5 U.S.C. § 701 — Application; definitions

Page 228 TITLE 5—GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES § 701 1 See References in Text note below. appear as amicus curiae in any action brought in a court of the United States to review a rule. In any such action, the Chief Counsel is author- ized to present his or her views with respect to compliance with this chapter, the adequacy of the rulemaking record with respect to small en- tities and the effect of the rule on small enti- ties. (c) A court of the United States shall grant the application of the Chief Counsel for Advo- cacy of the Small Business Administration to appear in any such action for the purposes de- scribed in subsection (b). (Added Pub. L. 96–354, § 3(a), Sept. 19, 1980, 94 Stat. 1170; amended Pub. L. 104–121, title II, § 243(b), Mar. 29, 1996, 110 Stat. 866.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–121, § 243(b)(1), which di- rected substitution of ‘‘the Committees on the Judici- ary and Small Business of the Senate and House of Rep- resentatives’’ for ‘‘the committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Se- lect Committee on Small Business of the Senate, and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Rep- resentatives’’, was executed by making the substi- tution for ‘‘the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and House of Representatives, the Select Com- mittee on Small Business of the Senate, and the Com- mittee on Small Business of the House of Representa- tives’’ to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–121, § 243(b)(2), substituted ‘‘his or her views with respect to compliance with this chapter, the adequacy of the rulemaking record with respect to small entities and the’’ for ‘‘his views with respect to the’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries CHANGE OF NAME Committee on Small Business of Senate changed to Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of Senate. See Senate Resolution No. 123, One Hundred Seventh Congress, June 29, 2001. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1996 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 104–121 effective on expiration of 90 days after Mar. 29, 1996, but inapplicable to inter- pretative rules for which a notice of proposed rule- making was published prior to Mar. 29, 1996, see section 245 of Pub. L. 104–121, set out as a note under section 601 of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE Section effective Jan. 1, 1981, see section 4 of Pub. L. 96–354, set out as a note under section 601 of this title. TERMINATION OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of reporting provisions in subsec. (a) of this section, see section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, as amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance, and page 191 of House Document No. 103–7. CHAPTER 7—JUDICIAL REVIEW Sec. 701. Application; definitions. 702. Right of review. 703. Form and venue of proceeding. 704. Actions reviewable. 705. Relief pending review. 706. Scope of review. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries SHORT TITLE The provisions of sections 551 to 559 of this title and this chapter were originally enacted by act June 11, 1946, ch. 324, 60 Stat. 237, popularly known as the ‘‘Ad- ministrative Procedure Act’’. That Act was repealed as part of the general revision of this title by Pub. L. 89–554 and its provisions incorporated into sections 551 to 559 of this title and this chapter. § 701. Application; definitions (a) This chapter applies, according to the pro- visions thereof, except to the extent that— (1) statutes preclude judicial review; or (2) agency action is committed to agency discretion by law. (b) For the purpose of this chapter— (1) ‘‘agency’’ means each authority of the Government of the United States, whether or not it is within or subject to review by an- other agency, but does not include— (A) the Congress; (B) the courts of the United States; (C) the governments of the territories or possessions of the United States; (D) the government of the District of Co- lumbia; (E) agencies composed of representatives of the parties or of representatives of organi- zations of the parties to the disputes deter- mined by them; (F) courts martial and military commis- sions; (G) military authority exercised in the field in time of war or in occupied territory; or (H) functions conferred by sections 1738, 1739, 1743, and 1744 of title 12; subchapter II of chapter 471 of title 49; or sections 1884, 1891–1902, and former section 1641(b)(2), of title 50, appendix; 1 and (2) ‘‘person’’, ‘‘rule’’, ‘‘order’’, ‘‘license’’, ‘‘sanction’’, ‘‘relief’’, and ‘‘agency action’’ have the meanings given them by section 551 of this title. (Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 392; Pub. L. 103–272, § 5(a), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1373; Pub. L. 111–350, § 5(a)(3), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3841.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Derivation U.S. Code Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large (a) ............. 5 U.S.C. 1009 (intro- ductory clause). June 11, 1946, ch. 324, § 10 (introductory clause), 60 Stat. 243. In subsection (a), the words ‘‘This chapter applies, ac- cording to the provisions thereof,’’ are added to avoid the necessity of repeating the introductory clause of former section 1009 in sections 702–706. Subsection (b) is added on authority of section 2 of the Act of June 11, 1946, ch. 324, 60 Stat. 237, as amend- ed, which is carried into section 551 of this title. In subsection (b)(1)(G), the words ‘‘or naval’’ are omitted as included in ‘‘military’’. In subsection (b)(1)(H), the words ‘‘functions which by law expire on the termination of present hostilities, within any fixed period thereafter, or before July 1, 1947’’ are omitted as executed. Reference to the ‘‘Selec- Page 229 TITLE 5—GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES § 704 tive Training and Service Act of 1940’’ is omitted as that Act expired on Mar. 31, 1947. Reference to the ‘‘Sugar Control Extension Act of 1947’’ is omitted as that Act expired on Mar. 31, 1948. References to the ‘‘Housing and Rent Act of 1947, as amended’’ and the ‘‘Veterans’ Emergency Housing Act of 1946’’ have been consolidated as they are related. The reference to former section 1641(b)(2) of title 50, appendix, is re- tained notwithstanding its repeal by § 111(a)(1) of the Act of Sept. 21, 1961, Pub. L. 87–256, 75 Stat. 538, since § 111(c) of the Act provides that a reference in other Acts to a provision of law repealed by § 111(a) shall be considered to be a reference to the appropriate provi- sions of Pub. L. 87–256. Standard changes are made to conform with the defi- nitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report. Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT Sections 1884 and 1891–1902 of title 50, appendix, re- ferred to in subsec. (b)(1)(H), were a part of the various Housing and Rent Acts which were classified to section 1881 et seq. of the former Appendix to Title 50, War and National Defense, and had been repealed or omitted from the Code as executed prior to the elimination of the Appendix to Title 50. See Elimination of Title 50, Appendix note preceding section 1 of Title 50. Section 1641 of title 50, appendix, referred to in subsec. (b)(1)(H), was repealed by Pub. L. 87–256, § 111(a)(1), Sept. 21, 1961, 75 Stat. 538. AMENDMENTS 2011—Subsec. (b)(1)(H). Pub. L. 111–350 struck out ‘‘chapter 2 of title 41;’’ after ‘‘title 12;’’. 1994—Subsec. (b)(1)(H). Pub. L. 103–272 substituted ‘‘subchapter II of chapter 471 of title 49; or sections’’ for ‘‘or sections 1622,’’. § 702. Right of review A person suffering legal wrong because of agency action, or adversely affected or ag- grieved by agency action within the meaning of a relevant statute, is entitled to judicial review thereof. An action in a court of the United States seeking relief other than money damages and stating a claim that an agency or an officer or employee thereof acted or failed to act in an official capacity or under color of legal author- ity shall not be dismissed nor relief therein be denied on the ground that it is against the United States or that the United States is an in- dispensable party. The United States may be named as a defendant in any such action, and a judgment or decree may be entered against the United States: Provided, That any mandatory or injunctive decree shall specify the Federal offi- cer or officers (by name or by title), and their successors in office, personally responsible for compliance. Nothing herein (1) affects other lim- itations on judicial review or the power or duty of the court to dismiss any action or deny relief on any other appropriate legal or equitable ground; or (2) confers authority to grant relief if any other statute that grants consent to suit ex- pressly or impliedly forbids the relief which is sought. (Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 392; Pub. L. 94–574, § 1, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2721.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Derivation U.S. Code Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large .................. 5 U.S.C. 1009(a). June 11, 1946, ch. 324, § 10(a), 60 Stat. 243. Standard changes are made to conform with the defi- nitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1976—Pub. L. 94–574 removed the defense of sovereign immunity as a bar to judicial review of Federal admin- istrative action otherwise subject to judicial review. § 703. Form and venue of proceeding The form of proceeding for judicial review is the special statutory review proceeding relevant to the subject matter in a court specified by statute or, in the absence or inadequacy thereof, any applicable form of legal action, including actions for declaratory judgments or writs of prohibitory or mandatory injunction or habeas corpus, in a court of competent jurisdiction. If no special statutory review proceeding is appli- cable, the action for judicial review may be brought against the United States, the agency by its official title, or the appropriate officer. Except to the extent that prior, adequate, and exclusive opportunity for judicial review is pro- vided by law, agency action is subject to judicial review in civil or criminal proceedings for judi- cial enforcement. (Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 392; Pub. L. 94–574, § 1, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2721.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Derivation U.S. Code Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large .................. 5 U.S.C. 1009(b). June 11, 1946, ch. 324, § 10(b), 60 Stat. 243. Standard changes are made to conform with the defi- nitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1976—Pub. L. 94–574 provided that if no special statu- tory review proceeding is applicable, the action for ju- dicial review may be brought against the United States, the agency by its official title, or the appro- priate officer as defendant. § 704. Actions reviewable Agency action made reviewable by statute and final agency action for which there is no other adequate remedy in a court are subject to judi- cial review. A preliminary, procedural, or inter- mediate agency action or ruling not directly re- viewable is subject to review on the review of the final agency action. Except as otherwise ex- pressly required by statute, agency action oth- erwise final is final for the purposes of this sec- tion whether or not there has been presented or determined an application for a declaratory order, for any form of reconsideration, or, unless the agency otherwise requires by rule and pro-