United States administrative law

In the United States, the term administrative law is often used to describe the body of statutes, as well as the administrative rules, regulations, judicial precedents, and executive orders that, collectively, define the powers and responsibilities held by administrative agencies of the United States government, including executive departments and independent agencies, and agencies operating at state and local level. The field of administrative law also includes the procedures which agencies must observe in rulemaking and adjudication. Because Congress, the president, and the federal courts have limited resources and cannot directly 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. Administrative law is the collective body of statutes, rules, and regulations that sets the procedural foundation for those agency activities.