The CFTC was created by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Act of 1974 to ensure the open and efficient operation of the futures markets.
Commission: A service charge assessed by a broker and his/her investment company in return for arranging the purchase or sale of a security.
Commodity: Any bulk good traded on an exchange (for example, metals, grains and meats).
Futures: All contracts covering the purchase and sale of financial instruments or physical commodities for future delivery. These orders are transacted on a commodity futures exchange.