Signing statements have been issued by presidents to express the views on the signed law. The purpose of the signing statements can either be rhetorical, constitutional, or political. President Trump has issued several signing statements concerning various signed laws. The purpose here is to evaluate three of his signing statements for (1) H.R. 244, the Consolidated Appropriation Act, 201, (2) H.R. 366, the DHS Stop Asset and Vehicle Excess Act, and (3) H.R 3364, the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act. Towards H.R. 244, the president’s statement comes out as rhetorical as it analyzes the several provisions as either positive or negative in line with him giving out executive orders. However, some parts of the statement go overboard by adding how the executive branch might overlook certain provisions yet they signed into law, which may create a political conundrum.
The statement on DHS Stop Asset and Vehicle Excess Act, which aims are eliminate wasteful spending in the Department of Homeland security is quite short because the President seems quite certified all but one provision of the act. However, he has stipulated the statement as constitutional and the concerns are clearly in line with the executive orders. In this case, President Trump is acting with the constitutional powers bestowed on the president of the United States. Finally, the second statement for the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act is exhibit political standoff between the President and the Congress. In some parts, the President states “Yet despite its problems, I am signing this bill for the sake of national unity”, since he feels the executive should hand all foreign affairs. In this case, the President is out of line to justify his oppositions to the bill on the basis of his personal achievements rather than the constitution.
