Is the sec an executive agency or an independent regulatory agency? does it matter to the outcome of the dispute?

The SEC is an independent agency, and as defined by the laws in the United States is an agency that exists outside the reach of the federal executive departments, that means that it is a totally free agency and beyond the scope of the presidential control, since The power of the president of the country to influence the SEC is almost nil. The results of a dispute depend on the type of dispute, but the SEC has a broad set of rules regarding disputes that include alternative measures that can be taken to avoid large sanctions against a company or person. Most disputes and complaints are filed under strict control of FINRA.

The one that most represents the earths mantle would be the skin since the mantle is the upper part of the earths depths which is just like the skin of an apple.