Federal Administrative Procedure Sourcebook

A joint publication by the Administrative Conference of the United States and the American Bar Association’s Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice

The Federal Administrative Procedure Sourcebook (Sourcebook) has been compiled as a basic introduction and reference resource on major federal procedural legal sources, including statutes, executive orders, and agency regulations. It provides access to statutory text, explanatory material, legislative history, agency regulations, related guidance documents, law review articles, and other sources of relevant information.

The Sourcebook is a continuously-updated resource. ACUS and the Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice, including Jeffrey Lubbers and William Funk, will work closely to update the Sourcebook to account for significant legal developments and to add additional useful sources as they become available. ACUS also invites users to provide inform us of any errors and to recommend inclusion of other sources. You may do so by contacting ACUS at Sourcebook@acus.gov.

1. Administrative Procedure Act
2. Judicial Review of Agency Action
3. Congressional Review of Agency Rulemaking
4. White House Orders, Bulletins, and Memoranda
5. Administrative Dispute Resolution Act
6. Agency Practice Act
7. Contract Disputes Act
8. E-Government Act of 2002
9. Equal Access to Justice Act
10. Federal Advisory Committee Act
11. Federal Register Act
12. Federal Tort Claims Act
13. Freedom of Information Act
14. Government in the Sunshine Act
15. Government Performance and Results Act
16. Information Quality Act
17. National Environmental Policy Act
18. Negotiated Rulemaking Act
19. Paperwork Reduction Act
20. Privacy Act
21. Regulatory Flexibility Act
22. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

The Structure of the Sourcebook

Most chapters are structured as follows:

• Statutory Citations. This section includes U.S. Code, Public Law, and Statutes-at-Large citations, including significant amendments.
• Lead Agency. This designation identifies agencies that oversee or administer a significant aspect of the statute. The Overview section usually elaborates on the lead agency’s role.
• Overview. This section summarizes the content of the statute and its applicability. Any observations or conclusions represent only the judgment of the editors.
• Bibliography. The Bibliography includes major works and other useful references.

About the Sourcebook

Federal Administrative Procedure Sourcebook

ACUS published the first edition of the Sourcebook in 1985. The Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice published subsequent editions of the Sourcebook. William Funk and Jeffrey S. Lubbers served as the editors for several editions of the Sourcebook, including the most recent fifth edition. In 2018, ACUS and the Section announced a joint initiative to publish the sixth edition of the Sourcebook, which led to the development of this continuously-updated electronic edition of the Sourcebook.

ACUS

ACUS is an independent federal agency charged with convening expert representatives from the public and private sectors to recommend improvements to administrative process and procedure. ACUS initiatives promote efficiency, participation, and fairness in the promulgation of federal regulations and in the administration of federal programs.

Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice

The Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice is a gathering place for lawyers who seek to explain and improve the functioning of administrative agencies. It seeks to provide support, training, and contacts relevant to cross-cutting issues of administrative procedure and regulatory policy.

Contact

If you have any comments or questions regarding the Sourcebook, please contact us at Sourcebook@acus.gov.