responsible

A person or body who can be held accountable for carrying out a duty is considered responsible. 

• In the context of tort law, it may refer to a party who caused injury, and is therefore synonymous with liable. 
• In the context of contract law, it may refer to a party who is contractually bound to perform a duty, such as compensate another party for their goods or services, perform an act, or discharge a debt. 
• In the context of administrative agencies, an agency is responsible to the body who delegated the power to the agency, normally Congress.  
• In the context of agency law, the agent’s duties to the principal make the agency responsible to the principal. 

[Last reviewed in April of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]

Wex

• accidents & injuries (tort law)
• criminal law
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