What is Administrative Law?
Administrative law is a branch of public law that governs the activities of administrative agencies of the government. It deals with the powers and procedures of administrative agencies, as well as the rights and duties of individuals affected by their decisions.
Key Concepts
- Delegation of Authority: Administrative agencies are granted authority by legislation to regulate specific matters.
- Rulemaking: Administrative agencies create regulations that have the force of law.
- Adjudication: Administrative agencies conduct hearings and make decisions in disputes between individuals and the government.
Examples of Administrative Law
One common example of administrative law is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which sets regulations for environmental protection. Another example is the Department of Labor, which enforces labor laws and regulations.
Case Studies
In the case of Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., the Supreme Court established the Chevron deference, which requires courts to defer to agency interpretations of ambiguous statutes.
Statistics
According to a report by the American Bar Association, administrative law judges issued over 50,000 decisions in 2020, covering a wide range of issues from social security benefits to immigration cases.
