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Executive Order 12571 Constitutional Neutral (+0.02)

Executive Order 12571—Implementation of the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act

Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan
•
Monday, October 27, 1986
•
3 min read (621 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 Ronald Reagan on 1986-10-27, establishes federal administrative policy concerning "Implementation of the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act." It outlines operative directives for executive department officers, delegating enforcement responsibilities and establishing official governance guidelines.

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

▪ All affected Executive departments and agencies shall take all steps necessary, consistent with the Constitution, to implement the requirements of the Act.
▪ The Secretary of State shall be responsible for implementing Sections 208, 302 (to the extent it relates to temporary imports), 303(b), 307(a)(2), 317, 318, 401(b)(2), ,501(b), 504, 506, and 508 of the Act.
▪ The Secretary of the Treasury shall be responsible for implementing Sections 301, 302 (to the extent it relates to permanent imports), 303, 305, 308, 309, 310, 319, 320, 323(a)(1), and 510 of the Act.
▪ The Secretary of Commerce shall be responsible for implementing Sections 304, 321, and 502(b) of the Act.

Constitutional & Societal Entities Impacted

🏛️ Armed Forces & Military Establishments 🏛️ Merchants, Importers & Commercial Enterprises 🏛️ Sovereign State Governments & Localities 🏛️ Executive Departments & Federal Civil Servants 🏛️ Private Citizens & Property Owners
Total Words
621
4,020 characters
Estimated Read Time
3 min
@ 200 words / min
Flesch-Kincaid
12.6
Post-Grad reading level
Constitutional Polarity
+0.02
Framers' Alignment index
📜

Scholarly & Legal Citations 

Exec. Order No. 12571, Ronald Reagan (Oct 27, 1986). Available at https://executiveordersarchive.org/orders/app-executive-order-12571-implementation-the-comprehensive-anti-apartheid-act.

Official Document Text

Source: The American Presidency Project (UCSB Archive)

Original Source →
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and statutes of the United States of America, including the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-440) ("the Act"), and section 301 of Title 3 of the United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Implementation of the Act. All affected Executive departments and agencies shall take all steps necessary, consistent with the Constitution, to implement the requirements of the Act. Sec. 2. Functions of the Department of State. The Secretary of State shall be responsible for implementing Sections 208, 302 (to the extent it relates to temporary imports), 303(b), 307(a)(2), 317, 318, 401(b)(2), ,501(b), 504, 506, and 508 of the Act. Responsibility for transmitting the report required by Section 509 of the Act is delegated to the Secretary of State. Sec. 3. Functions of the Department of the Treasury. The Secretary of the Treasury shall be responsible for implementing Sections 301, 302 (to the extent it relates to permanent imports), 303, 305, 308, 309, 310, 319, 320, 323(a)(1), and 510 of the Act. Sec. 4. Functions of the Department of Commerce. The Secretary of Commerce shall be responsible for implementing Sections 304, 321, and 502(b) of the Act. Sec. 5. Functions of the Department of Defense. The Secretary of Defense shall be responsible for implementing Section 322 of the Act. Sec. 6. Functions of the United States Trade Representative. The United States Trade Representative shall be responsible for implementing Sections 323(a)(2) and (b) of the Act and Section 402 (except for the imposition of import restrictions). Sec. 7. Functions of the Agency for International Development. The Administrator of the Agency for International Development shall be responsible for implementing Sections 210 (to the extent of determining the existence of food shortages only) and 505 of the Act. Sec. 8. Functions of the Department of Transportation. The Secretary of Transportation shall take the steps specified in Sections 306(a)(2) and (3). Sec. 9. Definition of Strategic Minerals. The Secretary of State shall be responsible, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Defense, for determining which articles are strategic minerals within the meaning of the Act. Sec. 10. Regulatory and Enforcement Authority. The head of each agency assigned functions by this Order is delegated authority under Sections 601 and 603 of the Act to the extent that they relate to functions delegated by this Order or conferred by the Act. Sec. 11. Coordination and Policy Guidance. The Secretary of State is responsible for ensuring that implementation of the Act is effectively integrated with and is supportive of the foreign policy of the United States. In carrying out their respective functions and responsibilities, the head of each agency assigned responsibility under this Order shall consult with the heads of other affected agencies. Sec. 12. Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee. An Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee on South Africa is hereby established, under the Chairmanship of the Secretary of State. The Committee shall also include the Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defense, Attorney General, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Agriculture, the United States Trade Representative, and other members as appropriate. The Committee shall serve as a forum for consultations on United States policy concerning South Africa and shall monitor implementation of the Act to ensure consistency with United States policy objectives. Sec. 13. Reservations of Functions. All authority not expressly delegated or granted herein is retained by the President. The President retains the authority to exercise any of the authority delegated or granted in this Order. Sec. 14. Effective Date. This Order shall be effective immediately. RONALD REAGAN The White House, October 27, 1986. [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 12:06 p.m., October 28, 1986]