Due to the current split majorities in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, legislative activity has come to a virtual halt. When legislation doesn’t move, most policy making is done through rulemaking. To give you an idea of the monumental task of accomplishing this goal, it’s important to take a look at the regulatory process to see how proposals become rules or regulations.

Legislation is one way to begin the regulatory process. The other and more common way is “Initiating Events.” These events are just the beginning of the process. It is then up to the agencies to come ...