Which statement correctly describes Chevron Step Two?

Which statement correctly describes Chevron Step Two?

• A. The court should ignore ambiguity
• B. The agency's interpretation is controlling regardless of reasonableness
• C. The agency's reasonable construction is entitled to deference if statute is ambiguous
• D. The court rewrites the statute

Answer: (C)

Chevron Step Two says that when the statutory text is ambiguous, the court defers to the agency’s interpretation if it is reasonable. The key point is that the court first considers the text in Step One; if it’s not clearly unambiguous, only then does it look to how the agency has construed the statute. If the agency’s reading is a permissible, reasonable construction that fits the statute’s terms and purpose, that interpretation controls. If the reading isn’t reasonable, the court can reject it and may adopt its own construction. This is why the correct statement is that the agency’s reasonable construction is entitled to deference when the statute is ambiguous.

Chevron Step Two says that when the statutory text is ambiguous, the court defers to the agency’s interpretation if it is reasonable. The key point is that the court first considers the text in Step One; if it’s not clearly unambiguous, only then does it look to how the agency has construed the statute. If the agency’s reading is a permissible, reasonable construction that fits the statute’s terms and purpose, that interpretation controls. If the reading isn’t reasonable, the court can reject it and may adopt its own construction. This is why the correct statement is that the agency’s reasonable construction is entitled to deference when the statute is ambiguous.