Discretionary Authority
Definition
Discretionary authority refers to the power given to government agencies and officials to implement policies and make decisions within certain guidelines.
Analogy
Think of discretionary authority like a chef at a restaurant. The owner (Congress) provides the ingredients (laws), but it's up to the chef (the agency or official) how they use those ingredients to create dishes (policies). They have some freedom, but they still need to follow the overall menu plan.
Related terms
Administrative Discretion: This is when public administrators use their own judgment in interpreting and applying laws.
Executive Orders: These are directives issued by the President of the United States that manage operations of the federal government.
Bureaucratic Discretion: This is a type of discretion that allows bureaucrats, not elected officials, to decide what a rule or law means.
"Discretionary Authority" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (20+)
What is discretionary authority?
What are the benefits of discretionary authority and rule-making authority?
How does discretionary authority and rule-making authority affect the relationship between the federal bureaucracy and other stakeholders?
What distinguishes discretionary authority from rule-making authority in bureaucracies?
What role does Congress play in defining discretionary authority?
Why do federal agencies have discretionary authority?
How do administrative procedures act as a check on discretionary authority?
In what way does discretionary authority potentially affect societal equity?
In what way did discretionary authority play a role in response actions during Hurricane Katrina?
What does the term "discretionary authority" imply in reference to government agencies?
Which of these options is a potential negative effect of discretionary authority?
What is a potential effect of an agency expanding its discretionary authority?
How might an increase in discretionary authority affect the relationship between a federal agency and Congress?
What is a key difference between rule-making and discretionary authority in the context of administrative law?
How does the impact of exercising discretionary authority differ from that of exercising rule-making authority in a federal agency?
What is one way that the discretionary authority of regulatory agencies can impact economic policy?
How did the Progressive Era influence rules and regulations associated with discretionary authority in the United States?
How did World War II affect discretionary authority within U.S government?
How did the Civil Rights Movement influence discretionary authority within U.S law enforcement agencies?
How might U.S. government function differ if discretionary authority was completely removed from bureaucratic agencies?
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