Which type of power describes the authority to interpret and apply regulations in specific cases?

• A. Quasi-judicial power
• B. Purely legislative power
• C. Purely executive power
• D. Judicial power

Answer: (A)

Understanding the different powers the government uses helps clarify how agencies operate. Quasi-judicial power is the authority an agency uses to interpret and apply regulations to the facts of a specific case. It sits between making rules (legislative) and enforcing rules (executive). This function allows the agency to hold hearings, weigh evidence, and render a binding decision that affects a person or entity in a concrete situation, much like a court would but within the agency framework.

If something were purely legislative, it would be about creating or changing laws. Purely executive power focuses on administering and enforcing those laws. Purely judicial power is what courts use to decide disputes and interpret laws in general, not to adjudicate the specifics of regulatory compliance in a case. Thus, the authority to interpret and apply regulations in individual cases best fits the quasi-judicial description.