If a Department of State complaint goes to a hearing, the hearing is presided over by a(n) _____________.

• A. Administrative Law Judge
• B. Hearing Officer
• C. Court Referee
• D. Arbitrator

Answer: (A)

In state administrative hearings, the neutral decision-maker is an Administrative Law Judge who conducts the hearing, takes testimony, applies the agency’s rules, and issues a proposed decision for the agency to consider. This role is designed for formal administrative proceedings and reflects how regulatory complaints—like a Department of State matter—are handled within the government. A hearing officer appears in some agency settings but is not the standard title for a Department of State complaint hearing; a court referee operates within the judicial system, not as the presiding officer in agency disputes; and an arbitrator resolves disputes outside the public agency process through private arbitration.