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304:
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.
553:
518:
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.
208:
253:
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.
650:
103:
315:
635:
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
410:
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
252:
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
942:
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
910:
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.
613:
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
607:
Know Ye that, reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity and abilities of .................., I do appoint a in the to rank as such from the .... day of ........ ...... This
Officer will therefore carefully and diligently discharge the duties of the office to which
303:
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
878:
and 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.
619:
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
517:
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
481:
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 the
909:
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
882:
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
486:
for 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
420:
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
415:, 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.
329:
have 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 the
954:, 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).
487:
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.
580:, 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" (
775:, 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 the
460:
reverting 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:
258:
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
29:
in 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. A commission often takes the form of
588:
of 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.
399:
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
930:
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 the
625:
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 ..........
293:
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.
568:
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 the
785:
411:
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 the
507:
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.
920:
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 ....
53:(depending on the gender of the reigning monarch). However, in Commonwealth realms other than the United Kingdom, they may be signed by the
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A typical commission for a Presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed civilian official in the Executive Branch would read:
614:
the United States of America, or other Superior Officers acting in accordance with the laws of the United States of America.
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The above would be signed by the King (although a facsimile signature may be used) and countersigned by two members of the
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CHARLES THE THIRD, by the Grace of God, King of Canada and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth
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are often used to specify the commissioning document. However the document is not usually in the form of a
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65:
Because the word "commission" can also refer generally to an individual's duty, the more specific terms
804:
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755:, includes a wide range of civilian officials, including justices of the Supreme Court and other
707:
660:
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Given at Our Court, at Saint James's the .... day of ........ .... in the ..... Year of Our Reign
160:
113:
85:. In Canada, there is a differentiation in terminology according to rank; officers are accorded
768:
483:
224:
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To Mr . . . . . . . . . . . . hereby appointed Sub Lieutenant in Her Majesty's Canadian Fleet.
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887:
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and do authorize and empower him to execute and fulfill the duties of that Office according
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8:
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In testimony whereof, I have caused the Seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed.
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By the Commissioners for Executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom.
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The following is typical of the wording of a British commission, and comes from the
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Know ye that reposing special trust and confidence in the Integrity and Ability of
751:
The Constitutional requirement mentioned above, that the President commission all
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Similarly the following is the wording of a Lieutenant's Commission from 1800:
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is a formal document issued to appoint a named person to high office or as a
840:
during the pleasure of the President of the United States for the time being
512:
To Lieut. ..... hereby appointed Lieutenant of His Majesty's Ship the.......
808:
779:
or, the seal of the executive department in which the appointment is made.
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appointed by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging.
343:
288:
Here is an example of the Royal Canadian Navy's Commission from pre-1968:
557:
365:
that We by this open commission have by grace commissioned and appointed
1059:
836:
to law, and to have and to hold the said office with all the powers and
790:
674: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
127: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
883:
replaces the clause beginning "during the pleasure of the President."
845:
In Testimony whereof I have caused these Letters to be made Patent and
585:
82:
649:
102:
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hereby appointed an Officer in His Majesty's Canadian Armed Forces
874:
For heads of executive departments and independent agencies, the
37:
Commissions are typically issued in the name of or signed by the
269:
Canadian Commissioning Scripts, as they are properly called by
74:
838:
privileges thereunto of right appertaining, unto him the said
572:
as well as civilian officers. Commissions of officers in the
856:
and of the Independence of the United States of America the .
318:
An example of a Swedish commission from 1962, signed by King
78:
639:
270:
216:
797:
in 2017, holding the latter's framed commission scroll as
476:
hereby appointed a ............... in Her Majesty's Fleet.
894:. The commission of a newly commissioned officer reads:
405:
To our Trusty and Well Beloved ....... ....... Greeting:
337:
The wording used prior to 1982 in translation would be;
592:
The commission of a newly commissioned officer reads :
831:
advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint him to be
636:
the Advice and Consent of the Senate, do appoint..."
57:, the representative of the monarch of that realm.
825:To all to whom these presents shall come greeting:
763:, subcabinet level officials down to the level of
264:By Command of Her Excellency the Governor General
211:Canadian commission from 2007 of a naval (acting
1079:
247:With Seniority of the .... day of ......... ....
16:Document appointing an individual as an officer
602:To all who shall see these presents, greeting:
484:Queen's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions
92:
1074:The London Saturday Journal, 16 February 1839
899:The President of the United States of America
597:The President of the United States of America
943:state officers and elected county officers.
974:Purchase of commissions in the British Army
852:Done at the City of Washington this day of
829:of , I have nominated and, by and with the
925:By the President (President's signature)
820:President of the United States of America
734:Learn how and when to remove this message
187:Learn how and when to remove this message
946:A person applying for a license to be a
847:the Seal of the to be hereunto affixed.
807:and signed by both Mattis and President
784:
640:Examples of commissions to civil offices
551:
313:
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45:, the documentation is referred to as a
1019:1 U.S. Statutes at Large, ch. 4, sec. 1
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540:and a Secretary, i.e. a quorum of the
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672:adding citations to reliable sources
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538:Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty
125:adding citations to reliable sources
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374:. This for the observance of all.
348:By the Grace of God, King of the
992:Black's Law Dictionary, 11th Ed.
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547:
497:With Seniority of ..............
204:Here is an example from Canada:
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1052:Commission, dated July 10, 1783
1047:Covey Crump (naval information)
886:Commissions of officers in the
803:, affixed with the seal of the
777:Great Seal of the United States
659:needs additional citations for
371:that from of be in the
112:needs additional citations for
1042:Army.ca Junior Officer's Guide
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761:heads of executive departments
576:are issued in the name of the
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904:To (name of officer) Greeting
753:officers of the United States
523:By Command of their Lordships
77:and is more often printed on
1072:Putting a Ship in commission
789:Former Secretary of Defense
556:1776 document commissioning
279:Minister of National Defence
7:
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800:Under Secretary of the Army
456:in 1964, with the title of
93:Military and naval examples
10:
1109:
1028:Texas Gov't Code § 601.005
805:U.S. Department of Defense
683:"Commission" document
275:Governor General of Canada
136:"Commission" document
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876:Seal of the United States
562:19th Continental Regiment
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277:and countersigned by the
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1007:14 December 2008 at the
854:in the Year of our Lord
431:By His Majesty's Command
1002:Royal Navy: Covey Crump
890:are also signed by the
471:To ......... ..........
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87:commissioning scripts
888:U.S. Foreign Service
668:improve this article
560:as a captain in the
327:Swedish Armed Forces
273:, are signed by the
121:improve this article
71:commissioning scroll
27:commissioned officer
932:Department of State
765:assistant secretary
454:Ministry of Defence
444:Royal Navy pre-1964
392:Royal Naval Reserve
281:, on behalf of the
43:Commonwealth realms
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1088:Military personnel
964:Dormant commission
861:By the President
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570:uniformed services
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450:Board of Admiralty
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51:Queen's Commission
969:Roving commission
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1054:appointing
950:receives a
724:August 2021
558:Nathan Hale
448:Before the
177:August 2021
81:instead of
61:Terminology
1082:Categories
1060:Lieutenant
980:References
952:commission
791:Jim Mattis
694:newspapers
586:pay grades
492:By Command
147:newspapers
23:commission
892:President
578:President
528:Seniority
83:parchment
1005:Archived
958:See also
773:marshals
400:Admiral.
358:and the
1058:fourth
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