Which area of law governs the actions of government agencies implementing public policy?

• A. Case law
• B. Statutory law
• C. Civil law
• D. Administrative law

Answer: (D)

Administrative law governs how government agencies implement public policy. It covers the rules and procedures agencies use to create regulations, make decisions, and enforce policies, including due process and the ability to challenge agency actions in court. This area ensures agencies stay within their authority and operate transparently when turning policy into rules and enforcement. For example, when a regulatory agency issues rules to carry out a statute, that action is administrative law in practice. Case law deals with court decisions interpreting the law, statutory law is the written statutes enacted by legislatures, and civil law refers to a private-law tradition or system—not the public rulemaking and enforcement process used by agencies.