Executive Order 13724-Amending Executive Order 12137
Issued 2016-04-08 by Barack Obama
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
President Obama signed this executive order on April 8, 2016, to make an administrative change to how the Peace Corps operates. The order gives the Director of the Peace Corps the authority to adopt, alter, and use an official seal or emblem for the agency. This authority comes from the Peace Corps Act, a law passed by Congress, and the order simply delegates this specific responsibility to the Peace Corps Director rather than keeping it at the presidential level.
This is a narrow administrative action that affects how the Peace Corps manages its official symbols and branding. It doesn't change the Peace Corps's mission or programs, nor does it affect the volunteers or the communities they serve. The order also makes a technical deletion to a previous executive order from 1979 that dealt with Peace Corps administration.
This type of executive order represents routine organizational management within the executive branch. The order explicitly states it doesn't create any new legal rights or benefits that people could enforce in court, and it must be implemented consistent with existing law and available funding. It's essentially a housekeeping measure that clarifies who has authority over a specific administrative function.
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
Executive Order 13724 addresses "Executive Order 13724-Amending Executive Order 12137". Executive orders are a long-established exercise of presidential power, used by every President since George Washington. They are grounded in Article II of the Constitution, which vests executive power in the President and directs them to "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed."
Executive orders cannot create new law, contradict existing federal statutes, or exceed the President's constitutional authority. The legitimacy of any specific order depends on whether it operates within statutory authority Congress has delegated, directs the executive branch on matters within its constitutional purview, or attempts to substitute executive policy for legislative choices. Courts can and do review executive orders for conformity with the Constitution and federal law.
Official Summary
Administration of Barack Obama, 2016 Executive Order 13724—Amending Executive Order 12137 April 8, 2016 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 19 of the Peace Corps Act, as amended (22 U.S.C. 2518) and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1 . Amendment to Executive Order 12137 . Executive Order 12137 of May 16, 1979, as amended, is further amended as follows: (a) In section 1–1, a new section 1–113 is added to read as follows: "1–113. The functions of adopting, altering, and using an official seal or emblem of the Peace Corps as set forth in section 19 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2518) is hereby delegated to the Director of the Peace Corps." (b) In section 1–3, section 1–301(e) is deleted. Sec. 2 . General Provisions . (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. <