In February 1887 Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act to ensure reasonable and fair rates for interstate railroad shipping. The act established the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), which was the first independent agency designed to regulate interstate commerce. The act was passed soon after the Supreme Court ruled that states could not regulate railroads conducting business across state lines. The first commission had five members who were appointed by the president. The president, however, was not given the power to fire commission members, which meant that the agency was immune to political pressure. The ICC was later given the authority to regulate trucks, buses, and barges. The ICC regulated transportation until 1966, when the newly established Department of Transportation took over.
