The administrative state, made up of federal agencies, has a very powerful, though largely invisible influence on law, politics, and culture in the United States. Agency regulations, which have the force and effect of law, are issued by unelected agency officials and are the result of a complex process. A single rule can rewrite or change the meaning, application, and enforcement of laws passed by elected Members of Congress.
EPPC’s Administrative State Accountability Project (ASAP), directed by Rachel N. Morrison, advocates for an authentic understanding of the human person in the drafting, implementation, and rollback of government regulations.
Emphasizing a sound understanding of the legal protections Americans are entitled to, including religious freedom, health care rights of conscience, and the right to life, Project scholars engage in the agency rulemaking process by providing legal and policy expertise on proposed regulations, submitting public comments, meeting with government officials, and equipping others to participate.
Formerly called the HHS Accountability Project, the work of the Project has expanded to include other agencies.
Project scholars regularly publish articles, advise policymakers, give presentations, and file amicus briefs to advance the Project’s priorities.
EPPC Fellow Eric Kniffin, Policy Analyst Natalie Dodson, and Legal Associate Sam Lucas also serve in the Administrative State Accountability Project.
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Engagement on Agency Actions
To shape policy, EPPC monitors and engages with federal agency actions. EPPC primarily engages in the rulemaking process by submitting written public comments and requesting meetings with government officials to provide input and specific suggested changes or improvements the agency must consider for its rulemaking. EPPC scholars also educate other organizations and individuals on how to effectively engage in the regulatory process and provide legal and policy expertise on various agency actions.
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Amicus Briefs
EPPC and our scholars regularly file amicus briefs in key cases to promote a true and full account of human nature and human flourishing in the context of American constitutional law. Compiled on this page are some of our amicus briefs in cases addressing the right to life, marriage, gender ideology, religious freedom, free speech, and the rule of law.