What Is The Chevron Doctrine

The Supreme Court's Chevron Decision: A Weakening of Federal Agency Power

What is the Chevron Doctrine?

The Chevron Doctrine is a legal doctrine that gives deference to the interpretation of statutes by administrative agencies. This doctrine was established by the Supreme Court in 1984 in the case Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. Under the Chevron Doctrine, courts must defer to an agency's interpretation of a statute if that interpretation is reasonable.

The Supreme Court's Ruling

In a 6-3 decision on Friday, the Supreme Court overturned the Chevron Doctrine. The majority opinion, written by Justice Gorsuch, argued that the Chevron Doctrine is unconstitutional because it gives too much power to administrative agencies. The majority opinion also argued that the Chevron Doctrine is unnecessary because courts are already capable of interpreting statutes on their own.

Implications of the Ruling

The Supreme Court's ruling in the Chevron case has significant implications for the power of federal agencies. It could make it easier for courts to block regulations issued by federal agencies. It could also make it more difficult for federal agencies to enforce environmental and other laws.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court's ruling in the Chevron case is a major victory for conservatives who have long argued that the Chevron Doctrine gives too much power to federal agencies. The ruling could have a significant impact on the ability of federal agencies to protect the environment and enforce other laws.