Which statement is true regarding interpretive rules?

Interpretive rules are designed to clarify existing laws or regulations and provide guidance on how they should be understood and applied. They do not create new laws but rather interpret and explain existing ones, meaning they serve to help individuals and entities comply with existing legal requirements. This is essential in the context of administrative law, where agencies often issue interpretive rules to outline how they intend to enforce the laws they administer.

Because interpretive rules function primarily to elucidate rather than to establish new legal norms, they do not have the same binding authority as laws created through formal procedures. Although they can influence how laws are applied in practice, they are not legally enforceable in the same way that statutes or regulations are. Understanding this distinction is crucial for interpreting the role and function of interpretive rules in the legal framework.