Presidential signing statements | US government and civics | Khan Academy

Summary

This video delves into presidential signing statements, which are messages issued by presidents when enacting legislation. Initially rare, their use escalated from Reagan's era, serving to explain or critique laws, sometimes highlighting unconstitutional aspects. Despite lacking legal force, these statements are politically strategic, signaling potential non-compliance with certain law provisions. Examples from Bush and Obama illustrate how they can challenge or clarify the executive's stance on legislative demands.

Takeaways

• 📜 Presidential signing statements are statements issued by presidents when signing a bill into law.
• 🤔 The practice was infrequent until the modern era, becoming more common with presidents like Ronald Reagan.
• 🏛 The first signing statement was issued by James Monroe, marking the beginning of this practice.
• ⚖️ Legal scholars do not consider signing statements to be legally binding, yet presidents still issue them.
• 📝 Presidents use signing statements to explain their reasons for signing a law, highlighting its merits or指出存在的问题.
• 🚫 In extreme cases, presidents may claim parts of a law are unconstitutional and signal they might not enforce them as written.
• 🔍 The non-binding nature of signing statements raises questions about why presidents bother with them.
• 🌐 The political purpose of signing statements might be to explain policy, rally support, or signal potential non-compliance with certain provisions.
• 🗣️ Signing statements serve as a communication tool between the president, the executive branch, and Congress.
• 📋 Examples from George W. Bush and Barack Obama's signing statements illustrate how presidents use them to express constitutional concerns or push back on legislative overreach.
• 🔎 The script encourages further exploration of presidential signing statements, which are available in the Federal Registry, to understand their role and impact.

Q & A

What are presidential signing statements?

Presidential signing statements are statements issued by the president when signing a bill into law. They are not legally binding but serve various purposes such as explaining the president's reasons for signing the law, highlighting potential issues with the law, or signaling the president's intent not to follow certain parts of the law deemed unconstitutional.

When was the first signing statement issued, and by whom?

The first signing statement was issued by President James Monroe, marking the beginning of this practice.

How frequent were signing statements before the modern era?

Before the modern era, signing statements were quite infrequent. They became much more common starting with President Ronald Reagan.

What is one reason a president might issue a signing statement?

One reason a president might issue a signing statement is to act as an explainer for why they are signing the law, expressing their views on the law's merits.

Can signing statements highlight issues within the law?

Yes, signing statements can also be used to point out problems within the law, and in extreme cases, to declare parts of the law unconstitutional that the Executive Branch might not follow.

Why might a president issue a signing statement if it's not legally binding?

A president might issue a signing statement to signal to the Executive Branch and Congress their intent not to follow certain parts of the law, for political reasons, or to rally their base.

What does the signing statement by President George W. Bush in 2006 illustrate?

President George W. Bush's signing statement in 2006 illustrates the president's use of a signing statement to express concerns about a reporting requirement that he felt infringed upon his constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and in conducting foreign affairs.

How does President Obama's signing statement in 2009 reflect his view on legislative aggrandizement?

In his 2009 signing statement, President Obama addresses legislative aggrandizement by stating that his administration will take congressional committee recommendations into consideration but will not treat spending decisions as dependent on congressional approval, thus asserting the executive's authority to execute laws.

What is the purpose of notifying relevant committees before taking specified actions, as mentioned in President Obama's signing statement?

The purpose of notifying relevant committees is to maintain a level of communication and respect for the legislative branch's role while asserting the executive's constitutional authority to make independent decisions.

Where can one find presidential signing statements?

Presidential signing statements can be found in the Federal Register and are readily available on the internet for public access.

Why are presidential signing statements considered an informal power of the President?

Presidential signing statements are considered an informal power because they are not legally binding but can influence the interpretation and execution of laws, signaling the president's intentions and concerns to other branches of government.