When Congress legislates, what do administrative agencies typically do next?

When Congress legislates, what do administrative agencies typically do next?

• A. They write new statutes
• B. They adopt regulations implementing the statute
• C. They interpret the Constitution
• D. They veto the statute

Answer: (C)

After Congress passes a statute, administrative agencies typically adopt regulations implementing that statute. Agencies are created by enabling statutes to administer and enforce the law, so their next task is to fill in details, set standards, and outline procedures through regulatory rules—usually via notice-and-comment rulemaking under the Administrative Procedure Act. They interpret how the statute applies to real-world situations, but constitutional interpretation is the province of the courts, not the agencies. Agencies don’t write new statutes (that’s Congress) and they don’t veto statutes (that power belongs to the President, subject to the veto process). So issuing implementing regulations is the usual next step.

After Congress passes a statute, administrative agencies typically adopt regulations implementing that statute. Agencies are created by enabling statutes to administer and enforce the law, so their next task is to fill in details, set standards, and outline procedures through regulatory rules—usually via notice-and-comment rulemaking under the Administrative Procedure Act. They interpret how the statute applies to real-world situations, but constitutional interpretation is the province of the courts, not the agencies. Agencies don’t write new statutes (that’s Congress) and they don’t veto statutes (that power belongs to the President, subject to the veto process). So issuing implementing regulations is the usual next step.