Whereas section 6 of the act approved April 10, 1935, 49 Stat. 149, as amended by section 5 of the public resolution approved August 25, 1937, 50 Stat. 783, provides that the Special Mexican Claims Commission, created in pursuance of that act, shall complete its work within three years from the date on which it undertakes the performance of its duties; and Whereas the three-year period so fixed for the completion of the work of the said Commission will expire on August 31, 1938; and Whereas section 6 of the said act, as amended, also provides that if the President shall find that the Commission has completed its work prior to the expiration of the period so fixed, he may by Executive order terminate all powers, rights, and duties of the Commission; and Whereas the Special Mexican Claims Commission has reported to the Secretary of State the completion of its work, and I find that the Commission has completed its work prior to the expiration of the period so fixed: Now, Therefore , by virtue of the power vested in me by section 6 of the said act of April 10, 1935, as amended, I hereby terminate as of this date all powers, rights, and duties conferred upon the said Special Mexican Claims Commission by the said act of April 10, 1935, as amended by the said resolution of August 25, 1937. FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT The White House, June 15, 1938.
Executive Order 7909—Terminating the Powers, Rights, and Duties of the Special Mexican Claims Commission
Executive Brief • At a Glance
I hereby terminate as of this date all powers, rights, and duties conferred upon the said Special Mexican Claims Commission by the said act of April 10, 1935, as amended by the said resolution of August 25, 1937.
Plain-English Translation & Framers' Constitutional Analysis
Early Statesman synthesis distilling legal jargon into practical meaning, statutory anchors, and structural constitutional impacts.
Signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 15, 1938, this order concerns Terminating the Powers, Rights, and Duties of the Special Mexican Claims Commission. I hereby terminate as of this date all powers, rights, and duties conferred upon the said Special Mexican Claims Commission by the said act of April 10, 1935, as amended by the said resolution of August 25, 1937.
Key Directives & Operative Actions
I hereby terminate as of this date all powers, rights, and duties conferred upon the said Special Mexican Claims Commission by the said act of April 10, 1935, as amended by the said resolution of August 25, 1937.
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.
Scholarly & Legal Citations
Exec. Order No. 7909 (June 15, 1938), https://executiveordersarchive.org/orders/app-executive-order-7909-terminating-the-powers-rights-and-duties-the-special-mexican-claims.