5 USC § 591 - Purposes

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t5/s591"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "5 USC § 591 - Purposes"
title_number: 5
title_name: "GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES"
section_number: "591"
section_name: "Purposes"
chapter_number: 5
chapter_name: "ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE"
subchapter_number: "V"
subchapter_name: "ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED STATES"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "THE AGENCIES GENERALLY"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 388, § 571; renumbered § 591, Pub. L. 102–354, § 2(2), Aug. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 944; Pub. L. 108–401, § 2(a), Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2255.)"
---


# § 591. Purposes

The purposes of this subchapter are—

**(1)** to provide suitable arrangements through which Federal agencies, assisted by outside experts, may cooperatively study mutual problems, exchange information, and develop recommendations for action by proper authorities to the end that private rights may be fully protected and regulatory activities and other Federal responsibilities may be carried out expeditiously in the public interest;

**(2)** to promote more effective public participation and efficiency in the rulemaking process;

**(3)** to reduce unnecessary litigation in the regulatory process;

**(4)** to improve the use of science in the regulatory process; and

**(5)** to improve the effectiveness of laws applicable to the regulatory process.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 388, § 571; renumbered § 591, Pub. L. 102–354, § 2(2), Aug. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 944; Pub. L. 108–401, § 2(a), Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2255.)

| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes andStatutes at Large |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  | 5 U.S.C. 1045(e). | Aug. 30, 1964, Pub. L. 88–499, § 2(e), 78 Stat. 615. |

The words “this subchapter” are substituted for “this Act” to reflect the codification of the Administrative Conference Act in this subchapter.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 591 was renumbered .

### Amendments

2004— amended section catchline and text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “It is the purpose of this subchapter to provide suitable arrangements through which Federal agencies, assisted by outside experts, may cooperatively study mutual problems, exchange information, and develop recommendations for action by proper authorities to the end that private rights may be fully protected and regulatory activities and other Federal responsibilities may be carried out expeditiously in the public interest.”

1992— renumbered  as this section.