What is the Fed: Structure

Introduction

The Federal Reserve System has a two-part structure: a central authority called the Board of Governors located in Washington, D.C., and a decentralized network of 12 Federal Reserve Banks located throughout the U.S. One of the most visible functions of the Fed plays out at the meetings of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which bring together members of the Board of Governors and presidents of the Reserve Banks to set monetary policy.

The Fed’s structure has been set up by Congress to ensure that monetary policy is insulated from political pressure. The Fed’s decisions are also protected from interference from other arms of the federal government. Specifically, policy and operational decisions do not require approval from Congress or the President. Also, the Fed’s operations are not financed by appropriations from Congress. The Fed is able to self-fund its budget through interest earned on U.S. government securities it holds, interest on loans to financial firms, and fees charged to banks. While the Fed’s structure shields it from political pressure, Congress still has the power to change the laws governing the Fed and its structure. In addition, the Fed regularly reports to Congress on monetary policy and other matters, and undergoes an audit process each year. As such, the Fed is commonly described as “independent within the government,” or as a “quasi-governmental” agency.

Board of Governors

The Board operates as an independent government agency.

At the center of the Federal Reserve structure is the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C. The Board is charged with overseeing the entire Federal Reserve System and operates as an independent government agency. The Board is made up of seven members who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Members serve staggered 14-year terms that expire in even-numbered years. The long, 14-year terms are another feature of the Fed’s structure designed to shield Board members from political pressures. From these members, the President also designates a Chair and two Vice Chairs of the Board to serve four-year terms. These leadership roles must be approved by the Senate and may be renewed.

Federal Reserve Banks

Twelve regional Federal Reserve Banks carry out much of the System’s day-to-day operations.

The Fed includes 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks that carry out much of the System’s day-to-day operations. These Reserve Banks, also known as district banks, are organized as a special type of not-for profit organization operating in the public interest. The 12 districts are headquartered in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond, Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas, and San Francisco. Branches of the Reserve Banks are located in 24 other cities.

Each Reserve Bank and each of their branches has a board of directors. The local boards include individuals from different sectors of their communities. Some individuals represent commercial banks that are members of the Federal Reserve System. Other board directors represent local businesses and labor, consumer, and nonprofit areas of their communities. Each Reserve Bank has a president who is appointed by its board of directors, excluding directors representing commercial banks. The Board of Governors must approve these appointments.

Federal Open Market Committee

The FOMC is the Fed’s monetary policy-making body.

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is the Fed’s monetary policy-making body. The FOMC has 12 voting members, including all seven members of the Board of Governors and a rotating group of five Reserve Bank presidents. The Chair of the Board of Governors also serves as Chair of the FOMC. The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York serves as Vice Chair of the FOMC. The NY Fed is directly involved in carrying out monetary policy operations, so its president has a permanent vote on the FOMC. The other 11 Reserve Bank presidents serve one-year terms as voting members on a rotating basis. All 12 Reserve Bank presidents participate in FOMC meetings, whether or not they are current voting members.

The FOMC holds eight regularly scheduled meetings a year in Washington, D.C. For each session, economists at the Board of Governors and the Reserve Banks analyze regional, national, and international economic and financial conditions. On the final day of each FOMC meeting, monetary policy actions are put to a vote. Following the meeting, the FOMC issues a written statement. Each statement describes how the committee views economic conditions, policy actions, and guidance on the possible future course of policy. Three weeks following each FOMC meeting, detailed minutes are released. The minutes include descriptions of the Committee’s views on economic conditions and the reasons for policy decisions. Following a five-year holding period, the actual transcripts of each FOMC meeting are also released.

FOMC Communications

The FOMC has taken several steps to be more open about monetary policy. The Chair of the Federal Reserve holds regular press conferences after every FOMC meeting. In addition, the Committee regularly updates and releases a document called the “Statement on Longer-Run Goals and Monetary Policy Strategy.” This document outlines how Fed policymakers interpret the Fed’s dual mandate from Congress to promote full employment and stable prices. FOMC members also provide their views on the likely direction of future monetary policy in a document called the “Summary of Economic Projections.” The Committee releases these projections four times each year.

Recent Changes

There are also two additional entities within the Fed that were established in 2010 as a result of the Dodd-Frank Act. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is an autonomous agency operating within the Fed that protects consumers in financial matters. The Office of Minority and Women Inclusion is charged with stepping up the Fed’s involvement with minority- and women-owned businesses and reviewing the diversity and inclusion policies of the financial institutions the Fed oversees.