Executive Order 12690 Constitutional Neutral (+0.02)

Executive Order 12690—Providing for the Restoration of Law and Order in the Virgin Islands

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Wednesday, September 20, 1989

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2 min read (313 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 George Bush on 1989-09-20, establishes federal administrative policy concerning "Providing for the Restoration of Law and Order in the Virgin Islands." 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

▪ In carrying out the provisions of this order, the Secretary of Defense shall coordinate such law enforcement policies with the Attorney General.

▪ The Secretary of Defense is authorized to determine when Federal military forces shall be withdrawn from the disturbance area and when federalized National Guard units and personnel shall be released from active Federal service.

Constitutional & Societal Entities Impacted

🏛️ Armed Forces & Military Establishments 🏛️ Executive Departments & Federal Civil Servants

Total Words

313

1,848 characters

Estimated Read Time

2 min

@ 200 words / min

Flesch-Kincaid

16.3

Post-Grad reading level

Constitutional Polarity

+0.02

Framers' Alignment index

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Scholarly & Legal Citations

Exec. Order No. 12690, George Bush (Sep 20, 1989). Available at https://executiveordersarchive.org/orders/app-executive-order-12690-providing-for-the-restoration-law-and-order-the-virgin-islands.

Official Document Text

Source: The American Presidency Project (UCSB Archive)

Original Source →

WHEREAS; I have today issued Proclamation No. 6023 pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 15 of Title 10 of the United States Code; WHEREAS; the conditions of domestic violence and disorder described therein continue, and the persons engaging in such acts of violence have not dispersed; NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces by the Constitution and laws of the United States, including Chapter 15 of Title 10 of the United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Units and members of the Armed Forces of the United States will be used to suppress the violence described in the proclamation and to restore law and order in and about the Virgin Islands. Section 2. The Secretary of Defense is authorized to use such of the Armed Forces as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of Section 1. To that end, he is authorized to call into the active military service of the United States units or members of the National Guard, as authorized by law, to serve in an active duty status for an indefinite period and until relieved by appropriate orders. Units or members may be relieved subject to recall at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense. In carrying out the provisions of this order, the Secretary of Defense shall coordinate such law enforcement policies with the Attorney General. Sec. 3. The Secretary of Defense is authorized to determine when Federal military forces shall be withdrawn from the disturbance area and when federalized National Guard units and personnel shall be released from active Federal service. Sec. 4. The Secretary of Defense is authorized to delegate to subordinate officials of his Department any of the authority conferred upon him by this order. GEORGE BUSH THE WHITE HOUSE, September 20, 1989.