Executive Order 11396 Constitutional Fidelity (+0.29)

Executive Order 11396—Providing for the Coordination by the Attorney General of Federal Law Enforcement and Crime Prevention Programs

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Wednesday, February 7, 1968

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2 min read (383 words)

Plain-English Translation & Framers' Constitutional Analysis

Early Statesman synthesis distilling legal jargon into practical meaning, statutory anchors, and structural constitutional impacts.

This executive order, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on 1968-02-07, establishes federal administrative policy concerning "Providing for the Coordination by the Attorney General of Federal Law Enforcement and Crime Prevention Programs." It outlines operative directives for executive department officers, delegating enforcement responsibilities and establishing official governance guidelines.

Constitutional Assessment: Reviewed under the Tenth Amendment and the principle of dual federalism, this order touches upon domains traditionally reserved to the sovereign States. The Framers would caution against any attempt to commandeer state officers or displace local police powers through federal executive fiat.

Key Directives & Operative Actions

▪ 828) to cooperate with and assist State, local, or other public or private agencies in matters relating to law enforcement organization, techniques and practices, and the prevention and control of crime: Now, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in the President by the Constitution and laws of the United States, it is ordered as follows: SECTION 1.

▪ The Attorney General may promulgate such rules and regulations and take such actions as he shall deem necessary or appropriate to carry out his functions under this Order.

▪ Each Federal department and agency is directed to cooperate with the Attorney General in the performance of his functions under this Order and shall, to the extent permitted by law and within the limits of available funds, furnish him such reports, information, and assistance as he may request.

Constitutional & Societal Entities Impacted

🏛️ Sovereign State Governments & Localities 🏛️ Executive Departments & Federal Civil Servants 🏛️ Private Citizens & Property Owners 🏛️ Foreign Nations & International Entities

Total Words

383

2,475 characters

Estimated Read Time

2 min

@ 200 words / min

Flesch-Kincaid

30.9

Post-Grad reading level

Constitutional Polarity

+0.29

Framers' Alignment index

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Scholarly & Legal Citations

Exec. Order No. 11396, Lyndon B. Johnson (Feb 7, 1968). Available at https://executiveordersarchive.org/orders/app-executive-order-11396-providing-for-the-coordination-the-attorney-general-federal-law.

Official Document Text

Source: The American Presidency Project (UCSB Archive)

Original Source →

WHEREAS the problem of crime in America today presents the Nation with a major challenge calling for maximum law enforcement efforts at every level of Government; WHEREAS coordination of all Federal criminal law enforcement activities and crime prevention programs is desirable in order to achieve more effective results; WHEREAS the Federal Government has acknowledged the need to provide assistance to State and local law enforcement agencies in the development and administration of programs directed to the prevention and control of crime; WHEREAS to provide such assistance the Congress has authorized various departments and agencies of the Federal Government to develop programs which may benefit State and local efforts directed at the prevention and control of crime, and the coordination of such programs is desirable to develop and administer them most effectively; and WHEREAS the Attorney General, as the chief law officer of the Federal Government, is charged with the responsibility for all prosecutions for violations of the Federal criminal statutes and is authorized under the Law Enforcement Assistance Act of 1965 (79 Stat. 828) to cooperate with and assist State, local, or other public or private agencies in matters relating to law enforcement organization, techniques and practices, and the prevention and control of crime: Now, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in the President by the Constitution and laws of the United States, it is ordered as follows: SECTION 1. The Attorney General is hereby designated to facilitate and coordinate (1) the criminal law enforcement activities and crime prevention programs of all Federal departments and agencies, and (2) the activities of such departments and agencies relating to the development and implementation of Federal programs which are designed, in whole or in substantial part, to assist State and local law enforcement agencies and crime prevention activities. The Attorney General may promulgate such rules and regulations and take such actions as he shall deem necessary or appropriate to carry out his functions under this Order. SEC. 2. Each Federal department and agency is directed to cooperate with the Attorney General in the performance of his functions under this Order and shall, to the extent permitted by law and within the limits of available funds, furnish him such reports, information, and assistance as he may request. LYNDON B. JOHNSON The White House February 7, 1968