administrative agency

An administrative agency is a government body authorized to implement legislative directives by developing more precise and technical rules than possible in a legislative setting. Many administrative agencies also have law enforcement responsibilities. Some examples of administrative agencies are; the Drug Enforcement Administration , the Federal Bureau of Investigation , the Federal Communications Commission , and the Securities and Exchange Commission . The amount of deference afforded to administrative agencies has varied over time; see Chevron deference .  In 2024, the Supreme Court greatly limited the independent authority of administrative agencies in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo .

[Last reviewed in February of 2025 by the Wex Definitions Team ]

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• CIVICS
• THE LEGAL PROCESS
• administrative law
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• government