that advises the President on protecting the environment
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Joint Chiefs, Joint Chiefs of Staff
the executive agency that advises the President on military questions; composed of the chiefs of the United States Army and the United States Navy and the United States Air Force and the commandant of the United States Marine Corps
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OMB, Office of Management and Budget
the executive agency that advises the President on the federal budget
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US Trade Representative, United States Trade Representative
the executive agency that administers the President's policies on international trade
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FCC, Federal Communications Commission
an independent government agency that regulates interstate and international communications by radio and television and wire and cable and satellite
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SSA, Social Security Administration
an independent government agency responsible for the Social Security system
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FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation
a federal law enforcement agency that is the principal investigative arm of the Department of Justice
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FLETC, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
a center in the Department of that trains law enforcement professionals for more than seventy federal agencies
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FinCEN, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
a law enforcement agency of the Treasury Department responsible for establishing and implementing policies to detect money laundering
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ATF, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms
the law enforcement and tax collection agency of the Treasury Department that enforces federal laws concerning alcohol and tobacco products and firearms and explosives and arson
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CID, Criminal Investigation Command
the United States Army's principal law enforcement agency responsible for the conduct of criminal investigations for all levels of the Army anywhere in the world
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DEA, Drug Enforcement Administration, Drug Enforcement Agency
federal agency responsible for enforcing laws and regulations governing narcotics and controlled substances; goal is to immobilize drug trafficking organizations
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BoP, Federal Bureau of Prisons
the law enforcement agency of the Justice Department that operates a nationwide system of prisons and detention facilities to incarcerate inmates sentenced to imprisonment for federal crimes
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Federal Judiciary
the judiciary of the United States which is responsible for interpreting and enforcing federal laws
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NIJ, National Institute of Justice
the law enforcement agency that is the research and development branch of the Department of Justice
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Marshals, US Marshals Service, United States Marshals Service
the United States' oldest federal law enforcement agency is responsible today for protecting the Federal Judiciary and transporting federal prisoners and protecting federal witnesses and managing assets seized from criminals and generally ensuring the effective operation of the federal judicial system
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Bureau of Customs, Customs Bureau, Customs Service, USCB
the agency of the Treasury Department that enforces import tariffs
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PO, Post Office, US Post Office, United States Post Office
an independent agency of the federal government responsible for mail delivery (and sometimes telecommunications) between individuals and businesses in the United States
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constabulary, law, police, police force
the force of police and officers
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FTC, Federal Trade Commission
an independent agency of the United States federal government that maintains fair and free competition; enforces federal antitrust laws; educates the public about identity theft
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OIG, Office of Inspector General
the investigative arm of the Federal Trade Commission
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GSA, General Services Administration
a central management agency that sets Federal policy for Federal procurement and real property management and information resources management
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FPS, Federal Protective Service
an agency in the General Services Administration that is a security organization to provide a safe environment where Federal agencies can conduct their business
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SBA, Small Business Administration
an independent agency of the United States government that protects the interests of small businesses and ensures that they receive a fair share of government contracts
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SSS, Selective Service, Selective Service System
an independent federal agency that administers compulsory military service
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SEC, Securities and Exchange Commission
an independent federal agency that oversees the exchange of securities to protect investors
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type of:
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administrative body, administrative unit
a unit with administrative responsibilities
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how a result is obtained or an end is achieved“an example is the best agency of instruction”
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types:
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dint
force or effort; interchangeable with 'means' in the expression 'by means of'
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escape
a means or way of escaping
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fast track
a rapid means of achieving a goal
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instrument, tool
the means whereby some act is accomplished
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road
a way or means to achieve something
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stepping stone
any means of advancement
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expedient
a means to an end; not necessarily a principled or ethical one
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desperate measure
desperate actions taken as a means to an end
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open sesame
any very successful means of achieving a result
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salvation
a means of preserving from harm or unpleasantness
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tooth
a means of enforcement
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voice
a means or agency by which something is expressed or communicated
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wings
a means of flight or ascent
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royal road
an auspicious way or means to achieve something
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make-do, makeshift, stopgap
something contrived to meet an urgent need or emergency
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crutch
anything that serves as an expedient
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improvisation, temporary expedient
an unplanned expedient
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last resort, pis aller
an expedient adopted only in desperation
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type of:
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effectuation, implementation
the act of implementing (providing a practical means for accomplishing something); carrying into effect
Pronunciation
US
/ˈeɪdʒənsi/
UK
/ˈeɪdʒɪnsi/
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