The Law : President O bama's Signing Statements and the Expansion of Executive Power

Barack O bama campaigned for president of the U nited S tates on a promise of fidelity to the C onstitution and stated that he would not issue any signing statements to revise legislative intent. His vision of the presidency stood in marked contrast to President G eorge W . B ush's actions and seemed to suggest a reversal of the trend toward increased executive powers. We will analyze how and why President O bama has largely continued the unilateral presidential action of his predecessor, despite earlier promises to the contrary, outline why signing statements are not useful governing tools, and offer a solution to abuses of constitutional signing statements that impact appropriations.