WASHINGTON Whereas under the act of September 2, 1937 (50 Stat. 917), providing for Federal aid to States in wildlife restoration projects, the State of Washington is acquiring certain lands In Kittitas County, Washington; and Whereas these lands are to be administered by the State of Washington through the State Game Commission as the Squaw Creek Antelope Range and Wildlife Refuge; and Whereas certain public lands within this area possess a great wildlife value and could be administered advantageously in connection with the refuge; and Whereas the act of March 10, 1934 (48 Stat. 401), provides for cooperation with State and other agencies in developing a Nation-wide program of wildlife conservation and rehabilitation: Now, Therefore , by virtue of the authority vested in me by the act of June 25, 1910, c. 421, 36 Stat. 847, as amended by the act of August 24, 1912, c. 369, 37 Stat. 497, it is ordered that, subject to valid rights, the public lands hereinafter described, comprising 646.78 acres, more or less, in Kittitas County, Washington, be, and they are hereby, reserved and set apart under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior for use by the Game Commission of the State of Washington in connection with the Squaw Creek Antelope Range and Wildlife Refuge, under such conditions as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior: WILLAMETTE MERIDIAN T. 15 N., R. 20 E., sec. 30, all. The reservation made by this order supersedes the temporary withdrawal for classification and other purposes made by Executive Order No. 6964, of February 5, 1935, as amended, so far as any of the above-described lands are affected by that order. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT The White House, December 27, 1940.
Executive Order 8622—Reserving Certain Public Lands in Connection With the Squaw Creek Antelope Range and Wildlife Refuge
Executive Brief • At a Glance
Subject to valid rights, the public lands hereinafter described, comprising 646.78 acres, more or less, in Kittitas County, Washington, be, and they are hereby, reserved and set apart under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior for use by the Game Commission of the State of Washington in connection with the Squaw Creek Antelope Range and Wildlife Refuge, under such conditions as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior: WILLAMETTE MERIDIAN T. 15 N., R. 20 E., sec. 30, all.
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 December 27, 1940, this order concerns Reserving Certain Public Lands in Connection With the Squaw Creek Antelope Range and Wildlife Refuge. Subject to valid rights, the public lands hereinafter described, comprising 646.78 acres, more or less, in Kittitas County, Washington, be, and they are hereby, reserved and set apart under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior for use by the Game Commission of the State of Washington in connection with the Squaw Creek Antelope Range and Wildlife Refuge, under such conditions as may be prescribed by…
Key Directives & Operative Actions
Subject to valid rights, the public lands hereinafter described, comprising 646.78 acres, more or less, in Kittitas County, Washington, be, and they are hereby, reserved and set apart under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior for use by the Game Commission of the State of Washington in connection with the Squaw Creek Antelope Range and Wildlife Refuge, under such conditions as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior: WILLAMETTE MERIDIAN T. 15 N., R. 20 E., sec. 30, all.
The reservation made by this order supersedes the temporary withdrawal for classification and other purposes made by Executive Order No. 6964, of February 5, 1935, as amended, so far as any of the above-described lands are affected by that order.
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. 8622 (Dec. 27, 1940), https://executiveordersarchive.org/orders/app-executive-order-8622-reserving-certain-public-lands-connection-with-the-squaw-creek.