National Endowment of the Humanities

What is the National Endowment of the Humanities (NEH)?

The National Endowment of the Humanities is an Independent Federal Agency implemented in order to address matters concerning the provision and furnishing of Federal grants and awards with regard to individuals and institutions existing within the discipline of ‘humanities’. The NEH was founded on September 29th, 1965in conjunction with the passing of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, which served to provide administrative terms and conditions regarding grants, funding, and organized study of the discipline of humanities – humanities is defined as an educational field rooted within studies, analysis, and investigation of the conditions and creation of humankind:

Examples of Humanities Studies

In addition, to law, religion, technology, and literature, the following disciples are considered to be amongst the most primary forms and examples of the discipline of the humanities:

Linguistics; the study of the origins, mechanics, usage, and formulation of language

Sociology; the study of human behavior with regard to their respective societies

Anthropology; the study of human behavior with regard to their area and age of existence

Philosophy; the analysis and participation in structural and expressive thought undertaken by humankind

NEH Quick Facts

The following facts are applicable to both the management and operations of the NEH:

Independent Federal Agencies are typically without a single director or executive; in contrast, independent government agencies – such as the NEH - are overseen by an executive directorial board; due to this fact, the Executive Branch retains less managerial oversight of the NEH than its agency counterparts

Although the President of the United States retains administrative jurisdiction over the NEH, the presence of a committee of directors allows for a decreased executive authority over hiring, staffing, and administration

The headquarters of the NEH are located in Washington, D.C.

The NEH is administered by an executive board chaired by Jim Leach

Independent Government Agencies vs. Executive Government Agencies

Independent Government Agencies are specific organizations and bureaus under the over arching jurisdiction of the Federal Government of the United States; however, these independent agencies are typically without a specified Department responsible for their respective oversight and administration. However, while non-independent government agencies are classified as existing under the jurisdiction of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches, the NEH – as well as the bulk of independent government agencies – are under varying degrees of the Executive branch’s jurisdiction.

NEH: Legal Information and Further Assistance

The operation and administration of the NEH resides under the jurisdiction of the legal field classified as Administrative Law; this genre of law is primarily associated with events and circumstances in which the Federal Government of the United States engages its citizens, including the administration of government programs, the administration and operation of government agencies, and the establishment of a legal, regulatory federal standard – you can find both the primary address and telephones number of the NEH below:

National Endowment of the Humanities

1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C.

20506

(800) 634-1121

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