Which statement best describes Skidmore deference relative to Chevron?

Which statement best describes Skidmore deference relative to Chevron?

• A. Skidmore is binding; Chevron is persuasive only.
• B. Skidmore provides no deference.
• C. Skidmore is persuasive only; Chevron is binding when applicable.
• D. Skidmore applies only to state agencies, not federal.

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is how courts treat agency interpretations: Skidmore deference gives only persuasion, while Chevron deference can bind the court when the agency’s reading is reasonable and the statute is ambiguous. Skidmore deference is about weight, not control. A court looks at how thorough, well-reasoned, and consistent the agency’s interpretation is and considers it persuasive, but the court isn’t required to adopt it. Chevron deference, by contrast, can bind the court. If the statute is ambiguous and the agency’s interpretation is reasonable, the court defers to that interpretation and applies it as the governing reading. So the statement that Skidmore is persuasive only and Chevron is binding when applicable captures the correct relationship. Other choices misstate Skidmore’s role (it’s not binding, and it applies to federal agencies as part of general administrative interpretation).

The main idea here is how courts treat agency interpretations: Skidmore deference gives only persuasion, while Chevron deference can bind the court when the agency’s reading is reasonable and the statute is ambiguous.

Skidmore deference is about weight, not control. A court looks at how thorough, well-reasoned, and consistent the agency’s interpretation is and considers it persuasive, but the court isn’t required to adopt it.

Chevron deference, by contrast, can bind the court. If the statute is ambiguous and the agency’s interpretation is reasonable, the court defers to that interpretation and applies it as the governing reading.

So the statement that Skidmore is persuasive only and Chevron is binding when applicable captures the correct relationship. Other choices misstate Skidmore’s role (it’s not binding, and it applies to federal agencies as part of general administrative interpretation).