Powers of Administrative Agencies

1. Quasi-legislative power / Power of subordinate legislation2. Quasi-judicial power/Power of adjudication3. Determinative powers (Note: Senator Neptali Gonzales calls them

incidental powers) Definition of "Quasi-legislative power"

It is the authority delegated by the law-making body to the administrative body to adopt rules and regulations intended to carry out the provisions of a law and implement legislative policy.

Distinctions between Quasi-legislative power and legislative power

1. LEGISLATIVE power involves the discretion to determine what the law shall be. QUASI-legislative power only involves the discretion to determine how the law shall be enforced.

2. LEGISLATIVE power CANNOT be delegated. QUASI-legislative power CAN be delegated.

Tests of Delegation (applies to the power to promulgate administrative regulations )

1. COMPLETENESS test. This means that the law must be complete in all its terms and conditions when it leaves the legislature so that when it reaches the delegate, it will have nothing to do but to enforce it.

2. SUFFICIENT STANDARD test. The law must offer a sufficient standard to specify the limits of the delegate’s authority, announce the legislative policy and specify the conditions under which it is to be implemented.

Definition of Quasi-Judicial Power

It is the power of administrative authorities to make determinations of facts in the performance of their official duties and to apply the law as they construe it to the facts so found. The exercise of this power is only incidental to the main function of administrative authorities, which is the enforcement of the law.

Determinative Powers

1.ENABLING powers Those that PERMIT the doing of an act which the law undertakes to regulate and would be unlawful without government approval.Ex. Issuance of licenses to engage in a particular business.

2.DIRECTING powersThose that involve the corrective powers of public utility commissions, powers of assessment under the revenue laws, reparations under public utility laws, and awards under workmen’s compensation laws,

and powers of abstract determination such as definition-valuation, classification and fact finding

3. DISPENSING powersExemplified by the authority to exempt from or relax a general prohibition, or authority to relieve from an affirmative duty. Its difference from licensing power is that dispensing power sanctions a deviation from a standard.

4. SUMMARY powersThose that apply compulsion or force against person or property to effectuate a legal purpose without a judicial warrant to authorize such action. Usually without notice and hearing. Ex. Abatement of nuisance, summary destraint, levy of property of delinquent tax payers

5. EQUITABLE powersThose that pertain to the power to determine the law upon a particular state of facts. It refers to the right to, and must, consider and make proper application of the rules of equity.Ex. Power to appoint a receiver, power to issue injunctions

Kinds of Administrative Regulations

DISTINCTIONS LEGISLATIVE INTERPRETATIVE1. Capacity that administrative agency is acting in

Legislative Judicial

2. What administrative agency is doing

It supplements the statute by filling in the details

It says what the statute means

3. Force and effect Legislative regulations have the force and effecr of law immediately upon going into effect. Such is accorded by the courts or by express provision of statute.

Merely persuasive/Received by the courts with much respect but not accorded with finality

Requisites of a Valid Administrative Regulation1. Its promulgation must be authorized by the legislature.2. It must be within the scope of the authority given by the legislature.3. It must be promulgated in accordance with the prescribed

procedure.4. It must be reasonable

Need for Previous Notice and Hearing

1. General Rule: Administrative rules of GENERAL application do NOT require previous notice and hearing.

2. Exception: When the legislature itself requires it and mandates that the regulation shall be based on certain facts as determined at an appropriate investigation.

3. If the regulation is in effect a settlement of a controversy between specific parties, it is considered an administrative adjudication, requiring notice and hearing.

Prescribing of Rates

It can be either: 1. LEGISLATIVEIf the rules/rates are meant to apply to all enterprises of a given kind throughout the country.No prior notice and hearing is required.

2. QUASI-JUDICIALIf the rules and rates imposed apply exclusively to a particular party, based upon a finding of fact. Prior notice and hearing is required.

Requirement of Publication

Administrative Regulations that MUST be published: 1. Administrative regulations of GENERAL application.2. Administrative regulations which are PENAL in nature.

Administrative regulations that do NOT NEED to be PUBLISHED:

1. Interpretative regulations2. Internal rules and regulations governing the personnel of the

administrative agency.

3. Letters of instruction issued by administrative superiors concerning guidelines to be followed by their subordinates. (Tanada v. Tuvera)

Special Requisites of a Valid Administrative Regulation with a PENAL sanction

1. The law itself must make violation of the administrative regulation punishable.

2. The law itself must impose and specify the penalty for the violation of the regulation.

3. The regulation must be published.

Requisites for Proper Exercise of Quasi-Judicial Power

1. Jurisdiction2. Due process

Administrative Due Process : Requirements

1. Right to Notice, be it actual or constructive2. Reasonable opportunity to appear and defend his rights and to

introduce witnesses 3. Impartial tribunal with competent jurisdiction4. Finding or decision supported by substantial evidence

Exceptions to the Notice and Hearing Requirement

1. Urgency of immediate action2. Tentativeness of the administrative action3. Right was previously offered but not claimed4. Summary abatement of a nuisance per se5. Preventive suspension of a public servant facing administrative

charges6. Padlocking of filthy restaurants/theaters showing obscene movies7. Cancellation of a passport of a person sought for criminal

prosecution8. Summary distraint and levy of properties of a delinquent taxpayer9. Replacement of a temporary or acting appointee

Questions Reviewable on Judicial Review:

1. Questions of FACTThe general rule is that courts will not disturb the findings of administrative agencies acting within the parameters of their own competence so long as such findings are supported by substantial evidence. By reason of their special knowledge, expertise, and experience, the courts ordinarily accord respect if not finality to factual findings of administrative tribunals.

2. Question of LAW Administrative decision may be appealed to the courts independently of legislative permission.It may be appealed even against legislative prohibition because the judiciary cannot be deprived of its inherent power to review all decisions on questions of law.

Doctrine of Finality

Courts are reluctant to interfere with action of an administrative agency prior to its completion or finality, the reason being that absent a final order or decision, power has not been fully and finally exercised, and there can usually be no irreparable harm. EXCEPTIONS: Interlocutory order affecting the merits of a controversy; Preserve status quo pending further action by the administrative agency; Essential to the protection of the rights asserted from the injury threatened; Officer assumes to act in violation of the Constitution and other laws; Order not reviewable in any other way; Order made in excess of power

Doctrine of Primary Jurisdiction

1. This doctrine states that courts cannot or will not determine a controversy which requires the expertise, specialized skills and knowledge of the proper administrative bodies because technical matters of intricate questions of fact are involved.

2. Relief must first be obtained in an administrative proceeding before a remedy will be supplied by the court even though the matter is within the proper jurisdiction of a court.

Doctrine of Prior Resort

When a claim originally cognizable in the courts involves issues which, under a regulatory scheme are within the special competence of an administrative agency, judicial proceedings will be suspended pending the referral of these issues to the administrative body for its view.

Note: The doctrines of primary jurisdiction and prior resort have been considered to be interchangeable.

Doctrine of Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies

1. Under this doctrine, an administrative decision must first be appealed to the administrative superiors up to the highest level before it may be elevated to a court of justice for review.

2. Reasons :a. to enable the administrative superiors to correct the

errors committed by their subordinates.b. courts should refrain from disturbing the findings of

administrative. bodies in deference to the doctrine of separation of powers.

c. courts should not be saddled with the review of administrative cases

d. judicial review of administrative cases is usually effected through special civil actions which are available only if their is no other plain, speedy and adequate remedy.

3. Exceptions

a. when the question raised is purely legal, involves constitutional questions

b. when the administrative body is in estoppedc. when act complained of is patently illegald. when there is urgent need for judicial intervention e. when claim involved is smallf. when irreparable damage is involvedg. when there is no other plain, speedy , adequate remedyh. when strong public interest is involved

I. when the subject of controversy is private landj. in quo warranto proceedingsk. When the administrative remedy is permissive, concurrentl. utter disregard of due processm.long-continued and unreasonable delay n. amount involved is relatively smallo. when no administrative review is providedp. respondent is a department secretary (DOCTRINE OF

QUALIFIED POLITICAL AGENCY – ALTER EGO DOCTRINE)

Substantial evidence – defined to mean not necessarily preponderant proof as required in ordinary civil cases but such kind of relevant evidence which a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.