Reasonable Agencies

63 Pages Posted: 1 Mar 2010

See all articles by David T. Zaring

David T. Zaring

University of Pennsylvania - Legal Studies Department

Date Written: March 1, 2010

Abstract

This article argues that the complex doctrine of judicial review of administrative action - containing no less than six separate tests depending on the sort of agency action to be reviewed - both descriptively is and normatively should be simplified into a “reasonable agency” standard. Courts, following step two of the Chevron doctrine, have started to sneak a reasonableness standard into their review in lieu of making the difficult distinctions required by current doctrine. Scholars evaluating the difference among the various doctrinal tests have started to note the increasing similarity among the tests, at least as applied by the courts. Empirical research, to which this Article contributes an additional study, suggests that regardless of the standard of review, courts affirm agencies’ actions slightly more than two thirds of the time; the variance of the validation rates of agency action, regardless of the standard of review, is small. A reasonable agency standard would simplify and clarify administrative law, better describe what courts actually do when confronted with agency action, and better explain the judicial role in the administrative state.

Keywords: Administrative Law, Courts, Chevron, Substantial Evidence

Suggested Citation

Zaring, David T., Reasonable Agencies (March 1, 2010). Virginia Law Review, Vol. 96, No. 1, pp. 2317-2379, 2010, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1561850

David T. Zaring (Contact Author)

University of Pennsylvania - Legal Studies Department ( email )

3730 Walnut Street
Suite 600
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6365
United States

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