FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM: THE central bank of the United States. It includes a Board of Governors, 12 District Banks, 25 Branch Banks, and assorted committees. The most important of these committees is the Federal Open Market Committee, which directs monetary policy. The Fed (as many like to call it) was established in 1913 and modified significantly during the Great Depression of the 1930s. It's duties are to maintain the stability of the banking system, regulate banks, and oversee the nation's money supply. See also | Board of Governors | Board of Governors, Chairman | Federal Reserve Bank | Federal Reserve District Bank | Federal Reserve Branch Bank | Board of Governors | Federal Open Market Committee | Federal Advisory Council | money supply | monetary policy | bank | monetary aggregate | open market operations | discount rate | reserve requirements | Federal Reserve note | bank reserves | Federal Reserve deposits |
