Final answer:
A regulation is a rule enforced by an administrative agency to explain or enforce statutes, often filling in details that legislation leaves open. These play a critical role in public policy implementation and can have a broad impact on societal organization and behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
A regulation is a rule issued by an administrative agency to enforce or amplify a statute. These regulations serve to explain the statutes or provide the executive branch's mechanisms to enforce laws. Administrative agencies, acting under the authority of the President as the Chief Executive, have the power to issue rules or regulations that implement legislation which governs the agency's operations. Rulemaking is a complex process employed by bureaucratic agencies, which includes establishing procedural guidelines or standard operating procedures. The notice-and-comment rulemaking process, for example, is a practice where agencies must publish proposed rules in the Federal Register, allowing the public to submit feedback. More recently, negotiated rulemaking has been adopted to streamline this process and provide a more cooperative environment for developing rules. Regulations have significant power in shaping how life is arranged, including the distribution of goods and services. They are often detailed in legislation that authorizes new programs, filling in the specifics that Congress may not have legislated. Enforcement of these regulations can include penalties for violations to ensure compliance with the established rules, such as those under the Civil Rights Act or the Clean Air Act.