Introduction

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Introduction

What a charming life that was, that dear old life in the Navy when I

kept grocery on a gunboat. I knew all the regulations and the rest of

them didn’t. I had all my rights and most of theirs.

Thomas B. Reed (R. Me.)

Speaker of the House, 1890-92, 1895-99

The fourth edition of the Federal Administrative Procedure Sourcebook

has been compiled as a basic introduction and reference book on major fed-

eral procedural statutes. The text of each statute is given, along with explana-

tory material, legislative history, related guidance documents, sources of

additional relevant information, and a bibliography.

The Sourcebook is designed to be useful for both lawyers and nonlawyers

at federal agencies and for any person who needs to know what any of the key

federal procedural statutes is about. While this volume is designed to be a

convenient source of statutory, regulatory, and other materials, we emphasize

that the commentary is not intended to be a substitute for legal research or for

legal counsel. Readers with specific questions may have to consult the statute

directly, as well as judicial opinions, legislative history, or, where appropri-

ate, the lead agency or their own attorney.

Though the Sourcebook’s organization is largely self-evident, a few pre-

liminary comments may be valuable. These notes follow the format of most

chapters:

•Statutory Citations. This section includes U.S. Code, Public Law, and

Statutes-at-Large citations, including significant amendments.

•Lead Agency. This designation is a loose one, because a “lead” agency’s

role may vary from informal consulting and data collection to issuance

of binding regulations, from occasional technical guidance to regular

oversight of specific activities. 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 judg-

ment of the editors.