Early Statesman synthesis distilling legal jargon into practical meaning, statutory anchors, and structural constitutional impacts.
This executive order, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on 1933-05-10, establishes federal administrative policy concerning "Amendment of Rules Governing Navigation of the Panama Canal and Adjacent Waters." It is a direct, concise executive instruction delivering focused administrative or military commands to department leadership.
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
▪560-569), entitled "AN ACT To provide for the opening, maintenance, protection, and operation of the Panama Canal, and the sanitation and government of the Canal Zone", known as the Panama Canal Act, I do hereby amend rule 54 of Executive Order No.
▪Authorized Speed of Transit: The following speeds shall not be exceeded by vessels in transit through the Canal: Knots Cristóbal to Gatún Locks.........................................................
▪6 Vessels of and above 300 feet in length, to proceed as slowly as possible consistent with maneuverability This order shall take effect from and after this date.
Constitutional & Societal Entities Impacted
🏛️ Executive Branch Departments
🏛️ General Body of the People
Total Words
232
1,837 characters
Estimated Read Time
1 min
@ 200 words / min
Flesch-Kincaid
8
Post-Grad reading level
Constitutional Polarity
+0.02
Framers' Alignment index
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Scholarly & Legal Citations
Exec. Order No. 6128, Franklin D. Roosevelt (May 10, 1933). Available at https://executiveordersarchive.org/orders/app-executive-order-6128-amendment-rules-governing-navigation-the-panama-canal-and-adjacent.
Official Document Text
Source: The American Presidency Project (UCSB Archive)
By virtue of the authority vested in me by the provisions of the act of Congress approved August 24, 1912 (37 Stat. 560-569), entitled "AN ACT To provide for the opening, maintenance, protection, and operation of the Panama Canal, and the sanitation and government of the Canal Zone", known as the Panama Canal Act, I do hereby amend rule 54 of Executive Order No. 4314, dated September 25, 1925, relating to the authorized speed of vessels transiting the Panama Canal, to read as follows: "Rule 54. Authorized Speed of Transit: The following speeds shall not be exceeded by vessels in transit through the Canal: Knots Cristóbal to Gatún Locks......................................................... 10 Gatún Lake in the 1,000-foot channels..................................... 15 Gatún Lake in the 800-foot channels........................................ 12 Gatún Lake in the 500-foot channels........................................ 10 Rounding Bonio or Darien bend............................................... 10 Gaillard Cut - In straight reaches: Vessels of 250 feet or over in length, 6 knots or as near thereto as possible, maintaining steerage way............................. 6 Vessels under 250 feet......................................................... 8 In or near a lock....................................................................... 2 Miraflores Locks to Pacific entrance......................................... 10 Entering or leaving either Canal port.......................................... 10 Miraflores Lake: Vessels under 300 feet in length............................................ 6 Vessels of and above 300 feet in length, to proceed as slowly as possible consistent with maneuverability This order shall take effect from and after this date. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT The White House, May 10, 1933.