economy

From it’s mission statement:

"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.

Today, the Federal Reserve’s duties fall into four general areas:

- conducting the nation’s monetary policy by influencing the monetary and credit conditions in the economy in pursuit of maximum employment, stable prices, and moderate long-term interest rates

- supervising and regulating banking institutions to ensure the safety and soundness of the nation’s banking and financial system and to protect the credit rights of consumers

- maintaining the stability of the financial system and containing systemic risk that may arise in financial markets

- providing financial services to depository institutions, the U.S. government, and foreign official institutions, including playing a major role in operating the nation’s payments system "

(Ref: http://www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/mission/default.htm)

How it is organized:

The Federal Reserve System is organized with a government agency at the top (the Board of Governors), and branches beneath them that resemble private corporations. (http://www.federalreserveeducation.org/fed101/structure/ )

The Board of Governors are all appointed for 14-year terms by the president and confirmed by congress. It operates per it’s charter and laws set by congress. it is overseen by congress. There is no structure or mechanism for private ownership at this level. Board members are forbidden by law to have any economic interest in a private bank.

The 12 branches, however, are organized similar to private corporations. Member banks are required to buy shares in their branch equal to 3% of their capital. All ‘profit’ from the Federal Reserve branches are turned over to the Treasury at the end of the year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Reserve

http://www.federalreserveeducation.org/FRED/?CFID=2289124&CFTOKEN=61612978