ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED STATES
Created in 1968, the Administrative Conference
of the United States (ACUS) was a federal
independent agency and advisory committee
chartered for the purpose of ensuring the fair
and efficient administration of various federal
agencies. The ACUS studied administrative
processes and recommended improvements in the procedures by which federal agencies
administered regulatory, benefit, and other
government programs. It had no power to
enact its recommendations into law, or to
enforce them once they were enacted, but it did
carry great weight in the formulation of procedures
and policies of federal administrative
agencies.
The ACUS consisted of heads of administrative
agencies, private lawyers, university professors,
various federal officials, and other experts
in ADMINISTRATIVE LAW and government.
These experts collectively conducted continuing
studies of selected problems that existed in the
procedures of federal administrative agencies.
The specific charge of ACUS was to harness the
experience and judgment of the ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENCY specialists to improve the fairness
and effectiveness of administrative procedures
and functions.
From 1968 to 1995, the ACUS issued
approximately two hundred recommendations,
the majority of which were at least partially
implemented. In 1995, Congress terminated
funding for the ACUS, and it ceased operation.
FURTHER READINGS
“Administrative Conference of the United States” (Symposium).
1998. Arizona State Law Journal 30 (spring).
Funk, William. “R.I.P. A.C.U.S.” ABA Network: Administrative
& Regulatory Law News. Available online at
.html> (accessed June 12, 2003).
“Recommendations of the Administrative Conference of the
United States.” ABA Administrative Procedure Database.
Available online at admin/acus/acustoc.html> (accessed June 12, 2003).
CROSS-REFERENCES
Administrative Agency; Administrative Law and Procedure.
