The nondelegation doctrine prohibits Congress from delegating what?

• A. Legislative power to the executive without adequate standards.
• B. All regulatory authority to the executive branch.
• C. Only budgetary decisions to the agencies.
• D. State governments from participating in federal rulemaking.

Answer: (B)

The nondelegation doctrine centers on keeping Congress in charge of making laws by requiring that any delegation to the executive be tied to clear standards or guidelines. Congress can authorize agencies to implement statutes, but it must provide an intelligible principle—criteria, policies, or constraints—that guide how that authority is exercised. Without those standards, the executive would be empowered to create laws on its own, which the Constitution reserves to Congress. In practice, delegations are permissible when there is a guiding framework; they’re unconstitutional if there are no standards at all and the executive is left with a blank check.