The US Office of Special Counsel (OSC) protects federal employees and applicants from prohibited personnel practices and safeguards the merit system in federal workplaces. An independent federal agency, the OSC is vested with investigative and prosecutorial powers stemming from The Civil Service Reform Act, the Whistleblower Protection Act, and the Hatch Act. The OSC receives, investigates, and prosecutes allegations of discrimination, nepotism, coercion of political activity, reprisals for whistleblowing, and a number of other prohibited personnel practices. The OSC's jurisdiction includes most Executive Branch agencies and the Government Printing Office.