Presidential signing statements have been around since the early days of the U.S. government, but their role and impact have shifted dramatically American Bar Association. Even now in 2026, presidents still use them to guide how laws get interpreted and carried out.
Quick Fix: Signing statements aren't laws or vetoes. They're just the president's take on a bill—use them to see what the White House really thinks, not to override what Congress passed.
What’s happening with signing statements?
A presidential signing statement is basically a memo the president releases when signing a bill into law. It might point out constitutional problems, explain what the law really means, or tell agencies how to enforce it. Unlike a veto, it doesn't stop a law—it just shows how the administration plans to handle it American Presidency Project.
These statements end up in the United States Code Congressional and Administrative News (USCCAN), so they become part of the official record U.S. Government Publishing Office.
How to read a signing statement (2026 guide)
Want to dig into signing statements for laws passed since 2000? Here’s where to look:
- Find the law first: Grab the Public Law number from Congress.gov or the Government Publishing Office.
- Check USCCAN: Search the digital version of USCCAN using that Public Law number. You’ll usually find the signing statement tacked on at the end of the bill text.
- Hit the White House website: The White House Briefing Room keeps an organized archive of statements, sorted by year and bill.
- Try a legal database: Westlaw and Lexis both include signing statements in their legislative history sections under “Presidential Documents.”
