Proclamation 9504-Death of Shimon Peres
Issued 2016-09-28 by Barack Obama
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
President Obama issued this proclamation ordering that the American flag be flown at half-staff to honor Shimon Peres, who had served as both President and Prime Minister of Israel. The order applied to the White House, all public buildings and grounds, all military posts and naval stations, and all naval vessels throughout the United States and its territories. The flag was to remain at half-staff until sunset on September 30, 2016.
The proclamation also directed that flags be flown at half-staff at all U.S. embassies, diplomatic offices, consular facilities, and military installations abroad during the same period. This gesture extended the mark of respect to American government properties around the world.
This was a ceremonial action honoring a foreign leader who had died. The proclamation invoked authority from the Constitution and laws of the United States, which is standard presidential practice for such directives, though it does not specify which particular laws authorize flag orders.
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
This proclamation issues "Proclamation 9504-Death of Shimon Peres". Presidents have issued proclamations since George Washington, and they carry the force of law when grounded in specific statutory authority delegated by Congress. Proclamations can be ceremonial (expressing national sentiment) or substantive (exercising delegated trade, immigration, or emergency powers).
The legal weight of this proclamation depends on the specific statutory authority it invokes. Without statutory backing, a proclamation is merely an expression of executive policy with no binding legal effect on citizens. With statutory backing, it can create enforceable rules — but those rules must stay within the scope of what Congress authorized.
Official Summary
Administration of Barack Obama, 2016 Proclamation 9504—Death of Shimon Peres September 28, 2016 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation As a mark of respect for the memory of Shimon Peres, former President and Prime Minister of Israel, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and on all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, on September 30, 2016. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same period at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations. In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-first. B ARACK O BAMA<FONT