What is a Rulemaking?
Rulemaking is the name given to the process followed by Federal Departments and Agencies to formulate, amend, or repeal a regulation. A Federal regulation is generally an authoritative requirement issued by a Federal Department and Agency that implements a statute and has the force of law. The rulemaking process generally consists of a proposed rule stage and a final rule stage. For most categories of rulemaking, the Department or Agency provides notice of a proposed regulation and any person or organization may review this document and submit comments on it in writing. The period during which public comments are accepted varies, but is usually 30, 60, or 90 days. As part of the rulemaking process, the Department or Agency is required to consider the public comments received on the proposed regulation. When the Department or Agency publishes the text of the final regulation in the Federal Register, it generally incorporates a response to the significant issues raised by those who submi
