Unified Agenda PDF Download

The Obama Administration has launched an initiative to make the policymaking process more open and transparent, and has asked for comments from the public on how the rulemaking process in particular can be improved in these respects. Some observers have concluded that the most critical part of that process occurs before a proposed rule is published in the Federal Register, and (for significant rules) possibly even earlier - before the rule is approved by the issuing agency and submitted to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within the Office of Management and Budget for review pursuant to Executive Order 12866. A representative of the Obama Administration has said that the public will be allowed to participate in the development of proposed rules. However, in order for the public to do so, or to allow more time to prepare comments during sometimes brief comment periods, the public must first know that the proposed rule is being developed.