It is mentioned repeatedly in Learning Resources v Trump.
So what is it?
Wikipedia: The Major Questions Doctrine.
The major questions doctrine is a principle of statutory interpretation in United States administrative law under which, pursuant to recent Supreme Court precedent, courts have held that questions of major political or economic significance may not be delegated by Congress to executive agencies absent sufficiently clear and explicit authorization. It functions as a canon to limit broad assertions of implied powers, effectively reinforcing the role of legislative power.
The doctrine was articulated as a paradigm in FDA v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. (2000), which advised "common sense" in assessing whether Congress intended to delegate broad regulatory powers.
Congress.gov: The Major Questions Doctrine.
Congress frequently delegates authority to agencies to regulate particular aspects of society, in general or broad terms. However, in a number of decisions, the Supreme Court has declared that if an agency seeks to decide an issue of major national significance, its action must be supported by clear congressional authorization. Courts and commentators have referred to this doctrine as the major questions doctrine (or major rules doctrine). The Supreme Court never used that term in a majority opinion prior to 2022, but the doctrine has recently become more prominent.
ChatGPT: The Major Questions Doctrine.
The Major Questions Doctrine is a principle of statutory interpretation used by the Supreme Court of the United States. It holds that:
When an executive agency claims the power to decide an issue of vast economic or political significance, Congress must have clearly authorized that power in the statute.
In other words, agencies cannot rely on vague or general language in a law to justify sweeping regulatory authority over major national questions.
