The executive makes up one of three branches of the federal government. It is authorized to issue executive documents to express its policy goals within its powers enumerated in the US Constitution. These documents include executive orders, proclamations, and signing statements. Such expressions of executive authority have often been pivotal in our national history. For example, the Emancipation Proclamation (shown right) is an executive document.
Executive Order
Executive orders typically involve an exercise of presidential authority related to government business. For an introduction to executive orders, see this CRS report on the topic. There is also another CRS report on revocation and modification of executive orders. CRS reports are created by the Congressional Research Service and are often an invaluable source for legal research.
Proclamation
Proclamations are often ceremonial or commemorative, but some have important legal effects, such as implementing trade agreements or declaring treaties to be in force.
Signing Statement
The executive often produces a statement expressing its decision to sign, or veto, a particular legislative proposal. The use of signing statements to demonstrate legislative intent is somewhat controversial. Some jurists believe that these documents should not be used as authority for that purpose.
The President of the United States communicates information on holidays, commemorations, special observances, trade, and policy through Proclamations. After the President signs a Proclamation, the White House sends it to the Office of the Federal Register (OFR). The Federal Register is also the source of executive orders, proclamations, and other presidential documents.
The White House website is the source for recent presidential documents, including executive orders and proclamations. It only contains materials from the current administration.
The Compilation of Presidential Documents collection is the official publication of materials released by the White House Press Secretary. It consists of the Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents and its predecessor, the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents. The Compilation of Presidential Documents includes speeches and remarks, news conferences, communications with Congress and federal agencies, proclamations, executive orders, and other documents, as well as supplementary material compiled by editors.
The American Presidency Project is hosted at the University of California, Santa Barbara. It hosts a wide gamut of presidential materials in multiple formats. It aims to be comprehensive in its acquisition of presidential documents and covers all administrations from Washington to the present.
