Which case established the principle of deference to administrative agencies in statutory interpretation (Chevron deference)?

Which case established the principle of deference to administrative agencies in statutory interpretation (Chevron deference)?

• A. Miranda v. Arizona
• B. Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. NRDC
• C. Gideon v. Wainwright
• D. Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States

Answer: (B)

Chevron deference is the principle that courts should defer to an administrative agency’s reasonable interpretation of a statute it administers when the statutory language is ambiguous. In Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. NRDC, the Court laid out a two-step test: first, determine if the statute is clear on the issue; if it is, the court must apply that clear meaning. If the statute is ambiguous, the court asks whether the agency’s interpretation is a permissible one within the statute’s broad framework; if it is reasonable, the agency’s interpretation controls. This doctrine rests on giving deference to agency expertise in implementing and enforcing federal statutes. The other cases listed deal with individual rights or civil rights issues rather than the doctrine of deferential interpretation of statutes by agencies. Therefore, the case that established this deference is Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. NRDC.

Chevron deference is the principle that courts should defer to an administrative agency’s reasonable interpretation of a statute it administers when the statutory language is ambiguous. In Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. NRDC, the Court laid out a two-step test: first, determine if the statute is clear on the issue; if it is, the court must apply that clear meaning. If the statute is ambiguous, the court asks whether the agency’s interpretation is a permissible one within the statute’s broad framework; if it is reasonable, the agency’s interpretation controls. This doctrine rests on giving deference to agency expertise in implementing and enforcing federal statutes. The other cases listed deal with individual rights or civil rights issues rather than the doctrine of deferential interpretation of statutes by agencies. Therefore, the case that established this deference is Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. NRDC.