Legal Definitions - power-delegating law

A power-delegating law is a type of law that establishes and defines the powers of a government official. This includes the circumstances under which the official's pronouncements constitute laws. It is also known as the law of competence.

For example, the U.S. Constitution is a power-delegating law that outlines the powers of the President, Congress, and the Supreme Court. It defines the circumstances under which each branch can exercise its powers and how they can delegate those powers to other officials.

Another example is the Administrative Procedure Act, which is a federal law that governs the process by which federal agencies develop and issue regulations. It establishes the powers of agency officials and defines the procedures they must follow when making decisions that affect the public.

These examples illustrate how power-delegating laws are essential for ensuring that government officials exercise their powers in a responsible and accountable manner. They provide a framework for how officials can make decisions and how those decisions can be challenged if they are not in compliance with the law.