Executive Order 2624—German Boats

Woodrow Wilson

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Tuesday, May 22, 1917

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1 min read (102 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 Woodrow Wilson on 1917-05-22, establishes federal administrative policy concerning "German Boats." 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

▪ This order shall take effect from date.

Constitutional & Societal Entities Impacted

🏛️ Armed Forces & Military Establishments

Total Words

102

593 characters

Estimated Read Time

1 min

@ 200 words / min

Flesch-Kincaid

16.1

Post-Grad reading level

Constitutional Polarity

+0.02

Framers' Alignment index

📜

Scholarly & Legal Citations

Exec. Order No. 2624, Woodrow Wilson (May 22, 1917). Available at https://executiveordersarchive.org/orders/app-executive-order-2624-german-boats.

Official Document Text

Source: The American Presidency Project (UCSB Archive)

Original Source →

It is hereby authorized that, through the Secretary of the Navy, there shall be taken over to the United States the immediate possession and title to the German vessels Kronprinz Wilhelm and Prinz Eitel Friedrieh, now at the navy yard, Philadelphia, the Liebenfels, now at the navy yard, Charleston, and the Geir and Loeksen, now at be naval station, Hawaii, and until further directions the Secretary of the Navy is ordered to operate and equip such vessels in the service of the Navy of the United States. This order shall take effect from date. WOODROW WILSON THE WHITE HOUSE, May 22, 1917.