Completed projects

Recommendation 2015-2 – Technical Assistance by Federal Agencies in the Legislative Process offers best practices for agencies when providing Congress with technical drafting assistance.

Recommendation 2021-8, Technical Reform of the Congressional Review Act – offers technical reforms of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to clarify certain of its procedural aspects and reduce administrative burdens on executive-branch agencies and congressional offices.

Recommendation 2011-7 – The Federal Advisory Committee Act – Issues and Proposed Reforms addresses the administrative load imposed by Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and offers proposals to Congress, the General Services Administration, and agencies that use advisory committees, to alleviate certain procedural burdens associated with the existing regime, clarify the scope of the Ac

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission engaged the Administrative Conference of the United States to conduct an independent study evaluating the status and organizational placement of Administrative Judges (AJs) within the Commission’s federal sector hearing program.

Recommendation 2016-5 – The Use of Ombuds in Federal Agencies takes account of the broad array of federal agency ombuds offices that have been established since the time of Recommendation 90-2.  The recommendation suggests that agencies and Congress consider creating additional ombuds offices where they may be of benefit.

The USPTO engaged ACUS to conduct an independent study of issues associated with and options for designing a small claims patent court.

Recommendation 2023-8, User Fees – provides best practices for agencies and Congress to consider in designing and implementing user fees in administrative programs.

Recommendation 2023-3, Using Algorithmic Tools in Retrospective Review of Agency Rules – identifies best practices for agencies to consider when designing or using artificially intelligent or algorithmic tools to identify rules that are outmoded or redundant, that contain typographical errors or inaccurate cross-references, or might benefit from resolving issues with intersecting or overlapping rules or stan

Recommendation 2021-4, Virtual Hearings in Agency Adjudication – addresses the use of virtual hearings—that is, proceedings in which participants attend remotely using a personal computer or mobile device—in agency adjudications.

Recommendation 2023-2, Virtual Public Engagement in Agency Rulemaking – identifies best practices to promote enhanced transparency, accessibility, and accountability when agencies use virtual tools to host public engagement meetings during the rulemaking process.