Executive Order 10538 Constitutional Neutral (+0.02)

Executive Order 10538—Establishing a Seal for the United States Marine Corps

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Tuesday, June 22, 1954

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1 min read (238 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower on 1954-06-22, establishes federal administrative policy concerning "Establishing a Seal for the United States Marine Corps." It is a direct, concise executive instruction delivering focused administrative or military commands to department leadership.

Constitutional Assessment: Scrutinized through Article II, Section 2, this action exercises the President's constitutional role as Commander in Chief. Early Framers recognized broad executive discretion in commanding military forces during conflict, provided it remains bounded by congressional declarations and respects civilian domestic courts.

Key Directives & Operative Actions

▪ Formal executive instruction issued by the President establishing official administrative policy on Establishing a Seal for the United States Marine Corps.

Constitutional & Societal Entities Impacted

🏛️ Armed Forces & Military Establishments 🏛️ Executive Departments & Federal Civil Servants 🏛️ Financial Institutions & Monetary Authorities

Total Words

238

1,417 characters

Estimated Read Time

1 min

@ 200 words / min

Flesch-Kincaid

25.9

Post-Grad reading level

Constitutional Polarity

+0.02

Framers' Alignment index

📜

Scholarly & Legal Citations

Exec. Order No. 10538, Dwight D. Eisenhower (Jun 22, 1954). Available at https://executiveordersarchive.org/orders/app-executive-order-10538-establishing-seal-for-the-united-states-marine-corps.

Official Document Text

Source: The American Presidency Project (UCSB Archive)

Original Source →

WHEREAS the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps with approval of the Secretary of the Navy has caused to be made, and the Department of Defense has recommended that I approve, a seal for the United States Marine Corps, the design of which accompanies and is hereby made a part of this order, and which is described as follows: Standing upon the western hemisphere of the terrestrial globe containing the lines of latitude and topographical outlines of North, Central, and South America, an American bald eagle with wings displayed horizontally and inverted holding in his beak a scroll inscribed with the motto "SEMPER FIDELIS", all bronze. Behind the western hemisphere a foul anchor bend sinister-wise with stock, arms, and flukes in slight perspective, all bronze, on a scarlet background and within a dark blue band-edged in gold circumscribed by a gold rope rim and inscribed "DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY - UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS" in gold letters. The central device of the seal is the emblem of the United States Marine Corps; AND WHEREAS it appears that such seal is of suitable design and appropriate for establishment as the official seal of the United States Marine Corps: NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States, I hereby approve such seal as the official seal of the United States Marine Corps. DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER THE WHITE HOUSE, June 22, 1954.