This article systematizes the political control mechanisms provided by the institutional model originally conceived for the regulatory agencies in order to assess the political control mechanisms in the institutional framework of the Brazilian independent regulatory agencies (IRAs) and analyze the political control changes introduced by the law proposed by the government to Congress in April 12, 2004. After putting into context the debate on political control over the Brazilian IRAs, the article discusses the relationship between delegation and accountability. Then, so as to find a parameter for assessing the Brazilian regulatory agency model, it identifies the political control mechanisms used by the American experience. Finally, it assesses the current institutional situation of the Brazilian IRAs and comments on the contribution of the recent law proposal in relation to agency political control.
regulatory agency; regulation; political control; delegation; accountability