Government corporations such as Amtrak serve the public, are owned by the government, and are tied to a revenue stream.
A government corporation, a fourth category of entities in the executive branch bureaucracy, is a business that serves a public purpose and is owned or partly owned by the government. Although government corporations are exceptionally diverse, they have two important structural features in common. First, they are usually enterprises tied to a revenue stream: that is, they are agencies in fields or endeavors that can raise money. Secondly, government corporations, like corporations in the business world, are typically run by a board of directors.
Major U.S. Government Corporations
| Corporation Name | Year Established | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) | 1933 | Provides flood control, navigation, and electricity to the Tennessee Valley region, which includes all or part of seven states in the Southeast; founded as part of the New Deal to respond to the Great Depression |
| Export-Import Bank | 1934 | Finance and promote American exports of goods and services, particularly when commercial banks decline to finance transactions because of risk factors |
| National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) | 1971 | Provides medium- and long-distance intercity rail service in the continental United States |
| U.S. Postal Service | 1971 | Handles mail and package delivery across the United States |