Administrative law is best described as which of the following?

• A. Law created by legislative bodies through statutes
• B. Law created by government agencies through rules and orders
• C. Law based on court decisions (case law)
• D. Law derived from constitutional provisions only

Answer: (B)

Administrative law governs how government agencies exercise authority to make rules, enforce regulations, and adjudicate disputes under statutes that authorize them. The defining feature is rules and orders issued by agencies, rather than statutes enacted by the legislature, decisions made by courts, or provisions of the Constitution alone. Agencies derive their power from statutes and use rulemaking processes (often including notice and comment) to create binding regulations, perform inspections, issue licenses, and enforce compliance. For example, an agency like the environmental protection agency promulgates regulations that have the force of law, guiding how industries must operate. In contrast, statutes created by lawmakers set broad mandates, court decisions establish common or case law, and constitutional provisions outline fundamental principles, but administrative law specifically concerns the rules and procedures that agencies develop and apply.