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Executive Order 6 Constitutional Neutral (+0.02)

Executive Order 6—Ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution

Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson
•
Monday, July 20, 1868
•
2 min read (343 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 Andrew Johnson on 1868-07-20, establishes federal administrative policy concerning "Ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution." It outlines operative directives for executive department officers, delegating enforcement responsibilities and establishing official governance guidelines.

Constitutional Assessment: This action represents an orderly exercise of Article II administrative discretion, managing the internal machinery and personnel of the executive branch without abridging the ancient liberties of the people.

Key Directives & Operative Actions

▪ Formal executive instruction issued by the President establishing official administrative policy on Ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Constitutional & Societal Entities Impacted

🏛️ Sovereign State Governments & Localities
Total Words
343
1,992 characters
Estimated Read Time
2 min
@ 200 words / min
Flesch-Kincaid
18.5
Post-Grad reading level
Constitutional Polarity
+0.02
Framers' Alignment index
📜

Scholarly & Legal Citations 

Exec. Order No. 6, Andrew Johnson (Jul 20, 1868). Available at https://executiveordersarchive.org/orders/app-executive-order-6-ratification-the-fourteenth-amendment-the-united-states-constitution.

Official Document Text

Source: The American Presidency Project (UCSB Archive)

Original Source →
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION Whereas by an act of Congress entitled "An act to admit the States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida to representation in Congress," passed the 25th day of June, 1868, it is declared that it is made the duty of the President, within ten days after receiving official information of the ratification by the legislature of either of said States of a proposed amendment to the Constitution known as article fourteen, to issue a proclamation announcing that fact; and Whereas a letter was received this day by the President, which letter, being addressed to the President, bears date of July 16, 1868, and was transmitted by and under the name of William H. Smith, who therein writes himself governor of Alabama, in which letter was inclosed and received at the same time by the President a paper purporting to be a resolution of the senate and house of representatives of the general assembly of the State of Alabama ratifying the said proposed amendment, which paper is attested by the signature of Charles A. Miller, as secretary of state, under a seal purporting to be the seal of the State of Alabama, and bears the date of approval of July 13, 1868, by William H. Smith, as governor of said State: Now, therefore, be it known that I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States of America, in compliance with and execution of the act of Congress before mentioned, do issue this my proclamation, announcing the fact of the ratification of the said amendment by the legislature of the State of Alabama in the manner hereinbefore set forth. In testimony whereof I have signed these presents with my hand and have caused the seal of the United States to be hereto affixed. Done at the city of Washington, this 20th day of July, A D. 1868, and of the Independence of the United States of America the ninety-third. ANDREW JOHNSON. By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.