Signing Statements

President Bush has issued some 750 of these official statements, in which he lays out his interpretation (the 'official executive interpretation') of laws passed by congress.

Three important points to understand about these signing statements:

1. Bush has issued 750 in his five years in office (ave. 150/year). This is in comparison to H.W. Bush, who issued 232 (ave. 58/year over 4 years) and Bill Clinton, who issued 140 (ave. 17.5/year over 8 years).

2. Unlike his predecessors-- who used signing statements to clarify their understanding or interpretation of a law-- Bush has used his signing statements to put the executive branch above the law. Bush will sign legislation into law and then quietly issue a signing statement saying that he reserves the right to ignore the law if he decides it is in the best interest, for example, of national security. Essentially, Bush has allowed the checks and balances of our government to appear intact while undermining them and concentrating more and more power within the executive branch.

3. In his five years in office Bush has never vetoed a bill. This is the longest a president has gone without vetoing a bill (which would give congress a chance to consider and override his objections-- one of the critical 'checks and balances' of our government) since Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809). Bush is ignoring the executive right to veto in favor of his dictatorial signing statements.

Via Media Matters for America