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The Federal Reserve System

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The Federal Reserve System
The Federal Reserve System is the central bank of the United States. It was founded by Congress in 1913 to provide the nation with a safer, more flexible, and more stable monetary and financial system. Over the years, its role in banking and the economy has expanded. The Federal Reserve or the Fed, as some call it, has three primary functions: monetary policy, banking supervision, and financial services. For example, one of the monetary policies that it serves to set is the interest rates in banks in the United States of America. The bank also provides assistance to any banks that find themselves running out of money, etc.
The Board of Governors is a group of of people that manage the Federal Reserve and its business. The board consists of the seven governors, appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Governors serve 14-year, staggered terms to ensure stability and continuity over time. The chairman and vice-chairman are appointed to four-year terms and may be reappointed subject to term limitations. Among the responsibilities of the Board of Governors are to guide monetary policy action, to analyze domestic and international economic and financial conditions, and to lead committees that study current issues, such as consumer banking laws and electronic commerce.
The Board also exercises broad supervisory control over the financial services industry, administers certain consumer protection regulations, and oversees the nation's payments system. The Board oversees the activities of Reserve Banks, approving the appointments of their presidents and some members of their boards of directors. The Board sets reserve requirements for depository institutions and approves changes in discount rates recommended by Reserve Banks.
The Board's most important responsibility is participating in the Federal Open Market Committee

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