How does the administrative adjudication process work?
Administrative agencies have authority to enforce the rules and regulations they have adopted. Some agencies, such as the Social Security Administration or a state unemployment insurance board, regulate benefits that are available to applicants. If the agency denies an applicant’s request for benefits (or reduces or terminates such benefits), the applicant can object to the agency’s decision. An administrative law judge (ALJ) then holds an administrative hearing. Administrative hearings are more informal than trials. Both the applicant and the agency present evidence and introduce witnesses. The ALJ makes a decision, which is called an administrative order. The ALJ’s decision can be reviewed by a higher level within the agency or by a court. Other agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), regulate the actions or conduct of individuals or companies. If the FDA finds that an individual or a company has violated a regulation adopted by it, the FDA can enforce its regulatio
