General Information

METRIC DESIGN GUIDE

General Information

Executive Order 12770 of July 25, 1991

(Federal Register/Vol. 56, No. 145/ Monday, July 29, 1991 / Presidential Documents, pp. 35801-3)

PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS

Executive Order 12770 of July 25, 1991

Metric Usage in Federal Government Programs

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of

America, including the Metric Conversion Act of 1975, Public Law 94168 (15 U.S.C. 205a et seq.) ("the

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Metric Conversion Act"), as amended by section 5164 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of

1988, Public Law 100-418 ("the Trade and Competitiveness Act"), and in order to implement the

congressional designation of the metric system of measurement as the preferred system of weights and

measures for United States trade and commerce, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Coordination by the Department of Commerce. (a) The Secretary of Commerce ("Secretary") is

designated to direct and coordinate efforts by Federal departments and agencies to implement Government

metric usage in accordance with section 3 of the Metric Conversion Act (15 U.S.C. 205b), as amended by

section 5164(b) of the Trade and Competitiveness Act.

(b) In furtherance of his duties under this order, the Secretary is authorized:

(1) to charter an Interagency Council on Metric Policy ("ICMP"), which will assist the Secretary in

coordinating Federal Government-wide implementation of this order. Conflicts and questions regarding

implementation of this order shall be resolved by the ICMP. The Secretary may establish such

subcommittees and subchairs within this Council as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this

order.

(2) to form such advisory committees representing other interests, including State and local

governments and the business community, as may be necessary to achieve the maximum beneficial effects

of this order; and

(3) to issue guidelines, to promulgate rules and regulations, and to take such actions as may be

necessary to carry out the purposes of this order. Regulations promulgated by the Secretary shall function

as policy guidelines for other agencies and departments.

(c) The Secretary shall report to the President annually regarding the progress made in implementing this

order. The report shall include:

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