Formally titled 'De-Ba'athification of Iraqi Society,' Coalition Provisional Authority Order Number 1 was issued by L. Paul Bremer III as Administrator on May 16, 2003. It aimed to purge senior members of the Ba'ath Party from positions of authority in the Iraqi government, military, and public sector to dismantle the regime's influence. Implementation involved categorizing Ba'ath Party members into four levels based on rank, prohibiting those in the top three levels (senior party members, above 'U4' rank, and 'U4' rank) from employment in ministries, directorates, governorate staffs, and other public institutions. Section 1(6) was later rescinded by CPA Order Number 100 on June 28, 2004. Widely considered one of the most catastrophic decisions of the Iraq War.