United States v. Mead Corporation

Decided June 18, 2001. David Hackett Souter delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 99-1434 · 533 U.S. 218 (2001) · Cited 3,086 times

Holding

Administrative implementation of a particular statutory provision qualifies for Chevron deference when it appears that Congress delegated authority to the agency generally to make rules carrying the force of law, and that the agency interpretation claiming deference was promulgated in the exercise of such authority.

The Court’s statement of the holding, from the opinion’s syllabus. The syllabus is prepared by the Reporter of Decisions and is not part of the opinion of the Court. Read the official opinion for authority.

How the Justices voted

Decided 8–1.

“Concurring” means agreeing with the outcome; any split shown is the Court’s judgment, not each Justice’s reasoning. Source: the Supreme Court Database (Spaeth et al.), Washington University.

Precedents cited

Supreme Court decisions this opinion relies on, ordered by how often it cites each. Cases in our collection link through; others are named.

• Skidmore v. Swift & Co. · 323 U.S. 134 (1944)
• Christensen v. Harris County · 529 U.S. 576 (2000)
• Chevron U. S. A. Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. · 467 U.S. 837 (1984)
• Reno v. Koray · 515 U.S. 50 (1995)
• Nationsbank of North Carolina, N. A. v. Variable Annuity Life Insurance · 513 U.S. 251 (1995)
• General Electric Co. v. Gilbert · 429 U.S. 125 (1976)
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Arabian American Oil Co. · 499 U.S. 244 (1991)
• Smiley v. Citibank (South Dakota), N. A. · 517 U.S. 735 (1996)
• United States v. Haggar Apparel Co. · 526 U.S. 380 (1999)
• Securities & Exchange Commission v. Chenery Corp. · 332 U.S. 194 (1947)
• Bowen v. Georgetown University Hospital · 488 U.S. 204 (1988)
• Chapman v. United States · 500 U.S. 453 (1991)
• National Labor Relations Board v. Bell Aerospace Co. · 416 U.S. 267 (1974)
• Martin v. Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission · 499 U.S. 144 (1991)
• Zenith Radio Corp. v. United States · 437 U.S. 443 (1978)
• Neal v. United States · 516 U.S. 284 (1996)
• Mead Corp. v. Tilley · 490 U.S. 714 (1989)
• Aluminum Co. of America v. Central Lincoln Peoples' Utility District · 467 U.S. 380 (1984)
• Immigration & Naturalization Service v. Cardoza-Fonseca · 480 U.S. 421 (1987)
• Sullivan v. Zebley · 493 U.S. 521 (1990)
• Bragdon v. Abbott · 524 U.S. 624 (1998)
• Morton v. Ruiz · 415 U.S. 199 (1974)
• Immigration & Naturalization Service v. Aguirre-Aguirre · 526 U.S. 415 (1999)
• K Mart Corp. v. Cartier, Inc. · 486 U.S. 281 (1988)
• Thorpe v. Housing Authority of Durham · 393 U.S. 268 (1969)
• Chicago & Southern Air Lines, Inc. v. Waterman Steamship Corp. · 333 U.S. 103 (1948)
• United States v. Giordano · 416 U.S. 505 (1974)
• Ford Motor Credit Co. v. Milhollin · 444 U.S. 555 (1980)
• Shalala v. Illinois Council on Long Term Care, Inc. · 529 U.S. 1 (2000)
• Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation v. LTV Corp. · 496 U.S. 633 (1990)

Cited by

Later Supreme Court opinions in our collection that cite this case.

• City of Arlington v. Fed. Commc'ns Comm'n · 569 U.S. 290 (2013)
• National Cable & Telecommunications Assn. v. Brand X Internet Services · 545 U.S. 967 (2005)
• Lawson v. FMR LLC · 571 U.S. 429 (2014)
• Kisor v. Wilkie · 588 U.S. 558 (2019)
• Encino Motorcars, LLC v. Navarro · 579 U.S. 211 (2016)
• Barnhart v. Walton · 535 U.S. 212 (2002)
• Riegel v. Medtronic, Inc. · 552 U.S. 312 (2008)
• Cuozzo Speed Technologies, LLC v. Lee · 579 U.S. 261 (2016)
• Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo · 603 U.S. 369 (2024)
• Michigan v. Envtl. Prot. Agency · 576 U.S. 743 (2015)
• Perez v. Mortgage Bankers Assn. · 575 U.S. 92 (2015)
• Federal Express Corp. v. Holowecki · 552 U.S. 389 (2008)
• Gonzales v. Oregon · 546 U.S. 243 (2006)
• Long Island Care at Home, Ltd. v. Coke · 551 U.S. 158 (2007)
• Edelman v. Lynchburg College · 535 U.S. 106 (2002)
• Coeur Alaska, Inc. v. Southeast Alaska Conservation Council · 557 U.S. 261 (2009)
• United States v. Home Concrete & Supply, LLC · 566 U.S. 478 (2012)
• Wyeth v. Levine · 555 U.S. 555 (2009)
• Vance v. Ball State Univ. · 570 U.S. 421 (2013)
• Smith v. City of Jackson · 544 U.S. 228 (2005)
• Gundy v. United States · 588 U.S. 128 (2019)
• Dada v. Mukasey · 554 U.S. 1 (2008)
• Barber v. Thomas · 560 U.S. 474 (2010)
• Cuomo v. Clearing House Ass'n, LLC · 557 U.S. 519 (2009)
• Zuni Public School District No. 89 v. Department of Education · 550 U.S. 81 (2007)
• Global Crossing Telecommunications, Inc. v. Metrophones Telecommunications, Inc. · 550 U.S. 45 (2007)
• County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund · 590 U.S. 165 (2020)
• Christopher v. Smithkline Beecham Corp. · 567 U.S. 142 (2012)
• General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc. v. Cline · 540 U.S. 581 (2004)
• Wisconsin Department of Health & Family Services v. Blumer · 534 U.S. 473 (2002)

Official text

Read the official opinion (U.S. Reports, govinfo.gov)

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Source: Supreme Court of the United States, slip opinions (2001). Citation count from the Free Law Project’s CourtListener bulk data. Data last verified 2026-08-15. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).