What term describes the protection given to officers of independent regulatory agencies regarding their removal?

The term "fixed terms" accurately describes the protection given to officers of independent regulatory agencies concerning their removal. In many cases, these officers are appointed for specific terms—often longer than the terms of their appointing presidents or governors. This structure is intended to shield them from political pressure, allowing them to perform their duties without fear of dismissal or retaliation based on the political climate.

Officers with fixed terms can only be removed for specific reasons, such as malfeasance or incapacity, rather than at the whim of political leaders. This arrangement upholds the independence of the regulatory body and ensures that its officials can make decisions that serve the public interest, even if those decisions may be unpopular with the current administration.

The other terms do not capture this concept with the same precision. "Tenure" might imply an ongoing position without regard to terms but does not specifically denote the structured protection of fixed appointment lengths. "Job security" is a broader term that could apply to many professions and is not uniquely relevant to independent regulatory offices. "Term limits," in contrast, refer to restrictions on the number of terms a person may serve in a particular position, and do not pertain to the protections against removal that fixed terms provide.