FEDERAL ADVISORY COUNCIL: A support committee of the Federal Reserve System that provides advice and input the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. The Federal Advisory Council (FAC) is comprised of 12 members, one from each of the 12 Federal Reserve Districts. The council members, typically commercial bank presidents from the 12 districts, are appointed by their Federal Reserve District Banks. The FAC is one of three Federal Reserve Board advisory committees. The other two Consumer Advisory Council and Thrift Institutions Advisory Council.The Federal Advisory Council (FAC) is an advisory support committee to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. It has no policy making authority but serves to provide "grassroots" feedback and advice on any and all issues relevant to the Federal Reserve System. The council contains 12 members, appointed by the 12 Federal Reserve District Banks. The appointees are typically the presidents of commercial banks within their respective districts. The FAC meets with the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, D.C. at least four times a year, generally the first Friday in February, May, September, and December.
The Federal Advisory Council is a reflection of the basic design of the Federal Reserve System as a decentralize central bank. While the FAC has no explicit policy making authority, feedback from the council helps to keep Fed actions somewhat grounded in the "real world." While input from 12 commercial bank presidents is not quite as grassroots as a council populated by factory workers and retail sales clerks, it is better than nothing at all. Commercial bank presidents living and working places like Des Moines (Iowa), Flagstaff (Arizona), and Memphis (Tennessee) can give insight into Fed policies not found in New York City or Washington, D.C. Two additional advisory councils provide the Federal Reserve Board with advice and feedback on specific areas of Federal Reserve activity--Consumer Advisory Council and Thrift Institutions Advisory Council.
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