What are the primary sources of administrative law?

Administrative law is the body of law governing the activities of administrative agencies of government. It is the body of rules and regulations made by administrative agencies and enforced by government to carry out their duties. In Washington, the primary sources of administrative law are the statutes and regulations created by the legislature and administrative agencies, respectively. Legislative statutes are the laws created by the legislature, the Washington State Legislature. These statutes become the basis for the regulations passed by the agencies. Regulations, on the other hand, are rules created by the agencies themselves. They are intended to implement the laws passed by the legislature, and provide specifics for how the law should be interpreted and implemented. Regulations are further divided into sub-regulations, which are specific rules and orders issued by agencies to guide their employees or members. Examples of these sub-regulations include licensing requirements, safety regulations, and environmental regulations. Another source of administrative law is court decisions. These come from the Washington Supreme Court or from the federal courts, depending on the case. When an individual, business, or agency challenges a regulation or law in court, the decision made by the court can serve as a precedent for future cases. Finally, policy statements and interpretations issued by agencies are also a source of administrative law. These are statements issued officially by the agency to clarify issues or to provide guidance. They don’t have the same force of law as statutes and regulations, but they do carry significant weight. All these sources of administrative law help to shape how administrative laws are interpreted in Washington. They provide the framework for how agencies can enforce the law and how individuals, businesses, and organizations can abide by the law.

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What are the primary sources of administrative law?

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