What type of agencies often combine legislative, executive, and judicial powers?

Independent agencies often combine legislative, executive, and judicial powers within their functions. This is because they are created by Congress and granted specific authority that allows them to create regulations (legislative), enforce those regulations (executive), and adjudicate disputes or violations of those regulations (judicial).

For example, independent agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have the authority to develop rules and regulations, enforce compliance with these rules, and conduct hearings or adjudicate disputes arising from their enforcement actions. This unique structure enables them to operate with a degree of independence from the executive branch, providing checks and balances on government power.

In contrast, other types of agencies, such as governing boards or state agencies, typically do not possess the same combination of these powers as independent agencies, thus reinforcing the distinctive role that independent agencies play in federal regulatory frameworks.