Since 1789, U.S. Presidents have exercised authority through orders, proclamations, directives, memoranda, pardons, correspondence, statements, and other types of communication. As part of the U.S three-branch system of checks and balances, Presidents have undertaken actions to direct foreign policy, interpret enacted law, impact the enforcement of laws, and further social change. This unique collection offers over 100,000 examples of executive actions from 1789-2017. More than 50% date from prior to 1936, approximately 25% belong to our complete numbered executive order and proclamation series, and 75% were collected by human editors seeking to document the history of executive actions. The collection was created on a document by document basis in consultation with archivists and librarians at the National Archives and Records Administration, as well as dozens of government, academic, and public libraries. Includes subject indexing.
An Unprecedented Window into U.S. History
Unparalleled Access
Provide consistent access to the largest collections of easily discoverable digitized government documents organized to facilitate use and understanding
Empower Researchers
Enable students and researchers to search and explore these essential resources to help build critical thinking, analytical and digital literacy skills
Interdisciplinary
Explore and uncover the development and implementation of policy and law in relation to historical and on-going issues like immigration, health care, social justice, climate change and more
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