Title: Administrative Regulations – Sources of American Law
Headings: Administrative Regulations
Administrative Regulations
4.1 Learning Objectives for Chapter 4
4. 2 Delegated Rule-Making Authority
4.3 Researching Federal Regulations
4.3.1 The C.F.R.
4.3.2 The L.S.A.
4.3.3 The F.R.
4.3.4 Administrative Decisions & Guidance
4.4 State Regulations
4.5 Concluding Exercises for Chapter 4
4.5.1 Introductory Exercise on Researching Regulations
4.5.2 Intermediate Exercise on Researching Administrative Guidance
4.5.3 Advanced Exercise on Researching Regulations
4.6 Recommended CALI Lessons for Further Practice
4.6.1 “Introduction and Sources of Authority for Administrative Law” by Deborah K. Paulus-Jagric and Clare Willis
4.6.2 “Rulemaking: Federal Register and CFR” by Katie Brown and Deborah K. Paulus-Jagric
4.6.3 “Researching Federal Administrative Regulations” by Sheri H. Lewis
4.6.4 “ Agency Decisions and Orders” by Marcia Baker and L. Elliott Hibbler
4.6.5 “Government Documents” by Alicia Brillon
4.6.6 “Attorney General Materials” by Marcia Baker and Maureen H. Anderson

Content: 4. 2 Delegated Rule-Making Authority
As discussed in Chapter 1, each branch of government under a Separation of Powers system creates its own source of law. In Chapters 2 and 3, we covered the sources of law that most lay-people would recognize as law: constitutions, statutes, and judicial opinions. However, in the American legal system, the executive branch also contributes rules to the body of law. Executive-made rules take the form of administrative regulations, which various executive departments, agencies, and commissions issue under an explicit delegation of rule-making authority from the legislature. Essentially, the legislature passes a statute with a broad aim, and then delegates a particular agency of expertise to provide more specific rules aimed at achieving the broad goal. Lawyers call a statute that creates an agency to regulate a particular area an “organic statute” or “organic act.” 104 Similarly, an “enabling statute” delegates additional authority to an already existing agency. 105 Both organic statutes and enabling statutes establish broad aims desired by the legislature and create mechanisms for agencies to provide the details.