administrative law

Law concerning the powers and control of government agencies or those agencies granted statutory powers of administration.

These powers include those necessary to operate the agency or to implement its purposes, and making quasi-judicial decisions (such as determining tax liability, granting licences or permits, or hearing complaints against the agency or its officers). The vast increase in these powers in the 20th century in many countries has been widely criticized.

Depending on legislative mandates, administrative law may or may not be actionable in a civil or criminal court or subject to review by executive branch agencies.