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BREAKING: Chevron Doctrine Overturned — MAJOR Blow to Federal Agencies!


This is HUGE.

The Supreme Court has just ruled to overturn the Chevron doctrine — a 40-year old landmark that basically forces courts to defer to interpretation of laws set by federal agencies, unless Congress says otherwise.

It granted a lot of power to the unofficial “fourth branch” of government — the administrative state.

ChatGPT says:

The Chevron doctrine refers to a principle derived from a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court in the case of Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837 (1984). This doctrine involves judicial deference given to administrative actions and interpretations.

Key Points of the Chevron Doctrine

  1. Two-Step Test:
    • Step One: A court first determines whether the statute in question is clear and unambiguous regarding the issue at hand. If Congress’s intent is clear, then both the court and the agency must give effect to that intent.
    • Step Two: If the statute is ambiguous or silent on the specific issue, the court must defer to the agency’s interpretation as long as it is reasonable or permissible.
  2. Reasonable Interpretation: Under this doctrine, an agency’s interpretation does not have to be the best or the only interpretation, but it must be reasonable.
  3. Scope of Application: The Chevron doctrine applies to interpretations of statutes by federal administrative agencies. It has a significant impact on how laws are implemented and enforced, granting agencies considerable leeway in interpreting statutes related to their domain.

Impact and Controversy

The Chevron doctrine has been influential in administrative law, affecting how courts review agency interpretations of statutes. Supporters argue it allows agencies to use their expertise to fill in legislative gaps and adapt regulations to changing circumstances. Critics, however, contend it grants too much power to agencies, potentially undermining checks and balances and leading to regulatory overreach.

SCOTUS’ decision to overrule the Chevron doctrine will MAJORLY shift the balance of power, scaling back the power that unelected federal agency bureaucrats have wielded in our country for the past 40 years!

Check it out:

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Vivek reacted:

The ruling was decided as part of a case brought to SCOTUS by fisherman who challenged a rule by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

The Washington Examiner has more details:

The Supreme Court on Friday shredded the administrative law precedent known as the Chevron doctrine, a move that will significantly alter the relationship between federal agencies and the courts.

“Chevron is overruled,” Chief Justice John Roberts held in a 6-3 decision.

The ruling came from one of two cases challenging a rule by the National Marine Fisheries Service that required the herring industry to bear the costs of government observers on fishing boats. The doctrine, established nearly 40 years ago in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, directed the courts to defer to an agency’s reasonable interpretation of an ambiguous statute. However, the Supreme Court’s decision signifies a major shift in administrative law.

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The decision reflects growing conservative skepticism of the Chevron doctrine. Justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas expressed particular concern over the doctrine’s effects on those subject to regulatory actions during oral arguments in January.

CNBC added:

Republican lawmakers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce praised the Supreme Court decision Friday overturning the so-called Chevron doctrine, which for four decades led judges to defer to how federal agencies interpreted a law when its language wasn’t clear.

GOP lawmakers said the 6-3 decision by the Supreme Court undid a precedent that they argued had unjustly strengthened the power of unelected government officials.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said, “The Constitution vests Congress with the sole authority to make law.”

“After 40 years of Chevron deference, the Supreme Court made it clear today that our system of government leaves no room for an unelected bureaucracy to co-opt this authority for itself,” McConnell said. “The days of federal agencies filling in the legislative blanks are rightly over.”

And Chamber of Commerce CEO Suzanne Clark, in a statement, said, “Today’s decision is an important course correction that will help create a more predictable and stable regulatory environment.”

Clark added the high court’s prior Chevron rule “allowed each new presidential administration to advance their political agendas through flip-flopping regulations and not provide consistent rules of the road for businesses to navigate, plan, and invest in the future.”

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Remember, folks: this is just one of the MAJOR rulings that the Supreme Court will be ruling on in the coming days…

Stay tuned!



 

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