Early Statesman synthesis distilling legal jargon into practical meaning, statutory anchors, and structural constitutional impacts.
This executive order, signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on 1953-12-01, establishes federal administrative policy concerning "Transferring Certain Functions, Powers, and Duties to the Small Business Administration." It outlines operative directives for executive department officers, delegating enforcement responsibilities and establishing official governance guidelines.
Constitutional Assessment: Scrutinized through Article II, Section 2, this action exercises the President's constitutional role as Commander in Chief. Early Framers recognized broad executive discretion in commanding military forces during conflict, provided it remains bounded by congressional declarations and respects civilian domestic courts.
Key Directives & Operative Actions
▪232, 239), and as President of the United States, it is ordered as follows: SECTION 1.
▪The said functions, powers, and duties shall be administered by the Small Business Administrator or, subject to his direction and control, by such officers and employees of the Small Business Administration as he shall designate.
▪There shall be transferred to the Small Business Administration the records, property, and unexpended balances of appropriations and other funds of the Small Defense Plants Administration which relate to the functions, powers, and duties transferred and assigned by section 1 of this order.
▪This order shall become effective at the close of business on November 30, 1953.
Exec. Order No. 10504, Dwight D. Eisenhower (Dec 1, 1953). Available at https://executiveordersarchive.org/orders/app-executive-order-10504-transferring-certain-functions-powers-and-duties-the-small-business.
Official Document Text
Source: The American Presidency Project (UCSB Archive)
By virtue of the authority vested in me by section 218 of the Small Business Act of 1953 (Title II, Public Law 163, 83rd Congress; 67 Stat. 232, 239), and as President of the United States, it is ordered as follows: SECTION 1. There are hereby transferred and assigned to the Small Business Administrator all functions, powers, and duties of the Small Defense Plants Administration, its Administrator, and other officers, relating to the liquidation of the Small Defense Plants Administration, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all remaining functions, powers, and duties with respect to (a) contracts entered into pursuant to subdivisions (B), (C), and (D) of section 714 (b) (1) of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended; (b) certificates of competency issued pursuant to section 714 (e) (6) and section 714 (f) (1) of the said act; and (c) payment of obligations incurred against any appropriation or fund made available to the Small Defense Plants Administration. SEC. 2. The said functions, powers, and duties shall be administered by the Small Business Administrator or, subject to his direction and control, by such officers and employees of the Small Business Administration as he shall designate. SEC. 3. There shall be transferred to the Small Business Administration the records, property, and unexpended balances of appropriations and other funds of the Small Defense Plants Administration which relate to the functions, powers, and duties transferred and assigned by section 1 of this order. SEC. 4. This order shall become effective at the close of business on November 30, 1953. DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER THE WHITE HOUSE, December 1, 1953.
