Presidential Order Constitutional Neutral (+0.02)

Executive Order—Amendment of Civil Service Rules

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Friday, October 9, 1891

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1 min read (221 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 Benjamin Harrison on 1891-10-09, establishes federal administrative policy concerning "—Amendment of Civil Service Rules." 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

▪ Formal executive instruction issued by the President establishing official administrative policy on —Amendment of Civil Service Rules.

Constitutional & Societal Entities Impacted

🏛️ Executive Departments & Federal Civil Servants

Total Words

221

1,340 characters

Estimated Read Time

1 min

@ 200 words / min

Flesch-Kincaid

25.3

Post-Grad reading level

Constitutional Polarity

+0.02

Framers' Alignment index

📜

Scholarly & Legal Citations

Exec. Order, "Executive Order—Amendment of Civil Service Rules," Benjamin Harrison (Oct 9, 1891). Available at https://executiveordersarchive.org/orders/app-executive-order-amendment-civil-service-rules-55.

Official Document Text

Source: The American Presidency Project (UCSB Archive)

Original Source →

General Rule III, clause 6, is hereby amended by striking out the words "under such regulations as the Commission may make" and substituting therefor the following: "under regulations to be approved by the President;" so that as amended the clause will read as follows: So far as practicable and useful competitive examinations shall be established in the classified civil service to test fitness for promotion under regulations to be approved by the President. BENJ. HARRISON Whereas civil-service rules for the Indian service were approved to take effect October 1, 1891; and Whereas it is represented to me by the Civil Service Commission in a communication of this date that no persons have as yet been examined for appointment to that service, and that it seems probable that complete arrangements for putting said rules into full effect will not be made sooner than March 1, 1892: It is therefore ordered, That said Indian rules shall take effect March 1, 1892, instead of October 1, 1891: Provided, That said rules shall become operative and take effect in any district of the Indian service as soon as an eligible register for such district shall be provided, if it shall be prior to the date above fixed. EXECUTIVE MANSION, October 13, 1891. Upon the recommendation of the Commission the foregoing order is approved. BENJ. HARRISON