During 1951-1980, administrative law research concentrated on the formalization of procedural categories within agencies—distinguishing formal adjudication from informal decision-making and quasi-judicial action. The period foregrounded how constitutional structure—separation of powers, federalism, and rights—frames administrative action and review, linking procedural design to legitimacy and accountability. A social-contextual dimension emerged, considering how regulation interacts with politics, economy, and policing practices, foreshadowing broader reforms and oversight mechanisms.