Executive Order 13895-President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
Issued 2019-10-22 by Donald J. Trump
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
Executive Order 13895 establishes the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). This council will be made up of the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and up to 16 additional members appointed by the President. These members will be distinguished individuals from outside the federal government, bringing diverse expertise in science, technology, education, and innovation. The
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Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
Executive Order 13895 addresses "Executive Order 13895-President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology". The President's stated reasoning: "establish an advisory council on science and technology, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1 ." 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 Donald J. Trump, 2019 Executive Order 13895—President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology October 22, 2019 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to establish an advisory council on science and technology, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1 . Purpose . In every age of our Nation's history, American ingenuity has driven technological progress and the promise of the American Dream. Scientific advancement has improved the lives of our citizens, created jobs and better futures for American workers, and kept the American people safe at home and abroad. American thinkers, inventors, and entrepreneurs, empowered by free market capitalism and driven by bold ideas, have created an ecosystem of innovation that is the envy of the world, making our Nation prosperous and strong. Since World War II, our Nation's greatest scientists and engineers have advised the Federal Government, guiding the United States through the nuclear age, the mission to the moon, and the transformations of the digital revolution. Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum information science are now on the horizon, and how we address their development will determine whe