Executive Order 13684-Establishment of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing
Issued 2014-12-18 by Barack Obama
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
President Obama created a temporary advisory group called the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing in December 2014. The task force consisted of up to eleven experts in law enforcement, civil rights, and civil liberties appointed by the president. Its job was to identify best practices and make recommendations on how police can effectively reduce crime while building public trust with the communities they serve.
The task force was required to hold public meetings and engage with federal, state, tribal, and local officials, as well as other organizations, to gather information. The Department of Justice provided the staff, facilities, and funding to support the work. Task force members served without additional pay, though they could receive travel reimbursement. They had to submit their report to the president by March 2, 2015, and the task force would end 30 days after delivering its final recommendations.
This action matters because it represented a formal effort to address tensions between law enforcement and local communities. The task force brought together diverse perspectives to examine policing practices nationwide and recommend changes that could make policing more effective while also increasing public trust. While the constitutional authority for creating such advisory bodies is generally accepted under the president's power to manage the executive branch, questions can arise if such groups attempt to restructure agencies in ways that conflict with existing laws.
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
Executive Order 13684 ("Executive Order 13684-Establishment of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing") restructures or establishes federal entities. The stated purpose: "identify the best means to provide an effective partnership between law enforcement and local communities that reduces crime and increases trust, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1 ." 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 13684—Establishment of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing December 18, 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 identify the best means to provide an effective partnership between law enforcement and local communities that reduces crime and increases trust, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1 . Establishment . There is established a President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing (Task Force). Sec. 2 . Membership . (a) The Task Force shall be composed of not more than eleven members appointed by the President. The members shall include distinguished individuals with relevant experience or subject-matter expertise in law enforcement, civil rights, and civil liberties. (b) The President shall designate two members of the Task Force to serve as Co-Chairs. Sec. 3 . Mission . (a) The Task Force shall, consistent with applicable law, identify best practices and otherwise make recommendations to the President on how policing practices can promote effective crime reduction while building public trust. (b) The Task Force shall be solely advisory and sh