# Write the Laws Act (S. 60) - Plain Language Summary

## What This Bill Does

The "Write the Laws Act" is a proposal to restrict federal agencies from making rules and regulations that function like laws. The bill argues that the Constitution gives Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives) the exclusive power to write laws, and that federal agencies—like the EPA, FDA, or FCC—have unconstitutionally taken on this legislative power. The bill aims to phase out what it calls "unconstitutional delegation" and restore what supporters view as the proper separation of powers between the three branches of government.

## Key Actions

The bill requires the Comptroller General (a government auditor) to investigate and report to Congress on the extent of rule-making by federal agencies. This report would presumably be used to identify which agency regulations should be eliminated or transferred back to Congress. The bill is based on the argument that allowing agencies to create binding rules violates the Fifth Amendment's due process protections and concentrates too much power in the executive branch.

## Who Would Be Affected

- **Federal agencies** (EPA, FDA, OSHA, etc.) would lose authority to create regulations
- **Congress** would need to write detailed laws covering areas currently handled by agency rules
- **Businesses and individuals** would be affected by changes in how regulations are created and enforced
- **The regulatory system** would face significant restructuring, as agencies currently issue thousands of rules annually

## Important Context

This bill represents a significant constitutional challenge to how the federal government has operated for over a century. Courts have generally allowed Congress to delegate rule-making authority to agencies, but this bill argues that practice is unconstitutional.

Write the Laws Act

Paul, Rand

Write the Laws ActThis bill prohibits an act of Congress from containing any delegation of legislative powers, whether to any component within the legislative branch, the President or any other member of the executive branch, the judicial branch, any agency or quasi-public agency, any state or state instrumentality, or any other organization or individual.The Government Accountability Office must identify to Congress all statutes enacted before the date that is 90 days after this bill's enactment that contain any delegation of legislative power.Any act of Congress, presidential directive, adjudicative decision, rule, or regulation that is enacted 90 days or more after this bill's enactment and is noncompliant with this bill shall have no force or effect.