Administrative Law

Administrative law is the body of law that governs federal and state agencies. It sets out how agencies make rules, decide individual cases, and use their powers, and it gives people and businesses ways to challenge agency actions. Congress writes the statutes, agencies carry them out, and courts review whether agencies stayed within their authority.

People usually bring questions about how agencies get and use power, what procedures they must follow, and how someone can contest a decision. Others ask about the role of judges in reviewing agency readings of the law and how public comment, hearings, and appeals fit into the process.