Executive Order 12184 Constitutional Fidelity (+0.29)

Executive Order 12184—President's Special Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research

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Monday, December 17, 1979

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2 min read (302 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 Jimmy Carter on 1979-12-17, establishes federal administrative policy concerning "President's Special Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research." It outlines operative directives for executive department officers, delegating enforcement responsibilities and establishing official governance guidelines.

Constitutional Assessment: An early statesman would view this measure favorably under Article II, Section 3 (the Take Care Clause). The President operates strictly within the ambit of executing established laws and supervising departmental subordinates, respecting the supremacy of the legislative branch without fabricating novel statutory obligations.

Key Directives & Operative Actions

▪ RELATING TO THE PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION FOR THE STUDY OF ETHICAL PROBLEMS IN MEDICINE AND BIOMEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH Public Law 95-622 established the President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research.

▪ Therefore, in order to permit these entities to support the conduct of those activities by the Commission, and under the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution of the United States, it is ordered: 1-101.

▪ There is established the President's Special Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research.

▪ The Special Commission established by this Order shall be constituted in accordance with and subject to the provisions of Title III of Public Law 95-622, except that it shall receive financial support, to the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of funds, from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare.

Constitutional & Societal Entities Impacted

🏛️ Executive Departments & Federal Civil Servants 🏛️ Private Citizens & Property Owners 🏛️ Public Health & Medical Institutions

Total Words

302

1,967 characters

Estimated Read Time

2 min

@ 200 words / min

Flesch-Kincaid

16.6

Post-Grad reading level

Constitutional Polarity

+0.29

Framers' Alignment index

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Scholarly & Legal Citations

Exec. Order No. 12184, Jimmy Carter (Dec 17, 1979). Available at https://executiveordersarchive.org/orders/app-executive-order-12184-presidents-special-commission-for-the-study-ethical-problems.

Official Document Text

Source: The American Presidency Project (UCSB Archive)

Original Source →

RELATING TO THE PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION FOR THE STUDY OF ETHICAL PROBLEMS IN MEDICINE AND BIOMEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH Public Law 95-622 established the President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research. Appropriations to fund the work of the Commission, although authorized, have not been sought or received, but entities within the Department of Health, Education and Welfare have authority and funds which may be available to carry on activities identical to those to be undertaken by the Commission. Therefore, in order to permit these entities to support the conduct of those activities by the Commission, and under the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution of the United States, it is ordered: 1-101. There is established the President's Special Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research. The Special Commission established by this Order shall be constituted in accordance with and subject to the provisions of Title III of Public Law 95-622, except that it shall receive financial support, to the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of funds, from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The Administrator of General Services shall provide administrative support services to the Special Commission on a reimbursable basis. 1-102. The Special Commission established by this Order shall terminate upon enactment and availability of appropriations for the Commission established by Public Law 95-622, and in any event, unless extended, no later than two years from the date of this Order. No funds transferred by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare pursuant to this Order shall be expended by either Commission following termination of the Special Commission. JIMMY CARTER The White House, December 17, 1979. [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 10:39 a.m., December 18, 1979]