This course provides an in-depth exploration of Administrative Law, the body of law governing the creation, operation, and limits of administrative agencies in the United States. Administrative agencies exercise powers that span all three branches of government—legislative, executive, and judicial—making them both essential and controversial players in modern governance.
Through the study of statutes, judicial decisions, and constitutional principles, students will examine how agencies make rules, adjudicate disputes, issue guidance, and interact with courts and the public. The course will focus on the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), constitutional doctrines like nondelegation, due process, and separation of powers, and emerging debates about the legitimacy and scope of the administrative state.
This course is indispensable for future litigators, regulatory lawyers, public interest advocates, and anyone who will work with or challenge government regulation.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
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Understand the constitutional and statutory foundations of administrative agencies.
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Distinguish among rulemaking, adjudication, and informal agency action, and know when and how each applies.
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Analyze and apply the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) in various procedural contexts.
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Evaluate judicial review doctrines related to standing, finality, ripeness, exhaustion, and Chevron deference.
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Identify the due process rights of individuals in administrative adjudications and the procedures required to satisfy them.
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Assess current constitutional and political challenges to the administrative state, including issues of presidential control, agency independence, and delegation of legislative power.
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Apply administrative law doctrines to real-world regulatory problems across multiple substantive areas (e.g., health, environment, finance, immigration).
