Administrative Law – Timeline of Key Acts

Administrative law defines how federal agencies create regulations, enforce them, and how courts review agency actions. These laws remain the backbone of U.S. governance and the “administrative state.”

Administrative Procedure Act (APA, 1946)

• Established uniform procedures for agency rulemaking, adjudication, and judicial review.
• Codified due process protections in administrative law.
• Required notice-and-comment rulemaking and set standards for judicial review.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA, 1966)

• Created the public’s right to access federal agency records.
• Requires agencies to proactively disclose certain information.
• Central tool for transparency and accountability in government.

Why It Matters Today

These laws:

• Ensure federal agencies operate under the rule of law.
• Provide transparency and public participation in regulation.
• Serve as the foundation for ongoing debates about the scope of the administrative state and judicial doctrines like Chevron deference.

Official Sources

• 5 U.S.C. §§ 551–559, 701–706 – APA
• 5 U.S.C. § 552 – FOIA
• Congress.gov – APA 1946
• Congress.gov – FOIA 1966

• Administrative Law
• Federal Agencies
• Rulemaking
• Judicial Review
• Timeline