Why do administrative procedures set deadlines for appeals and objections?

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lampoon of Interstate Commerce Commission — Administrative law Cartoon depicting a uniformed Interstate Commerce Commission officer shining a large searchlight on U.S. railroad executive Edward Henry Harriman, who is struggling to carry a large load of packages and toy trains, some labeled “merger.”

Administrative procedures establish deadlines for appeals and objections primarily to ensure an orderly, efficient, and consistent administrative process. By setting specific time limits, these rules allow responsibility to be fixed on particular officers or bodies at each stage of the process.1

Furthermore, these procedural requirements serve to safeguard the rights of citizens while protecting the executive branch from accusations of arbitrary action. By mandating that these time limits be observed, the administration ensures regularity in the handling of individual cases, which is essential for maintaining fairness and impartiality within the administrative law framework.1