Final answer:
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is the federal, independent agency that provides oversight of public companies. It regulates the investment industry to maintain fair representation of company financial activities for investors to make informed decisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The federal, independent agency that provides oversight of public companies to maintain fair representation of company financial activities for investors to make informed decisions is SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission). The SEC was established by the Federal Securities Act and is responsible for regulating the investment industry. Its mission has expanded beyond stock floor trading to include digital era regulations.