Which term best describes an act, decision, recommendation or omission made by a government official within the authority of that office?

• A. Administrative act; discretionary act
• B. Ministerial act
• C. Governmental function
• D. Administrative act; discretionary act

Answer: (D)

Actions taken by a government official within the scope of their office are administrative acts. When such actions involve choosing among alternatives, weighing policy considerations, or exercising judgment, they become discretionary acts. The combination “administrative act; discretionary act” captures both the broad category of official actions and the subset where judgment is exercised, including decisions, recommendations, or even omissions. A ministerial act, by contrast, is a non-discretionary task performed strictly as required by statute, with no room for judgment, so it doesn’t fit the scenario described. A governmental function is too broad to describe the specific act of an official in office.