Executive Order 12540 Constitutional Neutral (+0.02)

Executive Order 12540—Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay and Allowances

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Monday, December 30, 1985

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2 min read (359 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 Ronald Reagan on 1985-12-30, establishes federal administrative policy concerning "Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay and Allowances." 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

▪ 12496 of December 28, 1984, is amended by replacing Schedule 7 attached thereto with the corresponding new Schedule 7 attached hereto.

▪ The rates of pay so established are effective on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after January 1, 1985.

▪ 12496 is amended to read as follows: "Sec.

▪ 12496 is further amended by replacing Schedule 8 attached thereto with the corresponding new Schedule 8 attached hereto.

Constitutional & Societal Entities Impacted

🏛️ Armed Forces & Military Establishments 🏛️ Executive Departments & Federal Civil Servants 🏛️ Private Citizens & Property Owners

Total Words

359

2,119 characters

Estimated Read Time

2 min

@ 200 words / min

Flesch-Kincaid

9.8

Post-Grad reading level

Constitutional Polarity

+0.02

Framers' Alignment index

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Scholarly & Legal Citations

Exec. Order No. 12540, Ronald Reagan (Dec 30, 1985). Available at https://executiveordersarchive.org/orders/app-executive-order-12540-adjustments-certain-rates-pay-and-allowances.

Official Document Text

Source: The American Presidency Project (UCSB Archive)

Original Source →

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. In accordance with the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1985 (Public Law 99-88; 99 Stat. 293, 310), Executive Order No. 12496 of December 28, 1984, is amended by replacing Schedule 7 attached thereto with the corresponding new Schedule 7 attached hereto. The rates of pay so established are effective on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after January 1, 1985. Sec. 2. In accordance with section 601 of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1986 (Public Law 99-145)— (a) Section 4 of Executive Order No. 12496 is amended to read as follows: "Sec. 4. Pay and Allowances for Members of the Uniformed Services. Pursuant to the provisions of section 601 of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1986, the rates of monthly basic pay (37 U.S.C. 203(a)), the rates of basic allowance for subsistence (37 U.S.C. 402), and the rates of basic allowance for quarters (37 U.S.C. 403(a)) are adjusted as set forth at Schedule 8 attached hereto and made a part hereof, for members of the uniformed services.". (b) Executive Order No. 12496 is further amended by replacing Schedule 8 attached thereto with the corresponding new Schedule 8 attached hereto. The rates of pay and allowances so established are effective on October 1, 1985. Sec. 3. Section 5 of Executive Order No. 12496 is amended to read as follows: "Sec. 5. Effective Dates. The adjustments in rates of pay under sections i through 3 of this Order, as set forth at Schedules 1 through 7 attached hereto, are effective on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after January 1, 1985. The adjustments in rates of monthly basic pay and allowances for subsistence and quarters for members of the uniformed services under section 4 of this Order, as set forth at Schedule 8 attached hereto, are effective on October 1, 1985.". RONALD REAGAN The White House, December 30, 1985. [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 12:04 p.m., January 6, 1986]