SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS
§500. Administrative practice; general provisions
(a) For the purpose of this section—
(1) "agency" has the meaning given it by
(2) "State" means a State, a territory or possession of the United States including a Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
(b) An individual who is a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a State may represent a person before an agency on filing with the agency a written declaration that he is currently qualified as provided by this subsection and is authorized to represent the particular person in whose behalf he acts.
(c) An individual who is duly qualified to practice as a certified public accountant in a State may represent a person before the Internal Revenue Service of the Treasury Department on filing with that agency a written declaration that he is currently qualified as provided by this subsection and is authorized to represent the particular person in whose behalf he acts.
(d) This section does not—
(1) grant or deny to an individual who is not qualified as provided by subsection (b) or (c) of this section the right to appear for or represent a person before an agency or in an agency proceeding;
(2) authorize or limit the discipline, including disbarment, of individuals who appear in a representative capacity before an agency;
(3) authorize an individual who is a former employee of an agency to represent a person before an agency when the representation is prohibited by statute or regulation; or
(4) prevent an agency from requiring a power of attorney as a condition to the settlement of a controversy involving the payment of money.
(e) Subsections (b)–(d) of this section do not apply to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office with respect to patent matters that continue to be covered by
(f) When a participant in a matter before an agency is represented by an individual qualified under subsection (b) or (c) of this section, a notice or other written communication required or permitted to be given the participant in the matter shall be given to the representative in addition to any other service specifically required by statute. When a participant is represented by more than one such qualified representative, service on any one of the representatives is sufficient.
(Added
| Section of title 5 | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Revised Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 500(a) | 5 App.: 1014. | Nov. 8, 1965, |
| 500(b)–(e) | 5 App.: 1012. | Nov. 8, 1965, |
| 500(f) | 5 App.: 1013. | Nov. 8, 1965, |
The definition of "State" in subsection (a)(2) is supplied for convenience and is based on the words "State, possession, territory, Commonwealth, or District of Columbia" in subsections (a) and (b) of 5 App. U.S.C. 1012.
In subsection (d), the words "This section does not" are substituted for "nothing herein shall be construed".
In subsection (d)(3), the word "employee" is substituted for "officer or employee" to conform to the definition of "employee" in
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1999—Subsec. (e).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1999 Amendment
Amendment by
§501. Advertising practice; restrictions
An individual, firm, or corporation practicing before an agency of the United States may not use the name of a Member of either House of Congress or of an individual in the service of the United States in advertising the business.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Apr. 27, 1916, ch. 89, §1, |
The words "may not" are substituted for "It shall be unlawful for". The words "agency of the United States" are substituted for "any department or office of the Government". The words "an individual in the service of the United States" are substituted for "officer of the Government" in view of the definitions in sections 2104 and 2105.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
§502. Administrative practice; Reserves and National Guardsmen
Membership in a reserve component of the armed forces or in the National Guard does not prevent an individual from practicing his civilian profession or occupation before, or in connection with, an agency of the United States.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, §29(c) (2d sentence), |
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
§503. Witness fees and allowances
(a) For the purpose of this section, "agency" has the meaning given it by
(b) A witness is entitled to the fees and allowances allowed by statute for witnesses in the courts of the United States when—
(1) he is subpenaed under
(2) he is subpenaed to and appears at a hearing before an agency authorized by law to hold hearings and subpena witnesses to attend the hearings.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| R.S. §185. | ||
| Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 744, §10, |
Former sections 95 and 95a are combined and restated for clarity and brevity. The words "or expenses in the case of Government officers and employees" are omitted as covered by
This section was part of title IV of the Revised Statutes. The Act of July 26, 1947, ch. 343, §201(d), as added Aug. 10, 1949, ch. 412, §4,
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
§504. Costs and fees of parties
(a)(1) An agency that conducts an adversary adjudication shall award, to a prevailing party other than the United States, fees and other expenses incurred by that party in connection with that proceeding, unless the adjudicative officer of the agency finds that the position of the agency was substantially justified or that special circumstances make an award unjust. Whether or not the position of the agency was substantially justified shall be determined on the basis of the administrative record, as a whole, which is made in the adversary adjudication for which fees and other expenses are sought.
(2) A party seeking an award of fees and other expenses shall, within thirty days of a final disposition in the adversary adjudication, submit to the agency an application which shows that the party is a prevailing party and is eligible to receive an award under this section, and the amount sought, including an itemized statement from any attorney, agent, or expert witness representing or appearing in behalf of the party stating the actual time expended and the rate at which fees and other expenses were computed. The party shall also allege that the position of the agency was not substantially justified. When the United States appeals the underlying merits of an adversary adjudication, no decision on an application for fees and other expenses in connection with that adversary adjudication shall be made under this section until a final and unreviewable decision is rendered by the court on the appeal or until the underlying merits of the case have been finally determined pursuant to the appeal.
(3) The adjudicative officer of the agency may reduce the amount to be awarded, or deny an award, to the extent that the party during the course of the proceedings engaged in conduct which unduly and unreasonably protracted the final resolution of the matter in controversy. The decision of the adjudicative officer of the agency under this section shall be made a part of the record containing the final decision of the agency and shall include written findings and conclusions and the reason or basis therefor. The decision of the agency on the application for fees and other expenses shall be the final administrative decision under this section.
(4) If, in an adversary adjudication arising from an agency action to enforce a party's compliance with a statutory or regulatory requirement, the demand by the agency is substantially in excess of the decision of the adjudicative officer and is unreasonable when compared with such decision, under the facts and circumstances of the case, the adjudicative officer shall award to the party the fees and other expenses related to defending against the excessive demand, unless the party has committed a willful violation of law or otherwise acted in bad faith, or special circumstances make an award unjust. Fees and expenses awarded under this paragraph shall be paid only as a consequence of appropriations provided in advance.
(b)(1) For the purposes of this section—
(A) "fees and other expenses" includes the reasonable expenses of expert witnesses, the reasonable cost of any study, analysis, engineering report, test, or project which is found by the agency to be necessary for the preparation of the party's case, and reasonable attorney or agent fees (The amount of fees awarded under this section shall be based upon prevailing market rates for the kind and quality of the services furnished, except that (i) no expert witness shall be compensated at a rate in excess of the highest rate of compensation for expert witnesses paid by the agency involved, and (ii) attorney or agent fees shall not be awarded in excess of $125 per hour unless the agency determines by regulation that an increase in the cost of living or a special factor, such as the limited availability of qualified attorneys or agents for the proceedings involved, justifies a higher fee.);
(B) "party" means a party, as defined in
(C) "adversary adjudication" means (i) an adjudication under
(D) "adjudicative officer" means the deciding official, without regard to whether the official is designated as an administrative law judge, a hearing officer or examiner, or otherwise, who presided at the adversary adjudication;
(E) "position of the agency" means, in addition to the position taken by the agency in the adversary adjudication, the action or failure to act by the agency upon which the adversary adjudication is based; except that fees and other expenses may not be awarded to a party for any portion of the adversary adjudication in which the party has unreasonably protracted the proceedings; and
(F) "demand" means the express demand of the agency which led to the adversary adjudication, but does not include a recitation by the agency of the maximum statutory penalty (i) in the administrative complaint, or (ii) elsewhere when accompanied by an express demand for a lesser amount.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (1), the definitions provided in
(c)(1) After consultation with the Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States, each agency shall by rule establish uniform procedures for the submission and consideration of applications for an award of fees and other expenses. If a court reviews the underlying decision of the adversary adjudication, an award for fees and other expenses may be made only pursuant to
(2) If a party other than the United States is dissatisfied with a determination of fees and other expenses made under subsection (a), that party may, within 30 days after the determination is made, appeal the determination to the court of the United States having jurisdiction to review the merits of the underlying decision of the agency adversary adjudication. The court's determination on any appeal heard under this paragraph shall be based solely on the factual record made before the agency. The court may modify the determination of fees and other expenses only if the court finds that the failure to make an award of fees and other expenses, or the calculation of the amount of the award, was unsupported by substantial evidence.
(d) Fees and other expenses awarded under this subsection shall be paid by any agency over which the party prevails from any funds made available to the agency by appropriation or otherwise.
(e)(1) Not later than March 31 of the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, and every fiscal year thereafter, the Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States, after consultation with the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration, shall submit to Congress and make publicly available online a report on the amount of fees and other expenses awarded during the preceding fiscal year under this section.
(2) Each report under paragraph (1) shall describe the number, nature, and amount of the awards, the claims involved in the controversy, and any other relevant information that may aid Congress in evaluating the scope and impact of such awards.
(3)(A) Each report under paragraph (1) shall account for all payments of fees and other expenses awarded under this section that are made pursuant to a settlement agreement, regardless of whether the settlement agreement is sealed or otherwise subject to a nondisclosure provision.
(B) The disclosure of fees and other expenses required under subparagraph (A) shall not affect any other information that is subject to a nondisclosure provision in a settlement agreement.
(f) As soon as practicable, and in any event not later than the date on which the first report under subsection (e)(1) is required to be submitted, the Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States shall create and maintain online a searchable database containing, with respect to each award of fees and other expenses under this section made on or after the date of enactment of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, the following information:
(1) The case name and number of the adversary adjudication, if available, hyperlinked to the case, if available.
(2) The name of the agency involved in the adversary adjudication.
(3) A description of the claims in the adversary adjudication.
(4) The name of each party to whom the award was made as such party is identified in the order or other court document making the award.
(5) The amount of the award.
(6) The basis for the finding that the position of the agency concerned was not substantially justified.
(g) The online searchable database described in subsection (f) may not reveal any information the disclosure of which is prohibited by law or a court order.
(h) The head of each agency shall provide to the Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States in a timely manner all information requested by the Chairman to comply with the requirements of subsections (e), (f), and (g).
(i) No award may be made under this section for costs, fees, or other expenses which may be awarded under section 7430 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, referred to in subsec. (b)(1)(C)(iv), is
The date of enactment of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, referred to in subsecs. (e)(1) and (f), is the date of enactment of
Section 7430 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, referred to in subsec. (i), is classified to
Amendments
2019—Subsec. (c)(1).
Subsec. (e).
Subsecs. (f) to (i).
2011—Subsec. (b)(1)(C)(ii).
1996—Subsec. (a)(4).
Subsec. (b)(1)(A)(ii).
Subsec. (b)(1)(B).
Subsec. (b)(1)(F).
1993—Subsec. (b)(1)(C).
1988—Subsec. (f).
1986—Subsec. (b)(1)(B).
Subsec. (b)(1)(C)(iii).
1985—Subsec. (a)(1).
Subsec. (a)(2).
Subsec. (a)(3).
Subsec. (b)(1)(B).
Subsec. (b)(1)(C).
Subsec. (b)(1)(D), (E).
Subsec. (c)(2).
Subsec. (d).
"(1) Fees and other expenses awarded under this section may be paid by any agency over which the party prevails from any funds made available to the agency, by appropriation or otherwise, for such purpose. If not paid by any agency, the fees and other expenses shall be paid in the same manner as the payment of final judgments is made pursuant to
"(2) There is authorized to be appropriated to each agency for each of the fiscal years 1982, 1983, and 1984, such sums as may be necessary to pay fees and other expenses awarded under this section in such fiscal years."
1980—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1985 Amendment
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
Effective Date
Short Title
Termination of Reporting Requirements
For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions in subsec. (e) of this section relating to annual report to Congress on the amount of fees and other expenses, see section 3003 of
Termination of Administrative Conference of United States
For termination of Administrative Conference of United States, see provision of title IV of
Prohibition on Use of Energy and Water Development Appropriations To Pay Intervening Parties in Regulatory or Adjudicatory Proceedings
Revival of Previously Repealed Provisions
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) Section 203(c) of the Equal Access to Justice Act [which repealed this section] is hereby repealed.
"(2) Section 204(c) of the Equal Access to Justice Act [which repealed
Congressional Findings and Purposes
"(a) The Congress finds that certain individuals, partnerships, corporations, and labor and other organizations may be deterred from seeking review of, or defending against, unreasonable governmental action because of the expense involved in securing the vindication of their rights in civil actions and in administrative proceedings.
"(b) The Congress further finds that because of the greater resources and expertise of the United States the standard for an award of fees against the United States should be different from the standard governing an award against a private litigant, in certain situations.
"(c) It is the purpose of this title [see Short Title note above]—
"(1) to diminish the deterrent effect of seeking review of, or defending against, governmental action by providing in specified situations an award of attorney fees, expert witness fees, and other costs against the United States; and
"(2) to insure the applicability in actions by or against the United States of the common law and statutory exceptions to the 'American rule' respecting the award of attorney fees."