ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13237Executive OrderG.W. Bush · R

Executive Order 13237

Creation of the President's Council on Bioethics

This executive order creates the President's Council on Bioethics, an advisory body of up to 18 non-governmental experts to counsel the President on ethical issues arising from biomedical and technological advances. The Council is explicitly designed to explore multiple viewpoints rather than seek consensus, and is prohibited from reviewing specific projects or overseeing agency regulations.

Federal Register Open PDF 66 FR 59851

Impact dates

  1. Council termination unless extended by President

Key directives

  • Establish President's Council on Bioethics with max 18 non-federal members
  • Council advises President on bioethical issues from biomedical/technological advances
  • Council shall articulate competing moral positions rather than seek consensus
  • Council prohibited from reviewing specific projects or overseeing agency regulations
  • HHS provides administrative support and funds subject to appropriations
  • Secretary of HHS appoints Executive Director in consultation with Chairperson
  • HHS performs Federal Advisory Committee Act functions except congressional reporting
  • Council terminates 2 years from order date unless extended by President

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Council establishment
  • HHS administrative support obligation begins

Near term (90d)

  • Presidential appointment of members and Chairperson
  • HHS appointment of Executive Director

Long term

  • Council termination on November 28, 2003 unless extended
  • ongoing advisory reports on bioethical issues

Risks & tensions

  • Anti-consensus design (Sec. 2(c)) may produce fragmented advice to President rather than actionable policy guidance
  • Vague funding mechanism—'subject to availability of appropriations' creates dependency on HHS budget decisions
  • Exclusion from regulatory oversight (Sec. 2(d)) limits institutional power; purely advisory role
  • Potential tension between exploring 'variety of views' and urgent policy needs noted in Sec. 2(f)
  • Unclear whether 2-year renewable terms for members apply from appointment date or uniform cycle
Executive Order 13237: Creation of the President's Council on Bioethics · Executive Orders