Administrative Conference of the United States

Agencies can promote ethical practices by adopting rules of conduct for attorneys and other representatives in adjudication.

Even when agencies change or rescind guidance documents, they should be clearly labeled and readily available to the public.

ACUS issues recommendations to improve administrative governance.

Alternative agency outreach methods can garner useful feedback and reduce pressure on the notice and comment process.

ACUS should discourage the submission of mass comments in the notice and comment rulemaking process.

Agencies can welcome public participation while discouraging the submission of mass comments.

Mass comments policy should consider agencies’ roles as apolitical policymakers.

Experts consider the value of mass comment campaigns during notice-and-comment rulemaking.

ACUS assesses the changing landscape of how agencies use new technologies to hold hearings.

Agencies can do more to disclose input on regulatory alternatives during notice-and-comment processes.

Periodic reviews of regulations can promote learning and improve policy.

ACUS recommends best practices for how agencies manage mass, computer-generated, and falsely attributed public comments.