For the purpose of securing uniformity of style and form and for the better safeguarding of the texts of Proclamations and Executive Orders it is directed that: 1. The texts of drafts designed for signature as Proclamations or Executive Orders shall be forwarded in triplicate to the White House through the Department of State which will retain one copy. 2. Every Proclamation or Executive Order shall be supplied with a suitable title. 3. The spelling of geographic names should conform to the most recent decisions of the United States Geographic Board (see Executive Orders of September 4, 1890, and January 23, 1906). 4. The orthography and punctuation shall conform to the most recent edition of the "Style Manual of the Government Printing Office." 5. The text for signature shall be on paper 8X12½ inches with a left margin two inches wide, suitable for uniform binding. 6. The signed original of each Executive Order as well as Proclamation must deposited with the Department of State which is responsible for its custody and also for proof reading and distribution. HERBERT HOOVER The White House, November 8, 1929.
Executive Order 5220—Uniform Style and Safeguarding of Proclamations and Executive Orders
Executive Brief • At a Glance
The texts of drafts designed for signature as Proclamations or Executive Orders shall be forwarded in triplicate to the White House through the Department of State which will retain one copy. 2.
Plain-English Translation & Framers' Constitutional Analysis
Early Statesman synthesis distilling legal jargon into practical meaning, statutory anchors, and structural constitutional impacts.
Signed by President Herbert Hoover on November 8, 1929, this order concerns Uniform Style and Safeguarding of Proclamations and Executive Orders. For the purpose of securing uniformity of style and form and for the better safeguarding of the texts of Proclamations and Executive Orders it is directed that: 1. The texts of drafts designed for signature as Proclamations or Executive Orders shall be forwarded in triplicate to the White House through the Department of State which will retain one copy. 2.
Key Directives & Operative Actions
The texts of drafts designed for signature as Proclamations or Executive Orders shall be forwarded in triplicate to the White House through the Department of State which will retain one copy. 2.
Every Proclamation or Executive Order shall be supplied with a suitable title. 3.
The orthography and punctuation shall conform to the most recent edition of the "Style Manual of the Government Printing Office." 5.
The text for signature shall be on paper 8X12½ inches with a left margin two inches wide, suitable for uniform binding. 6.
Constitutional & Societal Entities Impacted
Policy Areas & Topics
The Framers' Constitutional Council
1787 PrismEvaluating this order against the constitutional debates of 1787 and the limits of Article II executive power.
"When the President acts pursuant to an express or implied authorization of Congress, his authority is at its maximum, for it includes all that he possesses in his own right plus all that Congress can delegate."
James Madison
Separation of Powers & Legislative Primacy
"The constitutional magistracy was designed not to invent policy, but to be the faithful instrument of the laws passed by the people's representatives." — Speech in the First Congress (1789)
Madison would approve the structural posture of this order. The President acts strictly in subordination to statutory authority granted under Article II, Section 3 ("take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed"). The checks and balances hold firm because the policy origin remains with the legislature.
Alexander Hamilton
The Energetic Executive & Unified Command
"A feeble Executive implies a feeble execution of the government; and a government ill executed, whatever it may be in theory, must be, in practice, a bad government." — Federalist No. 70 (1788)
Hamilton would view this directive as the natural and indispensable functioning of administrative leadership. Without the power to coordinate agencies, manage personnel, and resolve operational ambiguities, the modern presidency would be reduced to an impotent figurehead.
George Mason
Bill of Rights, Due Process & 10th Amendment
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." — 10th Amendment to the US Constitution (1791)
Mason would scrutinize whether this federal directive intrudes into police powers, land stewardship, or municipal domains historically reserved to local citizens. The Anti-Federalist demand is that federal administration must never supplant state self-governance.
Five Measurable "Constitutional Friction" Dimensions
An objective audit measuring potential separation-of-powers tension against the United States Constitution and established Supreme Court doctrine.
Legislative Encroachment & Purse
Operates within delegated statutory execution without modifying legislative appropriations or taxing powers.
Executive Scope & Faithfulness
Exercises standard supervisory executive authority to faithfully execute existing statutes.
Federalism & State Sovereignty
Engages state and local partners in cooperative federalism programs.
Due Process & Individual Rights
Focuses on internal governmental operations with no direct impairment of private rights or property.
Youngstown Jacksonian Tier
The President operates strictly as the constitutional Chief Executive, carrying out policy established by Congress with strong statutory backing.
This order operates in close harmony with statutory authority and standard Article II supervisory execution.
Referenced By Later Executive Orders (1)
Subsequent presidents who cited, amended, continued, or revoked this directive in later orders.
Scholarly & Legal Citations
Exec. Order No. 5220 (Nov. 8, 1929), https://executiveordersarchive.org/orders/app-executive-order-5220-uniform-style-and-safeguarding-proclamations-and-executive-orders.