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Jan. 30, 2006.
Kristy Moon, editor.
Presidential Signing Statements
--Cheryl Nyberg
A little-known legal document—the Presidential signing statement—has become
the talk of the blogs. Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, Jr. drafted a memo
encouraging Presidential “interpretative signing statements” as a deputy
assistant attorney general in 1986. And President Bush has issued more than 500
signing statements, many indicating how “the Administration” construes certain
provisions.
How do these statements fit into the legislative and enactment process?
After both bodies of Congress have passed a bill, it is delivered to the
White House. The President then either signifies his approval by signing the
bill or vents his objections by vetoing it.
But in recent years, Presidents have added a new wrinkle by affixing signing
statements with their signatures. According to a Jan. 23, 2006 article in TIME
by Andrew Sullivan, Ronald Reagan issued 71 signing statements, Bill Clinton
issued 105, and the current President Bush more than 500.
Legal scholars, pundits, and politicians have weighed in on the propriety
and value of these signing statements in determining legislative intent, but
let us here address the legal research question: Where are these signing
statements found?
The primary source is the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents.
This publication includes a wide array of material, including speeches,
remarks, interviews—and signing statements.
You can find the Weekly Compilation in print, on the Internet, and
through commercial online sources:
Another source is the United States Code, Congressional & Administrative
News.
- Print: KF48 at Reference Area.
- Westlaw: USCCAN
- Westlaw: USCCAN-MSG (from 1986). A sub-file containing only the
Presidential messages and signing statements that have appeared in USCCAN.
New Display: Washington State Supreme Court
Did you attend any of the oral arguments while the Washington State Supreme
Court was in session at the UW Law School last week or the reception that was
held on Wednesday in honor of the Justices?
If you missed these exciting events, or are simply interested in learning
more about the Court and the Justices, take a look at the Library’s new display
“Gallagher Library Welcomes the Washington State Supreme Court.” This display
will remain until the middle of February. | 