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5: Administrative Law

  • Page ID
    11148
    • Anonymous
    • LibreTexts

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    Learning Objectives

    After reading this chapter, you should understand the following:

    • Understand the purpose served by federal administrative agencies.
    • Know the difference between executive branch agencies and independent agencies.
    • Understand the political control of agencies by the president and Congress.
    • Describe how agencies make rules and conduct hearings.
    • Describe how courts can be used to challenge administrative rulings.

    From the 1930s on, administrative agencies, law, and procedures have virtually remade our government and much of private life. Every day, business must deal with rules and decisions of state and federal administrative agencies. Informally, such rules are often called regulations, and they differ (only in their source) from laws passed by Congress and signed into law by the president. The rules created by agencies are voluminous: thousands of new regulations pour forth each year. The overarching question of whether there is too much regulation—or the wrong kind of regulation—of our economic activities is an important one but well beyond the scope of this chapter, in which we offer an overview of the purpose of administrative agencies, their structure, and their impact on business.

    • 5.1: Administrative Agencies- Their Structure and Powers
      This page discusses the influence of political control on federal executive departments and the role of administrative agencies established by Congress to manage complex governance issues. These agencies enable rule-making in specialized sectors and help correct market failures, uphold competition, and prevent discrimination. They operate under enabling acts, utilizing legislative, executive, and judicial powers, with a structure of political appointees and a permanent bureaucracy.
    • 5.2: Controlling Administrative Agencies
      This page examines the control and regulation of U.S. administrative agencies by the president, Congress, and the courts, addressing the legitimacy of administrative lawmaking amidst concerns of agency "capture" and overregulation. It outlines historical trends in deregulation and reregulation in response to corporate issues.
    • 5.3: The Administrative Procedure Act
      This page discusses the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) of 1946, which sets forth guidelines for federal agencies regarding decision-making and rulemaking. It requires hearings for accused parties to present their cases before an administrative law judge, promoting transparency and public involvement by mandating notification of proposed regulations in the Federal Register. The summary highlights the APA's importance in ensuring fair agency operations and adherence to legal standards.
    • 5.4: Administrative Burdens on Business Operations
      This page explores the burdensome impact of government administrative agencies on businesses, focusing on the costs of federal paperwork and challenges in data provision. It addresses legal guidelines for inspections, including warrant requirements, and highlights the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as a tool for public access to government documents with certain exemptions. The overall theme underscores the complicated dynamics between government regulation and business operations.
    • 5.5: The Scope of Judicial Review
      This page outlines the process for judicial review of administrative agency actions, stressing the need for exhaustion of remedies before court action. It discusses strategies for challenging agency decisions and the challenges of government litigation, such as sovereign immunity.
    • 5.6: Cases
      This page discusses two significant topics: the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Marshall v.
    • 5.7: Summary and Exercises
      This page discusses the substantial influence of administrative rules from federal and state agencies on business operations, particularly in sectors like environment, finance, and labor relations. It highlights the powers of agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to license companies, enforce codes of conduct, and set service rates.

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