Ákvarðanaheimild

Ákvarðanaheimild is a legal concept in Icelandic administrative law referring to the authority granted by law to a person or institution to make determinations or decisions about rights, obligations or facts within a given legal framework. It designates the power to decide issues and to issue binding determinations that affect individuals or organizations.

Usage and scope: The concept is common in public administration. Ministers, agencies, and other public bodies may have ákvarðanaheimild to decide questions such as eligibility for benefits, issuing licenses, assessing tax liability, classifying property, imposing sanctions, or resolving administrative disputes. Decisions made under such a remit are generally binding and may be subject to review or appeal.

Procedural requirements and oversight: Decisions based on ákvarðanaheimild must rest on relevant facts and applicable law and are typically required to be reasoned and transparent. Affected parties usually have rights to notification, an opportunity to be heard, and remedies such as appeal or reconsideration. Judicial review by courts or supervisory bodies ensures legality, proportionality, and compliance with procedural rules.

Relation to other concepts: Ákvarðanaheimild differs from broader executive power in that it is expressly anchored to a statutory basis and defined scope. The extent of the authority can be broad or narrowly delimited, and it is frequently subject to checks and balances within the administrative and judicial systems.

See also: administrative law, decision-making power, delegation of authority, due process.