This Month at ACUS: March 2022

This series highlights selected ACUS projects. To learn more about ongoing projects, subscribe to our mailing list. 

 

FORUM ON SENATE CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE-BRANCH APPOINTEES 

ACUS and the National Academy of Public Administration will host a public forum, Advice and Consent: Problems and Reform in the Senate Confirmation of Executive-Branch Appointees, on March 29, 1:00-3:00 p.m. (ET). Through two virtual panels, leading experts will examine the causes and effects of delays in the current process for nominating and confirming agency officials and explore potential reforms. Register to attend the event here. 

 

SPRING 2022 PROJECTS 

ACUS committees will consider three projects this spring: Automated Legal Guidance at Federal Agencies, Contractors in Rulemaking, and Improving Notice of Regulatory Changes. Draft reports and recommendations for each project will be available soon. 

  • The Committee on Rulemaking met on March 24 and will meet on April 12, 12:00-3:00 p.m. (ET), to discuss recommendations on Contractors in Rulemaking. 

  • The Committee on Administration and Management will meet on April 5, 12:00-3:00 p.m. (ET), and April 26, 12:00-3:00 p.m. (ET), to discuss recommendations on Automated Legal Guidance in Federal Agencies. 

  • The Committee on Regulation will meet on April 8, 2:00-5:00 p.m. (ET), and April 22, 2:00-5:00 p.m. (ET), to discuss recommendations on Improving Notice of Regulatory Changes. 

 

REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT PROJECTS  

ACUS continues to examine agency enforcement practices through two new projects, Public Availability of Settlement Agreements in Agency Enforcement Proceedings and Regulatory Enforcement Manuals. It is anticipated that both reports will be put before ACUS committees in the fall for the formulation of recommendations. These projects build on other enforcement-related initiatives, including a recent report from Professor Michael Asimow studying the role agency heads play in decisions to charge enforcement targets at five independent regulatory agencies. 

 

INFORMATION INTERCHANGE BULLETINS

ACUS recently issued Information Interchange Bulletins on virtual hearings in agency adjudication and the regulation of representatives in agency adjudicative proceedings, both based on recent recommendations from ACUS. ACUS regularly issues short, one-page Information Interchange Bulletins on discrete topics of administrative procedure. All IIBs are available here.