What term describes the set of formal rules that govern the behavior of bureaucratic agencies?

The term that describes the set of formal rules governing the behavior of bureaucratic agencies is administrative law. This body of law is specifically concerned with the actions and procedures of administrative agencies, which are responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws passed by legislative bodies.

Administrative law outlines how these agencies must operate, how they make rules and regulations, and the standards they must follow when enforcing those rules. It also provides the procedures through which citizens can challenge agency actions. This makes administrative law crucial for ensuring accountability and transparency in the bureaucracy, as it helps safeguard public interests while allowing agencies to carry out their functions effectively.

While constitutional law, civil law, and statutory law have important roles in the legal system, they do not specifically address the internal workings or rule-making processes of bureaucratic agencies in the way that administrative law does. Constitutional law deals with the principles and framework of government and the rights of individuals, civil law pertains to the rights and duties of individuals in non-criminal matters, and statutory law includes laws enacted by legislative bodies. Thus, administrative law is the most applicable term in this context.