Commission (document)
Acommissionis a formal document issued to appoint a named person to high office or as acommissioned officerin a territory's armed forces. A commission constitutes documentary authority that the person named is vested with the powers of that office and is empowered to execute official acts.[1]A commission often takes the form ofletters patent.
Commissions are typically issued in the name of or signed by thehead of state.InCommonwealth realms,the documentation is referred to as aKing's CommissionorQueen's Commission(depending on the gender of the reigning monarch). However, in Commonwealth realms other than the United Kingdom, they may be signed by thegovernor-general,the representative of the monarch of that realm.
Terminology
[edit]Because the word "commission" can also refer generally to an individual's duty, the more specific termscommissioning parchmentorcommissioning scrollare often used to specify the commissioning document. However the document is not usually in the form of ascrolland is more often printed onpaperinstead ofparchment.In Canada, there is a differentiation in terminology according to rank; officers are accordedcommissioning scripts.[citation needed]
Military and naval examples
[edit]This sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(August 2021) |
Canada
[edit]Here is an example from Canada:
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Canadian_Officer%27s_commission_for_a_male_naval_officer.jpg/220px-Canadian_Officer%27s_commission_for_a_male_naval_officer.jpg)
CHARLES THE THIRD, by the Grace of God, King of Canada and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth
To.................
hereby appointed an Officer in His Majesty's Canadian Armed Forces
With Seniority of the.... day of.............
WE reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and Integrity do by these Presents Constitute and Appoint you to be an Officer in our Canadian Armed Forces. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge your Duty as such in the Rank of.............. or in such other Rank as We may from time to time hereafter be pleased to promote or appoint you to, and you are in such manner and on such occasions as may be prescribed by us to exercise and well discipline both the Inferior Officers and Non-Commissioned Members serving under you and use your best endeavour to keep them in good Order and Discipline, and We do hereby Command them to Obey you as their Superior Officer, and you to observe and follow such Orders and Directions as from time to time you shall receive from Us, or any other your Superior Officer according to Law, in pursuance of the Trust hereby Reposed in you.
IN WITNESS Whereof our Governor General of Canada hath hereunto set her hand and Seal at Our Government House in the City of Ottawa this.... day of.......... in the Year of our Lord................... and in the.... Year of Our Reign.
By Command of Her Excellency the Governor General
Canadian Commissioning Scripts, as they are properly called byNDHQ,are signed by theGovernor General of Canadaand countersigned by theMinister of National Defence,on behalf of theKing of Canada.[citation needed]
Here is an example of the Royal Canadian Navy's Commission from pre-1968:
ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.
To Mr............ hereby appointed Sub Lieutenant in Her Majesty's Canadian Fleet.
WE reposing special Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and Integrity, do by these Presents Constitute and Appoint you a Sub Lieutenant, Royal Canadian Navy, Willing and Requiring you from time to time to repair on board and to take upon you the Charge and Command of Sub Lieutenant in any ship or Establishment to which you may hereafter at any time be duly appointed, or the charge and Command of any other Rank to which you may be promoted or appointed, strictly Charging and Commanding all the Officers and company of the said Ship or Establishment subordinate to you to conduct themselves jointly and severally in their respective employments with all due Respect and Obedience unto you, and you likewise to observe and execute the Queen's Regulations and Orders for the Royal Canadian Navy and such Orders and Instructions as you shall from time to time receive from Naval Headquarters or from your Superior Officers. Hereof nor you nor any of you may fail as you will answer the contrary at your Peril. And for so doing so this shall be Your Commission.
Sweden
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Officersfullmakt.jpg/220px-Officersfullmakt.jpg)
Officers in theSwedish Armed Forceshave not received written commissions since 1982 when a new employment structure was instituted by law. They are nowadays hired on contracts, as in any other civil service position. Prior to 1982 all officers received written certificates of commission, each signed by theKing of Sweden.
The wording used prior to 1982 in translation would be;
WeN.N. By the Grace of God, King of theSwedes,theGoths and theWends,make known: that We by this open commission have by grace commissioned and appointed the [present rank] in the [name of service or regiment] [recipients name] that from [day] of [month] [year] be [new rank] in the [name of service or regiment]. This for the observance of all. Stockholm Palaceon the [day] of [month] [year].
United Kingdom
[edit]The following is typical of the wording of a British commission, and comes from theRoyal Naval Reserve:[citation needed]
Charles the Third, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of His other Realms and Territories King, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, Lord High Admiral.
To our Trusty and Well Beloved.............. Greeting:
We, reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage, and good Conduct, do by these Presents Constitute and Appoint you to be an Officer in Our Royal Naval Reserve from the.... day of.............. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge your Duty as such in the Rank of.............. or in such other Rank as We may from time to time hereafter be pleased to promote you to, of which a notification will be made in theLondon Gazette,and you are in such manner on such occasions as may be prescribed by Us to exercise and well discipline in their duties such officers, men and women as may be placed under your orders from time to time and use your best endeavours to keep them in good order and discipline.
And We do hereby Command them to Obey you as their superior Officer and you to observe and follow such Orders and Directions as from time to time you shall receive from Us, or any superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in pursuance of the Trust hereby reposed in you.
Given at Our Court, at Saint James's the.... day of............ in the..... Year of Our Reign
By His Majesty's Command
The above would be signed by the King (although a facsimile signature may be used) and countersigned by two members of theAdmiralty Board.
Royal Navy pre-1964
[edit]Before theBoard of Admiraltywere merged into theMinistry of Defencein 1964, with the title ofLord High Admiralreverting to the Crown, the naval officer's commission was signed not by the Sovereign but by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, executing the office of Lord High Admiral. The naval officer's commission was worded as follows:[2]
By the Commissioners for Executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom.
To...................
hereby appointed a............... in Her Majesty's Fleet.
By Virtue of the Power of Authority to us given by Her Majesty's Letters Patent under the Great Seal, We do hereby constitute and appoint you a.......... in Her Majesty's Fleet. Charging and Commanding you in that rank or in any higher rank to which you may be promoted to observe and execute theQueen's Regulations and Admiralty Instructionsfor the Government of Her Majesty's Naval Service and all such Orders and Instructions as you shall from time to time receive from Us or from your Superior Officers for Her Majesty's Service. And likewise Charging and Commanding all Officers and Men subordinate to you according to the said Regulations Instructions or Orders to behave themselves with all due Respect and Obedience to you their Superior Officer. Given under our hands and the Seal of the Office of Admiralty this.... day of............. in the.... Year of Her Majesty's Reign.
By Command
With Seniority of..............
Similarly the following is the wording of a Lieutenant's Commission from 1800:
By the Commissioners for executing the Office of the Lord High Admiral of Great Britain and Ireland &c and of all His Majesty's Plantations &c.
To Lieut...... hereby appointed Lieutenant of His Majesty's Ship the.......
By Virtue of the Power and Authority to us given We do hereby constitute and appoint you Lieutenant of His Majesty's Ship the..... willing and requiring you forthwith to go on board and take upon you the Charge and Command of Lieutenant in her accordingly. Strictly Charging and Commanding all the Officers and Company belonging to the said ship subordinate to you to behave themselves jointly and severally in their respective Employments with all the Respect and Obedience unto you their said Lieutenant; And you likewise to observe and execute as well the General printed Instructions as what Orders and Directions you shall from time to time receive from your Captain or any other your superior Officers for His Majesty's service. Hereof nor you nor any of you may fail as you will answer the contrary at your peril. And for so doing this shall be your Warrant. Given under our hands and the Seal of the Office Admiralty this..... day of.....,..... in the..... Year of His Majesty's Reign.
By Command of their Lordships
Seniority ..............
It was signed by twoLords Commissioners of the Admiraltyand a Secretary, i.e. a quorum of theBoard of Admiralty.
United States
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Nathan_Hale_commission_as_captain_in_the_nineteenth_regiment_of_foot.jpg/220px-Nathan_Hale_commission_as_captain_in_the_nineteenth_regiment_of_foot.jpg)
Article II, section 3, of the U.S. Constitution provides that the President "shall Commission all the Officers of the United States," including officers of theuniformed servicesas well as civilian officers. Commissions of officers in thearmed servicesare issued in the name of thePresident,although authority to sign on the President's behalf is generally exercised by the secretary of the department in which the officer is being commissioned. This includes not only "commissioned officers" but also "commissioned warrant officers" (warrant officersin thepay gradesof W-2 through W-5). Warrant officers at the grade of W-1 are appointed by warrant by the secretary of their respective service, except in the Coast Guard where they are appointed by secretarial commission.
The commission of a newly commissioned officer reads[citation needed]:
The President of the United States of America
To all who shall see these presents, greeting:
Know Ye that, reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity and abilities of.................., I do appoint [ "him" or "her" ] a [ "Second Lieutenant" or "Ensign" ] in the [name of service] to rank as such from the.... day of.............. This Officer will therefore carefully and diligently discharge the duties of the office to which appointed by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging.
And I do strictly charge and require those Officers and other personnel of lesser rank to render such obedience as is due an officer of this grade and position. And this Officer is to observe and follow such orders and directives, from time to time, as may be given by me, or the future President of the United States of America, or other Superior Officers acting in accordance with the laws of the United States of America.
This commission is to continue in force during the pleasure of the President of the United States of America for the time being, under the provisions of those Public Laws relating to Officers of the Armed Forces of the United States of America and the component thereof in which this appointment is made.
Done at the City of Washington, this.... day of........ in the year of our Lord................ and of the Independence of the United States of America the..........
By the President:
At higher grade levels (Major or Lieutenant Commander and above in the Regular components and Colonel or Captain and above in the Reserve components), appointments and promotions require Senate confirmation, and the wording of the commission reflects that fact: "... I have nominated and, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, do appoint..."
Examples of commissions to civil offices
[edit]This sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(August 2021) |
United States
[edit]The Constitutional requirement mentioned above, that the President commission allofficers of the United States,includes a wide range of civilian officials, including justices of the Supreme Court and otherfederal judges,theheads of executive departments,subcabinet level officials down to the level ofassistant secretary,U.S. attorneysandmarshals,diplomatic representatives, and members of the Foreign Service, among others. Commissions are issued in the name of the President, either under his own signature or that of an official delegated to act on his behalf, and under either theGreat Seal of the United Statesor, the seal of the executive department in which the appointment is made.
A typical commission for a Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed civilian official in the Executive Branch would read:
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Defense_Secretary_Jim_Mattis_formally_swears_in_Ryan_D._McCarthy_as_the_33rd_Under_Secretary_of_the_Army.jpg/500px-Defense_Secretary_Jim_Mattis_formally_swears_in_Ryan_D._McCarthy_as_the_33rd_Under_Secretary_of_the_Army.jpg)
[Name of the President]
President of the United States of AmericaTo all to whom these presents shall come greeting:
Know ye that reposing special trust and confidence in the Integrity and Ability of
[name of appointee] of [home state], I have nominated and, by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint him to be
[name of office]
and do authorize and empower him to execute and fulfill the duties of that Office according
to law, and to have and to hold the said office with all the powers and
privileges thereunto of right appertaining, unto him the said [name of appointee]
during the pleasure of the President of the United States for the time beingIn Testimony whereof I have caused these Letters to be made Patent and
the Seal of the [executive department concerned] to be hereunto affixed.Done at the City of Washington this [day] day of
[month] in the Year of our Lord [year]
and of the Independence of the United States of America the [age of America].By the President [President's signature]
[Seal of the executive department concerned] [Signature of the person serving as the head of the executive department concerned]
[Name of office held by the head of the executive department concerned]
For heads of executive departments and independent agencies, theSeal of the United Statesand the signature of the Secretary of State appears, but if the position is subordinate to the head of a different executive department, the seal of said executive department appears instead of the Seal of the United States and the signature of beforementioned head replaces the Secretary of State.
For certain positions, other characteristics such as "prudence" (for ambassadors) or "wisdom, uprightness, and learning" (for judges) may be used in addition to or instead of "integrity and ability." If a position is for a fixed term of years or "during good behavior," the appropriate wording replaces the clause beginning "during the pleasure of the President."
Commissions of officers in theU.S. Foreign Serviceare also signed by thePresident.The commission of a newly commissioned officer reads:
The President of the United States of America
To (name of officer) Greeting
Reposing special trust and confidence in your Integrity, Prudence and Ability, I have nominated and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint you a Foreign Service Officer, a Consular Officer, and a Secretary in the Diplomatic Service of the United States of America, and do authorize and empower you to do and perform all such matters and things as to the said offices do appertain, and to have and to hold the said offices, and to exercise and enjoy all the rights, privileges and immunities thereunto appertaining, during the pleasure of the President of the United States.
In testimony whereof, I have caused the Seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed.
Done at the City of Washington this.... day of.... in the year of our Lord.... and of the Independence of the United States of America the....
By the President (President's signature)
The commission is countersigned by the Secretary of State, and the singular Great Seal of the United States, entrusted to the Secretary under the 1789 statute creating theDepartment of State,[3]is affixed.
States
[edit]Similar to the U.S. Constitution's provisions directing the President to commission executive officers of the U.S. Government, the state constitutions and/or laws provide for state (and sometimes local) officers to be commissioned; for example, Texas law directs the Texas governor to commission most state officers and elected county officers.[4]
A person applying for a license to be anotary publicreceives acommission,generally indicating what political jurisdiction (state or District of Columbia) issued it, when it is valid (usually four years from issue) and the signature of the issuing authorities (usually the Governor and countersigned by the Secretary of State).
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Black's Law Dictionary, 11th Ed.
- ^Royal Navy: Covey CrumpArchived14 December 2008 at theWayback Machine
- ^1 U.S. Statutes at Large, ch. 4, sec. 1
- ^Texas Gov't Code § 601.005
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/40px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png)
- Army.ca Junior Officer's Guide
- Covey Crump (naval information)
- Commission, dated July 10, 1783appointingGeorge VancouverfourthLieutenantofHMSFame
- Putting a Ship in commissionThe London Saturday Journal, 16 February 1839