Question

“Administrative law is the law concerning the powers and procedures of administrative agencies, including especially the law governing judicial review of administrative action.” This definition was given by:

• A. Ivor Jennings
• B. H.W.R. Wade
• C. A.V. Dicey
• D. K.C. Davis

Hint:

When you see "Administrative Agencies" + "Judicial Review" in the same definition, think of K.C. Davis. His American-influenced approach is famous for this concise framing!

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Administrative Law scholars have defined the subject differently based on their focus on either the "powers" of agencies or the "control" mechanisms (like judicial review).

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- Kenneth Culp Davis, a preeminent American jurist, defined Administrative Law with a focus on administrative agencies and the judicial review of their actions.
- A.V. Dicey, by contrast, focused on the "rule of law" and the immunity of state officials. Ivor Jennings and H.W.R. Wade offered broader or more process-oriented definitions.

Step 3: Final Answer:
This specific definition is attributed to K.C. Davis. Option (D) is correct.

Answer 2

The quoted definition centres administrative law on the powers and procedures of agencies and, specifically, judicial review of administrative action, and each named scholar's actual contribution needs to be checked against this framing.

1. Option (A) - Ivor Jennings: Jennings defined administrative law more broadly as the law relating to public administration, without the specific emphasis on judicial review of administrative action found in the quoted definition.
2. Option (B) - H.W.R. Wade: Wade's writing on administrative law focuses heavily on control mechanisms and process, but the precise wording centred on "powers and procedures of administrative agencies" together with judicial review is not his particular formulation.
3. Option (C) - A.V. Dicey: Dicey is known for the rule of law and was in fact sceptical of a separate system of administrative law modelled on the French droit administratif; his focus was on ordinary courts and equality before the law, not on agencies and judicial review of their action.
4. Option (D) - K.C. Davis: Kenneth Culp Davis, the American administrative law scholar, defined administrative law precisely in terms of the powers and procedures of administrative agencies, including especially the law of judicial review of administrative action. This matches the quoted definition word for word in substance.

Only Davis's formulation aligns exactly with the agency-and-judicial-review framing used in the quoted definition.

Hence, the correct answer is K.C. Davis.