Federal, State, and Local ADR 

The American Arbitration Association® (AAA®) is a neutral, non-partisan, not-for-profit public service organization with a long history of working with all levels of government in the prevention and resolution of disputes. Since its founding in 1926, the AAA frequently has been called upon by government for advice and assistance in the design, development, and implementation of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms. Every year, the AAA helps resolve hundreds of thousands of disputes under governmental authority and stands ready to assist federal and state officials, lawmakers, and agencies in accessing the efficiency, speed, and cost-effectiveness of ADR. 

Government organizations the AAA has worked with include:

  • United States Congress
  • U.S. Department of Commerce
  • U.S. Department of Justice
  • U.S. Anti-Doping Agency
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • U.S. Federal Trade Commission 
  • U.S. Internal Revenue Service
  • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
  • Federal Communications Commission
  • Minnesota Supreme Court
  • New York State Insurance Department
  • Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation

The AAA’s expertise and qualifications, coupled with its nonprofit status and strong record of delivering results in the public and private sectors, provide governments with the confidence to delegate important functions and responsibilities to the Association. The ability to customize and tailor ADR procedures, rules, decision criteria, timelines, and reporting is particularly useful when designing alternative programs in a governmental setting. AAA dispute resolution services have greatly reduced the burdens on agencies and court systems throughout the country. 

AAA ADR systems have been utilized under government authority to help resolve a variety of dispute types, including:

  • Antitrust and compensation disputes 
  • Automobile insurance no-fault claims
  • International tax matters
  • Labor and workplace disputes
  • Land- and business-valuation issues
  • Post-disaster insurance claims
  • Standard Essential Patent (SEP) FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) determinations

AAA government programs have been put into effect through various mechanisms, including statutory language, agency regulatory authority, executive orders, contracts (sole-source and competitive), and Federal court settlement agreements. The AAA currently is named in hundreds of federal, state, and local government statutes, regulations, ordinances, and orders.                                                                                                                                                                                      
The white paper The American Arbitration Association: A Long History of Working with Government provides detailed additional information, links, and citations on how AAA ADR has helped federal and state governments through current and prior ADR projects. 

For a detailed case study on the design, authorization, implementation, and outcomes of a well-designed nationwide AAA arbitration project developed in collaboration with Congress, please see A Report to Congress on the Automobile Industry Special Binding Arbitration Program.

Please see the links on the right for additional information on other specific programs and dispute types. 

The AAA can provide additional information and technical assistance to officials and staff of legislative bodies and government agencies on issues related to the use of ADR. Please click on the red Contact Us button on the upper right, and a representative will contact you.