SEC v. Chenery Corp., 332 U.S. 194 (1947)
The case of SEC v. Chenery Corp.
Whether a court can sustain an agency decision based on reasons not articulated by the agency at the time of decision.
An agency's decision must be upheld, if at all, on the grounds articulated by the agency itself, not those considered by the court during its review.
The Supreme Court held that the SEC's decision could not be upheld on any basis other than the reasoning the agency initially set forth. The decision must be judged by the grounds it chose to act upon.
SEC v. Chenery Corp. is paramount for understanding the standard of judicial deference towards administrative agencies, particularly emphasizing the necessity for clarity and transparency in agency decision-making. The case serves as a cornerstone for the 'Chenery Doctrine,' highlighting the interplay between agency discretion and judicial oversight. For law students, it elucidates the boundaries of how and why courts can review agency decisions, ensuring that decisions are made on explicit, rational bases rather than on subsequent judicial reasoning.