Abstract

Presidential Signing statements are written comments that Presidents often issue when they sign a bill. The practice of issuing a statement has grown increasingly since President Reagan, who used them in order to expand his authority. Signing statements are not part of the legislative process, but scholars debate whether they should be considered as legislative history for the purpose of interpreting federal statutes. President George W. Bush's aggressive use of signing statements gave rise to extensive debate over the implications for the Constitution's system of checks and balances and the separation of powers.