There are 12 Federal reserve banks and 24 branches. They are governed by Congress. Below are two pictures that are worth a thousand words.
- What is the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC)? The FOMC is the body of the Federal Reserve System that sets national monetary policy. The FOMC makes all decisions regarding the conduct of open market operations, which affect the federal funds rate (the rate at which depository institutions lend to each other), the size and composition of the Federal Reserve’s asset holdings, and communications with the public about the likely future course of monetary policy.