ACUS recommends best practices for investigations, consultation, and public participation in regulatory programs.
The Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS) is a nonpartisan federal agency charged with advancing fairness, transparency, and efficiency across the administrative state. Established by the U.S. Congress in 1968, ACUS brings together senior government officials, scholars, and practitioners to study and recommend improvements to federal administrative processes.
At its most recent plenary session in June, ACUS adopted three recommendations to guide federal agencies:
- ACUS suggested steps agencies can take to improve engagement with tribal, state, and local governments in regulatory proceedings.
- ACUS identified procedures for agency investigations to promote the exchange of information with their subjects, fair settlements, and public disclosure of agency procedures.
- ACUS offered guidance on determining when and how agencies should provide for public participation in agency adjudications.
The Regulatory Review invited distinguished scholars and ACUS staff to discuss the June recommendations. In each essay in this series, the author or authors reflect on the purpose and intended impact of a recommendation they helped develop.
This series of essays features the following contributors: Aram Gavoor of The George Washington University School of Law, Daniel B. Rodriguez of the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Glen Staszewski of the Michigan State University College of Law, Kazia Nowacki of ACUS, Lea Robbins of ACUS, Michael Sant’Ambrogio of the Michigan State University College of Law, Seth Davis of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.
Making Agency Investigations More Effective and Transparent
December 1, 2025 | Aram Gavoor, The George Washington University School of Law, and Kazia Nowacki, ACUS
ACUS recommends best practices for fair and efficient administrative investigations.
Promoting Public Participation in Agency Adjudication
December 2, 2025 | Glen Staszewski and Michael Sant’Ambrogio, Michigan State University College of Law, and Lea Robbins, ACUS.
ACUS recommends best practices to enhance public participation in policymaking by adjudication.
Consulting Governments in Regulatory Policymaking
December 3, 2025 | Seth Davis, University of California, Berkeley School of Law, and Daniel Rodriguez, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
ACUS recommends best practices for federal agency consultation with tribal, state, and local governments.
