[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 52 (Monday, December 31, 2001)]
[Pages 1836-1837]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Executive Order 13242--Providing an Order of Succession Within the 
Department of Commerce

December 18, 2001

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and 
the laws of the United States of America, including Subchapter III of 
Chapter 33 of title 5 of the United States Code, it is hereby ordered 
that:
    Section 1. Subject to the provisions of section 3 of this Executive 
Order, the officers named in section 2, in the order listed, shall act 
as and perform the functions and duties of the office of Secretary of 
Commerce (Secretary) during any period when both the Secretary and the 
Deputy Secretary of Commerce (Deputy Secretary) have died, resigned, or 
are otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the office 
of Secretary.
    Sec. 2. Order of Succession.
    (a) General Counsel of the Department of Commerce;

[[Page 1837]]

    (b) Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade;
    (c) Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs;
    (d) Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and 
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
    (e) Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology;
    (f) Under Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration;
    (g) Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Commerce and 
Assistant Secretary of Commerce in charge of Administration; and
    (h) Assistant Secretary of Commerce in charge of Legislative and 
Intergovernmental Affairs.
    Sec. 3. Exceptions.
    (a) No individual who is serving in an office listed in section 
2(a)-(h) in an acting capacity shall act as Secretary pursuant to this 
Executive Order.
    (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Executive Order, the 
President retains discretion, to the extent permitted by Subchapter III 
of Chapter 33 of title 5 of the United States Code, to depart from this 
Executive Order in designating an acting Secretary.
    Sec. 4. Executive Order 11880 of October 2, 1975, Executive Order 
12998 of April 5, 1996, and section 26 of Executive Order 12608 of 
September 9, 1987, are hereby revoked.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 December 18, 2001.

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., December 20, 
2001]

Note: This Executive order was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on December 28, and it was published in the Federal Register 
on December 21.