What is administrative law?

Administrative law is defined as the body of law that governs the activities of administrative agencies of government. It is primarily composed of rules and regulations created by these agencies, which are established to implement and interpret statutory laws passed by legislative bodies. These agencies have the authority to create detailed regulations that provide the specifics for how the laws will operate in practice, covering a wide array of areas such as environmental regulation, labor relations, and public health. This sets administrative law apart as it gives the agencies the flexibility and expertise to regulate specific sectors effectively and respond to changing circumstances.

The other options relate to different branches of law—state constitutions pertain to foundational legal principles for individual states, common law precedents involve judicial decisions that inform future cases, and international treaties are agreements between sovereign nations. Each of these plays a significant role in the broader legal ecosystem but does not pertain directly to the rules established by administrative agencies, which is central to understanding administrative law.