Product Description
Abstract
In 2013, when the rulemaking authority of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) vested, the agency faced the task of interpreting its statutory mandate to “consider the potential benefits and costs” of rulemakings. The D.C. Circuit’s 2011 decision in Business Roundtable v. SEC further complicated the CFPB’s statutory construction exercise. The court read a high threshold into the SEC’s statutory mandate to “consider” the effects a new rule would have on “efficiency, competition, and capital formation,” perhaps necessitating quantitative analysis. After the Business Roundtable decision, independent agencies, particularly those financial regulatory agencies charged with rulemaking responsibilities under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, faced additional scrutiny regarding their approach to cost-benefit analysis. The CFPB mandate had yet to be interpreted by a court, but the Bureau would likely face litigation challenges or congressional review in the near future.
This case, set in early 2013, requires participants to step into the shoes of new attorneys in the General Counsel’s office of the CFPB. As part of their new role, participants are asked to evaluate the challenges in interpreting the Bureau’s statutory mandate and to develop a procedural approach toward memorializing that interpretation.
Participants will dig deep into the technical aspects of cost-benefit analysis, think broadly about the conceptual requirements of the Bureau’s statutory mandate, and understand the procedural issues that come with developing a Bureau policy on cost-benefit analysis for future rulemaking. After Part 1’s introduction to the problem of cost-benefit analysis, the materials in Part 2 add detail to generate critical thinking to the discussion. In Part 3, participants are given a particular objective, and work together to develop policy guidelines that further their goal. Part 4 culminates the experience by asking participants to consider all of the policy objectives and present a definitive policy recommendation to the Director of the CFPB—in this case, a practitioner volunteering to play the role. A glossary is provided in Part 5.
Table of Contents
This problem set consists of five parts:
- Part 1-The Problem presents the problem, the agency, and the relevant court decisions.
- Part 2-The Problem, Continued asks participants to consider how the agency’s actions have aligned with statutory mandates, court decisions, and recommended practices. This part includes extensive appendices.
- Part 3a-The Problem, Continued asks participants to develop policy guidelines for cost-benefit analysis in rulemaking, with the objective of best protecting the agency against litigation challenges.
- Part 3b-The Problem, Continued asks participants to develop policy guidelines for cost-benefit analysis in rulemaking, with the objective of generating the highest-quality regulations.
- Part 4-Final Instructions asks the two groups of participants to synthesize these policy guidelines and prepare a memorandum for the agency’s director.
- Part 5-Glossary defines acronyms in the case materials and supplementary readings.
This product contains a zip file with all of the products listed above; each file is also available for separate download to meet your individual distribution needs.
Learning Objectives
- Begin to develop a systematic approach to problem solving when faced with an unresolved issue or new situation.
- Deepen knowledge of administrative law processes and the relationship between agencies, legislatures, and courts.
- Engage in context-driven interpretations of statutory law, regulations, and case law.
- Practice how to prepare legal and policy recommendations for a client and anticipate that client’s questions and concerns.
- Gain exposure to some of the procedural and substantive issues surrounding cost-benefit analysis.
- Become familiar with federal agency rulemakings and gain facility in reviewing the materials purposively.
Subjects Covered
Consumer finance, statutory law, regulations, cost-benefit analysis, rulemaking, government agency
Setting
Geographic: United States
Industry: Finance; Government
Event Year Begin: 2013
Accessibility
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Educator Materials
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Additional Information
Can Governments Follow Their Own Rules?
The Problem Solving Workshop: A Video Introduction
Copyright Information
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