5 U.S.C. § 551

Current through P.L. 118-3 (published on www.congress.gov on 04/10/2023), except for [P. L. 117-328]

Section 551 - Definitions

For the purpose of this subchapter-

(1) "agency" means each authority of the Government of the United States, whether or not it is within or subject to review by another agency, but does not include-

(A) the Congress;

(B) the courts of the United States;

(C) the governments of the territories or possessions of the United States;

(D) the government of the District of Columbia;

or except as to the requirements of section 552 of this title-

(E) agencies composed of representatives of the parties or of representatives of organizations of the parties to the disputes determined by them;

(F) courts martial and military commissions;

(G) military authority exercised in the field in time of war or in occupied territory; or

(H) functions conferred by sections 1738, 1739, 1743, and 1744 of title 12; subchapter II of chapter 471 of title 49; or sections 1884, 1891-1902, and former section 1641(b)(2),of title 50, appendix; ¹

(2) "person" includes an individual, partnership, corporation, association, or public or private organization other than an agency;

(3) "party" includes a person or agency named or admitted as a party, or properly seeking and entitled as of right to be admitted as a party, in an agency proceeding, and a person or agency admitted by an agency as a party for limited purposes;

(4) "rule" means the whole or a part of an agency statement of general or particular applicability and future effect designed to implement, interpret, or prescribe law or policy or describing the organization, procedure, or practice requirements of an agency and includes the approval or prescription for the future of rates, wages, corporate or financial structures or reorganizations thereof, prices, facilities, appliances, services or allowances therefor or of valuations, costs, or accounting, or practices bearing on any of the foregoing;

(5) "rule making" means agency process for formulating, amending, or repealing a rule;

(6) "order" means the whole or a part of a final disposition, whether affirmative, negative, injunctive, or declaratory in form, of an agency in a matter other than rule making but including licensing;

(7) "adjudication" means agency process for the formulation of an order;

(8) "license" includes the whole or a part of an agency permit, certificate, approval, registration, charter, membership, statutory exemption or other form of permission;

(9) "licensing" includes agency process respecting the grant, renewal, denial, revocation, suspension, annulment, withdrawal, limitation, amendment, modification, or conditioning of a license;

(10) "sanction" includes the whole or a part of an agency-

(A) prohibition, requirement, limitation, or other condition affecting the freedom of a person;

(B) withholding of relief;

(C) imposition of penalty or fine;

(D) destruction, taking, seizure, or withholding of property;

(E) assessment of damages, reimbursement, restitution, compensation, costs, charges, or fees;

(F) requirement, revocation, or suspension of a license; or

(G) taking other compulsory or restrictive action;

(11) "relief" includes the whole or a part of an agency-

(A) grant of money, assistance, license, authority, exemption, exception, privilege, or remedy;

(B) recognition of a claim, right, immunity, privilege, exemption, or exception; or

(C) taking of other action on the application or petition of, and beneficial to, a person;

(12) "agency proceeding" means an agency process as defined by paragraphs (5), (7), and (9) of this section;

(13) "agency action" includes the whole or a part of an agency rule, order, license, sanction, relief, or the equivalent or denial thereof, or failure to act; and

(14) "ex parte communication" means an oral or written communication not on the public record with respect to which reasonable prior notice to all parties is not given, but it shall not include requests for status reports on any matter or proceeding covered by this subchapter.

¹ See References in Text note below.

5 U.S.C. § 551

Pub. L. 89-554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 381; Pub. L. 94-409, §4(b), Sept. 13, 1976, 90 Stat. 1247; Pub. L. 103-272, §5(a), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1373; Pub. L. 111-350, §5(a)(2), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3841.

HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES
Derivation	U.S. Code	Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large
(1)	5 U.S.C. 1001(a).	June 11, 1946, ch. 324, §2(a), 60 Stat. 237.
Aug. 8, 1946, ch. 870, §302, 60 Stat. 918.
Aug. 10, 1946, ch. 951, §601, 60 Stat. 993.
Mar. 31, 1947, ch. 30, §6(a), 61 Stat. 37.
June 30, 1947, ch. 163, §210, 61 Stat. 201.
Mar. 30, 1948, ch. 161, §301, 62 Stat. 99.
(2)-(13)	5 U.S.C. 1001 (less (a)).	June 11, 1946, ch. 324, §2 (less (a)), 60 Stat. 237.

In paragraph (1), the sentence "Nothing in this Act shall be construed to repeal delegations of authority as provided by law," is omitted as surplusage since there is nothing in the Act which could reasonably be so construed.In paragraph (1)(G), the words "or naval" are omitted as included in "military".In paragraph (1)(H), the words "functions which by law expire on the termination of present hostilities, within any fixed period thereafter, or before July 1, 1947" are omitted as executed. Reference to the "Selective Training and Service Act of 1940" is omitted as that Act expired Mar. 31, 1947. Reference to the "Sugar Control Extension Act of 1947" is omitted as that Act expired on Mar. 31, 1948. References to the "Housing and Rent Act of 1947, as amended" and the "Veterans' Emergency Housing Act of 1946" have been consolidated as they are related. The reference to former section 1641(b)(2) of title 50, appendix, is retained notwithstanding its repeal by §111(a)(1) of the Act of Sept. 21, 1961, Pub. L. 87-256, 75 Stat. 538, since §111(c) of the Act provides that a reference in other Acts to a provision of law repealed by §111(a) shall be considered to be a reference to the appropriate provisions of Pub. L. 87-256.In paragraph (2), the words "of any character" are omitted as surplusage.In paragraph (3), the words "and a person or agency admitted by an agency as a party for limited purposes" are substituted for "but nothing herein shall be construed to prevent an agency from admitting any person or agency as a party for limited purposes". In paragraph (9), a comma is supplied between the words "limitation" and "amendment" to correct an editorial error of omission.In paragraph (10)(C), the words "of any form" are omitted as surplusage. Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

EDITORIAL NOTES

REFERENCES IN TEXTSections 1884 and 1891-1902 of title 50, appendix, referred to in par. (1)(H), were a part of the various Housing and Rent Acts which were classified to section 1881 et seq. of the former Appendix to Title 50, War and National Defense, and had been repealed or omitted from the Code as executed prior to the elimination of the Appendix to Title 50. See Elimination of Title 50, Appendix note preceding section 1 of Title 50. Section 1641 of title 50, appendix, referred to in par. (1)(H), was repealed by Pub. L. 87-256, §111(a)(1), Sept. 21, 1961, 75 Stat. 538. See Historical and Revision Note above.

CODIFICATIONSection 551 of former Title 5, Executive Departments and Government Officers and Employees, was transferred to section 2242 of Title 7, Agriculture.

AMENDMENTS2011-Par. (1)(H). Pub. L. 111-350 struck out "chapter 2 of title 41;" after "title 12;".1994-Par. (1)(H). Pub. L. 103-272 substituted "subchapter II of chapter 471 of title 49; or sections" for "or sections 1622,".1976-Par. (14). Pub. L. 94-409 added par. (14).

STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1976 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 94-409 effective 180 days after Sept. 13, 1976, see section 6 of Pub. L. 94-409 set out as an Effective Date note under section 552b of this title.

STUDY AND REPORTS ON ADMINISTRATIVE SUBPOENAS Pub. L. 106-544, §7, Dec. 19, 2000, 114 Stat. 2719, provided that:"(a) STUDY ON USE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SUBPOENAS.-Not later than December 31, 2001, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall complete a study on the use of administrative subpoena power by executive branch agencies or entities and shall report the findings to the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Such report shall include- "(1) a description of the sources of administrative subpoena power and the scope of such subpoena power within executive branch agencies; "(2) a description of applicable subpoena enforcement mechanisms;"(3) a description of any notification provisions and any other provisions relating to safeguarding privacy interests; "(4) a description of the standards governing the issuance of administrative subpoenas; and"(5) recommendations from the Attorney General regarding necessary steps to ensure that administrative subpoena power is used and enforced consistently and fairly by executive branch agencies."(b) REPORT ON FREQUENCY OF USE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SUBPOENAS.-"(1) IN GENERAL.-The Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury shall report in January of each year to the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the number of administrative subpoenas issued by them under this section and the identity of the agency or component of the Department of Justice or the Department of the Treasury issuing the subpoena and imposing the charges."(2) EXPIRATION.-The reporting requirement of this subsection shall terminate in 3 years after the date of the enactment of this section [Dec. 19, 2000]."

EXECUTIVE DOCUMENTS

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 13892Ex. Ord. No. 13892, Oct. 9, 2019, 84 F.R. 55239, which related to civil administrative enforcement and adjudication, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13992, §2, Jan. 20, 2021, 86 F.R. 7049, set out below.

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 13979Ex. Ord. No. 13979, Jan. 18, 2021, 86 F.R. 6813, which required senior appointee participation in agency rulemaking, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14018, §1, Feb. 24, 2021, 86 F.R. 11855.

EX. ORD. NO. 13992. REVOCATION OF CERTAIN EXECUTIVE ORDERS CONCERNING FEDERAL REGULATIONEx. Ord. No. 13992, Jan. 20, 2021, 86 F.R. 7049, provided:By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered that:SECTION 1. Policy. It is the policy of my Administration to use available tools to confront the urgent challenges facing the Nation, including the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, economic recovery, racial justice, and climate change. To tackle these challenges effectively, executive departments and agencies (agencies) must be equipped with the flexibility to use robust regulatory action to address national priorities. This order revokes harmful policies and directives that threaten to frustrate the Federal Government's ability to confront these problems, and empowers agencies to use appropriate regulatory tools to achieve these goals.SEC. 2. Revocation of Orders. Executive Order 13771 of January 30, 2017 (Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs) [former 5 U.S.C. 601 note], Executive Order 13777 of February 24, 2017 (Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda) [former 5 U.S.C. 601 note], Executive Order 13875 of June 14, 2019 (Evaluating and Improving the Utility of Federal Advisory Committees) [former 5 U.S.C. App. note], Executive Order 13891 of October 9, 2019 (Promoting the Rule of Law Through Improved Agency Guidance Documents) [former 5 U.S.C. 601 note], Executive Order 13892 of October 9, 2019 (Promoting the Rule of Law Through Transparency and Fairness in Civil Administrative Enforcement and Adjudication) [formerly set out above], and Executive Order 13893 of October 10, 2019 (Increasing Government Accountability for Administrative Actions by Reinvigorating Administrative PAYGO) [former 5 U.S.C. 601 note], are hereby revoked.SEC. 3. Implementation. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the heads of agencies shall promptly take steps to rescind any orders, rules, regulations, guidelines, or policies, or portions thereof, implementing or enforcing the Executive Orders identified in section 2 of this order, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, including the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 551 et seq. If in any case such rescission cannot be finalized immediately, the Director and the heads of agencies shall promptly take steps to provide all available exemptions authorized by any such orders, rules, regulations, guidelines, or policies, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law. In addition, any personnel positions, committees, task forces, or other entities established pursuant to the Executive Orders identified in section 2 of this order, including the regulatory reform officer positions and regulatory reform task forces established by sections 2 and 3 of Executive Order 13777 [former 5 U.S.C. 601 note], shall be abolished, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law.SEC. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.(b) This order shall be implemented in a manner consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.J.R. Biden, Jr.