Administrative law of the United States |
---|
![]() |
United States federal administrative law encompasses statutes, rules, judicial precedents, and executive orders, that together form administrative laws that define the extent of powers and responsibilities held by administrative agencies of the United States government, including executive departments and independent agencies. Because Congress, the president, and the federal courts have limited resources to address all issues, specialized powers are often delegated to a board, commission, office, or other agency. These administrative agencies oversee and monitor activities in complex areas, such as commercial aviation, medical device manufacturing, and securities markets.
Former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer has defined the legal rules and principles of administrative law in four parts: (1) define the authority and structure of administrative agencies; (2) specify the procedural formalities employed by agencies; (3) determine the validity of agency decisions; and (4) define the role of reviewing courts and other governmental entities in relation to administrative agencies.[1]
U.S. federal agencies have the power to adjudicate, legislate, and enforce laws within their specific areas of delegated power. The United States does not use administrative courts.[2] Adjudication is carried out internally within agencies by administrative law judges.