Political vocabulary & government processes · Article 16 of 20 · United States
Regulation
Detailed rules implementing a statute.
What the term means
Federal agencies issue regulations under authority delegated by Congress. Many significant rules use notice-and-comment procedures that publish a proposal, invite public input and explain the final decision.
How it works in practice
A regulation is binding only when validly issued within the agency’s authority. Courts can review challenges, and agencies must follow applicable procedural requirements.
A concrete example
A workplace safety law may establish a broad duty while an agency rule specifies technical compliance requirements for employers.
What to examine next
Compare the statute, proposed rule, final rule and effective date; they answer different questions.
Next: Judicial review.