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Dr. Sarah Thompson, administrative law scholar at Georgetown University, explains this evolution: “The growth of administrative agencies reflects the practical reality that modern governance requires technical expertise that generalist legislators and judges simply cannot possess. But this specialization comes with trade-offs in terms of democratic accountability and individual rights protection that we’re still working out.”
The Development of Administrative Law
As administrative agencies grew in number and power, the legal framework governing their actions evolved to address concerns about accountability and fairness. The Administrative Procedure Act of 1946 established basic standards for agency decision-making, including requirements for public notice, comment periods, and judicial review of agency actions.
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