Presidential Statements

When the President signs or vetoes a bill, the President may issue a signing statement or a veto message stating his or her rationale for the action taken. Since these statements are usually short and are not from Congress, they are not significant in determining legislative intent.

Presidential statements are found in:

  • Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents (1965 to date)*
    Print: Law Annex J 80 .A284
    Microfiche: Law Micro J 80 .A284
    HeinOnline

* The Office of the Federal Register (OFR), which is part of the National Archives, has created a new publication, to be called the Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents. The Daily Compilation will appear on the Government Printing Office’s (GPO) new Federal Digital System (FDsys) January 20, 2009, to coincide with the incoming President’s term of office. The web site will be accessible via www.presidentialdocuments.gov by January 20. The online Daily Compilation will replace the printed Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents.

  • Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States (1929 to date)
    Print: Law Annex J 80 .A283
    HeinOnline
  • Westlaw: Presidential Documents (PRES database)
    Executive Orders (1936 to date)
    All other documents (1984 to date)


Page maintained by Steve Donweber
Last updated: February 2009