Proclamation 9475-100th Anniversary of the National Park Service
Issued 2016-08-22 by Barack Obama
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
On August 22, 2016, President Obama issued a proclamation commemorating the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. The proclamation recognizes that Congress created the National Park Service on August 25, 1916, bringing all existing national parks under unified management. It notes that the park system has grown over the past century to include more than 400 locations across the country, ranging from seashores to mountains to historic battlefields and memorials, and that these sites welcomed more than 300 million visitors last year.
This proclamation is purely ceremonial. It does not create any new laws, direct federal spending, or place legal obligations on anyone. Instead, it serves as a formal presidential statement drawing public attention to the anniversary and highlighting existing park system initiatives like "Every Kid in a Park," which makes national parks free to fourth grade students and their families, and the "Find Your Park" campaign aimed at encouraging young people to visit parks.
The proclamation reflects on the parks' role in environmental stewardship and cultural preservation while calling attention to challenges like climate change. Presidents have issued ceremonial proclamations since George Washington as a way to express national sentiment and bring awareness to important causes or milestones without requiring congressional approval.
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Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
This proclamation designates "Proclamation 9475-100th Anniversary of the National Park Service" — a ceremonial observance that brings national attention to anniversary of the national park service. Presidents have issued ceremonial proclamations since George Washington, and they fall squarely within the executive tradition. They do not create new law, direct federal spending, or impose legal obligations on citizens.
Ceremonial proclamations like this one are purely declaratory. They express the sentiment of the President on behalf of the nation, drawing public awareness to causes or communities. They require no congressional approval and face no constitutional challenges.
Official Summary
Administration of Barack Obama, 2016 Proclamation 9475—100th Anniversary of the National Park Service August 22, 2016 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation In 1872, the Congress established Yellowstone National Park—the first park of its kind anywhere in the world. Decades later, the passage of the Antiquities Act in 1906 created our first national historic preservation policy. Under this new authority, and heavily inspired by his time in nature with conservationist John Muir, President Theodore Roosevelt set aside 18 new monuments and landmarks, adding to the scattered collection of existing parks throughout our country. One decade later, in order to provide the leadership necessary for maintaining our growing system of parks, the Congress passed monumental legislation—which President Woodrow Wilson signed on August 25, 1916—to create the National Park Service (NPS). All existing National Parks were placed under the management of the NPS, ushering in a new era of conservation, exploration, and discovery—and securing, throughout the century that would follow, the profound legacy of an interconnected system of natural wonders. Over the course of the past 100 years, our national park system has grown to incl