Final answer:
Congress delegates regulatory authority to various administrative agencies, but taxation is an exception where it retains control, as the Constitution grants Congress the power to lay and collect taxes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Congress delegates substantial authority to administrative agencies in several areas; however, one area where it does not delegate such broad regulatory authority is taxation. Agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Bureau of Consumer Protection play vital roles in environmental regulation and consumer protection, respectively, somewhat independent of Congress.
Regarding taxation, Congress retains direct control over tax laws and regulations, making it an exception to the broader trend of delegating authority to agencies. Taxation is a critical function of the federal government, as outlined in the Constitution, which grants Congress the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, and excises.
Comparatively, national defense is under the purview of both Congress and various defense-related agencies; healthcare is regulated by entities such as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and environmental regulations are largely enforced by the EPA.