Executive Order 13675-Establishing the President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa
Issued 2014-08-05 by Barack Obama
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
In August 2014, President Obama created an advisory council focused on strengthening business relationships between the United States and Africa. The President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa consists of up to 15 members from the private sector, including small businesses and representatives from industries like infrastructure, agriculture, banking, and consumer goods. The Secretary of Commerce appoints these members without regard to political affiliation, and the Department of Commerce funds and supports the council's work.
The council's job is to advise the President on how to strengthen commercial ties between American and African businesses. Specifically, it provides recommendations on helping U.S. companies identify trade and investment opportunities in Africa, building partnerships between American and African businesses, facilitating U.S. participation in Africa's infrastructure projects, and bringing innovative agricultural technologies to the continent. The council also analyzes how policies in both the United States and Africa affect business opportunities and works on expanding financing options for trade and investment.
This executive action reflects the President's authority to create advisory bodies within the executive branch to help manage government operations and develop policy recommendations. The council operates as an advisory group that gathers information and makes recommendations rather than having regulatory power or the ability to make binding decisions on its own.
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
Executive Order 13675 ("Executive Order 13675-Establishing the President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa") restructures or establishes federal entities. The stated purpose: "promote broad-based economic growth and job creation in the United States and Africa by encouraging U." The President has authority to manage the executive branch under Article II, including creating task forces, councils, and working groups within the White House. However, creating independent agencies with binding regulatory authority, or fundamentally restructuring congressionally created departments, typically requires legislative authorization.
The Reorganization Act historically provided a framework for executive reorganization subject to congressional review. Current reorganization authority is more limited. The constitutionality depends on whether this order creates White House advisory bodies (acceptable) or attempts to restructure agencies in ways that conflict with their enabling statutes (questionable).
Official Summary
Administration of Barack Obama, 2014 Executive Order 13675—Establishing the President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa August 5, 2014 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to promote broad-based economic growth and job creation in the United States and Africa by encouraging U.S. companies to trade with and invest in Africa, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1 . Policy . The United States recognizes that Africa is a region of growing economic opportunity and innovation and aims to expand a trade and investment partnership that is grounded in shared interests and mutual responsibility. Africa offers a diverse and broad range of trade and investment opportunities in national and regional markets. The U.S. Government will encourage U.S. companies to seize the trade and investment opportunities offered by Africa's national and regional markets and help drive inclusive and sustained economic growth and the region's economic expansion, while also creating jobs here in the United States. Sec. 2 . Establishment . Not later than 180 days after the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce shall establish the President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Afri