Chevron v. NRDC established a doctrine that public agencies receive deference when Congress has left a statute __?

Chevron v. NRDC established a doctrine that public agencies receive deference when Congress has left a statute __?

• A. Ambiguous
• B. Unambiguous
• C. Vague but not silent
• D. Explicitly contrary

Answer: (A)

Chevron deference is about when courts should accept an administrative agency’s reading of a statute. The key idea tested is that deference applies when Congress has not spoken clearly on the issue—that is, the statute is ambiguous or silent. When the statute’s plain meaning resolves the matter, the court must follow that text. But if the meaning is unclear or Congress didn’t address the issue at all, the court defers to the agency’s reasonable interpretation as the one that Congress delegated to administer the statute. So the best choice is that the statute is ambiguous, which triggers the agency’s interpretation to be given deference.

Chevron deference is about when courts should accept an administrative agency’s reading of a statute. The key idea tested is that deference applies when Congress has not spoken clearly on the issue—that is, the statute is ambiguous or silent. When the statute’s plain meaning resolves the matter, the court must follow that text. But if the meaning is unclear or Congress didn’t address the issue at all, the court defers to the agency’s reasonable interpretation as the one that Congress delegated to administer the statute. So the best choice is that the statute is ambiguous, which triggers the agency’s interpretation to be given deference.