Notes in Administrative Law
Notes in Administrative Law
Notes in Administrative Law
Quasi-judicial power is
● the power of administrative authorities
● to make determinations of facts in the performance of their official
duties
● and to apply the law as they construe it to the facts so found.
● It partakes the nature of judicial power , but is exercised by a person
other than a judge.
Yes. Administrative agencies may promulgate rules and regulations with penal sanctions provided the
following requisites are complied with:
1. The law must declare the act punishable
2. The law must define the penalty
3. The rules must be published in the Official Gazette (GR No. 159149 dated June 26,
2006)
Constructions of administrative officers are not binding upon the Courts. Such interpretations
of administrative officers, however are given great weight and respect in the interpretation of
ambiguous provisions of the law unless such construction is clearly shown to be in sharp
contrast with the governing law of the state.
6. oes the due process clause include the right to be assisted by counsel during
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administrative inquiry?
No. The right to counsel is not indispensable to due process unless required by the
Constitution or the law.There is nothing in the Constitution that says that a party in a non-criminal
proceeding is entitled to be represented by counsel and that, without such representation, he shall not
be bound by such proceedings.
The essence of procedural due process is embodied in the basic requirement of notice and a
real opportunity to be heard. In administrative proceedings, such as in the case at bar, procedural due
process simply means the opportunity to explain one’s side or the opportunity to seek a
reconsideration of the action or ruling complained of. "To be heard" does not mean only verbal
arguments in court; one may be heard also thru pleadings. Where opportunity to be heard, either
through oral arguments or pleadings, is accorded, there is no denial of procedural due process. The
assistance of lawyers, while desirable, is not indispensable.
In administrative proceedings, the essence of due process is simply the opportunity to explain ones
side. One may be heard, not solely by verbal presentation but also, and perhaps even much more
creditably as it is more practicable than oral arguments, through pleadings. An actual hearing is not
always an indispensable aspect of due process. As long as a party was given the opportunity to
defend his interests in due course, he cannot be said to have been denied due process of law, for this
opportunity to be heard is the very essence of due process. Moreover, this constitutional mandate is
deemed satisfied if a person is granted an opportunity to seek reconsideration of the action or ruling
complained of. (Pizza Hut/Progressive Development Corporation v. NLRC, 322 Phil. 579)
9. What are the requisites for a valid delegation of quasi-legislative or rule making power
a. Completeness test - the statute is complete in itself, setting forth the policy to be
executed by the agency
b. Sufficiency standard test - said statutes fixes a standard, mapping out the
boundaries of the agency’s authority to which it must conform
There is a question of law when the doubt or difference arises as to what the law is on a
certain state of facts, and not as to the truth or the falsehood of alleged facts. Said
question at best could be resolved tentatively by the administrative authorities. The
final decision on the matter rests not with them but with the courts of justice.
Exhaustion of administrative remedies does not apply, because nothing of an
administrative nature is to be or can be done. The issue does not require technical
knowledge and experience but one that would involve the interpretation and
application of law.
11. Can the court motu proprio raise the issue of primary jurisdiction?
Yes. The court may motu proprio raise the issue of primary jurisdiction and its invocation cannot be
waived by the failure of the parties to argue it, as the doctrine exists for the proper distribution of power
between judicial and administrative bodies and not for the convenience of the parties. In such case, the
court may (1) Suspend the judicial process pending referral of such issues to the administrative body for
its review or (2) If the parties would not be unfairly disadvantaged, dismiss the case without prejudice.
A public office is not property within the sense of the constitutional guarantee of due process of law for it
is a public trust or agency. When the dispute concerns ones constitutional right to security of tenure,
however, public office is deemed analogous to property in a limited sense; hence, the right to due process
could rightfully be invoked
What are the conditions for the proper exercise of quasi-judicial power?
1. Jurisdiction must be properly acquired by the administrative body
2. Due must be observed in the conduct of the proceeding?
Does administrative due process always entail notice and hearing prior to the deprivation of a
right?
No. a hearing may occur after the deprivation. What the law prohibits is not the absence of
previous notice but the absolute absence thereof and the lack of opportunity to be heard.
Thus, it has been held in one case, that a procedural irregularity previously inflicted upon the
petitioners through premature issuance of a decision without prior notice and hearing, may be remedied
by giving such petitioner the right to participate in the hearing of the Motion for reconsideration.
The doctrine of res judicata applies only to judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings, and not to the exercise of
administrative powers. Administrative powers here refer to those purely administrative in nature, as
opposed to administrative proceedings that take on a quasi-judicial character.
In administrative law, a quasi-judicial proceeding involves (a) taking and evaluating evidence; (b)
determining facts based upon the evidence presented; and (c) rendering an order or decision supported
by the facts proved. The exercise of quasi-judicial functions involves a determination, with respect to the
matter in controversy, of what the law is; what the legal rights and obligations of the contending parties
are; and based thereon and the facts obtaining, the adjudication of the respective rights and obligations of
the parties.
The Court has laid down the test for determining whether an administrative body is exercising judicial or
merely investigatory functions: adjudication signifies the exercise of the power and authority to adjudicate
upon the rights and obligations of the parties. Hence, if the only purpose of an investigation is to evaluate
the evidence submitted to an agency based on the facts and circumstances presented to it, and if the
agency is not authorized to make a final pronouncement affecting the parties, then there is an absence of
judicial discretion and judgment.