Joseph, serving a fixed term and protected from removal without cause, is most likely working in which kind of agency?

The correct answer is that Joseph is most likely working in an independent agency. Independent agencies are created by Congress and are designed to operate independently from the executive branch of the government. This structure often provides agency leaders with fixed terms and protection from removal without cause, ensuring that they can perform their duties without political pressure. Such protections are essential for maintaining the integrity and impartiality of the agency’s functions.

In contrast, executive agencies are part of the executive branch and can often be reorganized or removed at the discretion of the President, meaning that the leaders in these agencies typically do not have the same level of job security as those in independent agencies. Dependent agencies, while not a common term, generally refer to agencies that operate under the direct control of the executive branch. Regulatory authorities may overlap with independent agencies but are specifically focused on regulation of certain industries and not directly categorized by leadership stability or removal protections.