Executive Order 8279 Constitutional Neutral (+0.02)
Executive Order 8279—Designation of the Director of the Bureau of Mines To Act as Secretary of the Interior, or as Under Secretary, First Assistant Secretary, or Assistant Secretary of the Interior
Early Statesman synthesis distilling legal jargon into practical meaning, statutory anchors, and structural constitutional impacts.
This executive order, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on 1939-10-28, establishes federal administrative policy concerning "Designation of the Director of the Bureau of Mines To Act as Secretary of the Interior, or as Under Secretary, First Assistant Secretary, or Assistant Secretary of the Interior." 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.
Exec. Order No. 8279, Franklin D. Roosevelt (Oct 28, 1939). Available at https://executiveordersarchive.org/orders/app-executive-order-8279-designation-the-director-the-bureau-mines-act-secretary-the-interior.
Official Document Text
Source: The American Presidency Project (UCSB Archive)
By virtue of and pursuant to the authority vested in me by section 179 of the Revised Statutes (5 U.S.C., sec. 6), I hereby authorize and direct Dr. John W. Finch, Director of the Bureau of Mines of the Department of the Interior, to perform the duties of the Under Secretary of the Interior, or the First Assistant Secretary of the Interior, or the Assistant Secretary of the Interior, during the absence or sickness from November 1 to November 30, 1939, inclusive, of the Under Secretary of the Interior, or the First Assistant Secretary of the Interior, or the Assistant Secretary of the Interior, and during the absence or sickness from November 1 to November 30, inclusive, of the Secretary of the Interior, the Under Secretary of the Interior, the First Assistant Secretary of the Interior, and the Assistant Secretary of the Interior, to perform the duties of the Secretary of the Interior. FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT The White House, October 28, 1939.
