In Chevron Step Two, what does a court do if the statute is ambiguous?

In Chevron Step Two, what does a court do if the statute is ambiguous?

• A. Adopt The Agency's Reasonable Interpretation.
• B. Reject The Agency Interpretation If Any Doubt.
• C. Rewrite The Statute.
• D. Apply Legislative History Exclusively.

Answer: (A)

When a statute is ambiguous under Chevron Step Two, the court defers to the agency’s interpretation if it is reasonable. The idea is that agencies have expertise in implementing and administering statutes, so if the text doesn’t resolve the meaning, a permissible interpretation offered by the agency should control. This means the court should adopt the agency’s reading as the governing interpretation as long as it’s a reasonable one consistent with the statutory framework. So the best answer reflects that deferential approach: the court adopts the agency’s reasonable interpretation. It does not rewrite the statute for clarity, it does not rely exclusively on legislative history, and it does not automatically reject the agency’s reading simply because doubts exist—what matters is whether the agency’s interpretation is a reasonable way to implement the statute.

When a statute is ambiguous under Chevron Step Two, the court defers to the agency’s interpretation if it is reasonable. The idea is that agencies have expertise in implementing and administering statutes, so if the text doesn’t resolve the meaning, a permissible interpretation offered by the agency should control. This means the court should adopt the agency’s reading as the governing interpretation as long as it’s a reasonable one consistent with the statutory framework.

So the best answer reflects that deferential approach: the court adopts the agency’s reasonable interpretation. It does not rewrite the statute for clarity, it does not rely exclusively on legislative history, and it does not automatically reject the agency’s reading simply because doubts exist—what matters is whether the agency’s interpretation is a reasonable way to implement the statute.