Executive Order 13713-Half-Day Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on Thursday, December 24, 2015
Issued 2015-12-11 by Barack Obama
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
This executive order gave federal government employees a half-day off on Thursday, December 24, 2015, the day before Christmas. All executive branch departments and agencies were directed to close and excuse their employees from duty for the last half of their scheduled workday that Thursday.
The order affected federal employees across executive branch departments and agencies. However, department and agency heads could require certain offices to remain open and certain employees to work the full day if needed for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need. The order also specified that this half-day would be treated under existing federal law and regulations regarding employee pay and leave.
This action matters because it directly impacted the work schedules of federal employees during the holiday season. By giving employees time off on Christmas Eve, the order allowed federal workers to spend additional time with their families before Christmas Day, while still maintaining critical government operations where necessary.
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
Executive Order 13713 addresses "Executive Order 13713-Half-Day Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on Thursday, December 24, 2015". 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, 2015 Executive Order 13713—Half-Day Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on Thursday, December 24, 2015 December 11, 2015 By the authority vested in me as President of the United States of America, by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. All executive branch departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed and their employees excused from duty for the last half of the scheduled workday on Thursday, December 24, 2015, the day before Christmas Day, except as provided in section 2 of this order. Sec. 2 . The heads of executive branch departments and agencies may determine that certain offices and installations of their organizations, or parts thereof, must remain open and that certain employees must remain on duty for the full scheduled workday on December 24, 2015, for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need. Sec. 3 . Thursday, December 24, 2015, shall be considered as falling within the scope of Executive Order 11582 of February 11, 1971, and of 5 U.S.C. 5546 and 6103(b) and other similar statutes insofar as they relate to the pay and leave of employees of the United States. <