WorldAugust 31, 2026

nondelegation

non-del-eh-GAY-shun

Definition

A legal doctrine or challenge asserting that a branch of government has improperly transferred its legislative authority to an executive agency.

Etymology

Derived from the prefix 'non-' (meaning not) plus 'delegation,' which comes from the Latin 'delegare' meaning to send away or entrust, ultimately referring to the constitutional prohibition against lawmakers shifting their responsibility to others.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe a specific type of constitutional challenge brought against the Federal Communications Commission, illustrating that the court's ideological divisions are not always predictable.

The 3-3-2-1 court?

Read the full article ↗

SCOTUSblog

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