1.   Congress has surrendered vast powers to independent federal agencies over which it and the president have little or no authority.

2.   The Congressional Research Service is an independent agency that offers members of Congress objective analysis of issues and legislation.

3.   The Federal Reserve Board is an independent agency created by Congress.

4.   Thus, we would undoubtedly feel less happy if political polls were not carried out by independent agencies.

5.   The Romanian tourist office in London referred Patrick to an independent agency called Transylvanian Travel.

6.   The Scottish Office has announced plans for a new independent agency -- the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

7.   Numerous calls for increased powers for the independent agency will not be taken up.

8.   Although the MTA receives money from the city, it is an independent agency.

9.   An FBI spokesman told me the agency plans next week to turn over the source code of Carnivore to an independent agency.