Legal Definitions - Chevron deference

The Chevron deference is a principle in administrative law that refers to the doctrine of judicial deference given to administrative actions. It was coined after a landmark case, Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 468 U.S. 837 (1984).

The Chevron deference requires that when a legislative delegation to an administrative agency on a particular issue or question is not explicit but rather implicit, a court may not substitute its own interpretation of the statute for a reasonable interpretation made by the administrative agency. In other words, if Congress has not spoken directly to the precise issue at question, the court should defer to the agency's answer or interpretation, as long as it is not unreasonable.

For example, if an agency is tasked with interpreting a statute that is ambiguous or silent on a particular issue, the agency's interpretation will be given Chevron deference if it is reasonable. However, if the agency's interpretation is not based on formal proceedings with the force of law, such as adjudications or notice-and-comment rulemaking, it may not be given Chevron deference.

Overall, the Chevron deference is an important principle in administrative law that helps to ensure that administrative agencies are given the necessary deference to carry out their duties and interpret statutes in a reasonable manner.