What document do presidents use to explain their endorsement of a bill and its expected impact?

Presidents utilize signing statements to clarify their endorsement of a bill and elucidate its anticipated effects. When a bill is passed by Congress and reaches the president for approval, the signing statement may accompany the signing of the legislation. In this document, the president can express support for the law, detail their interpretation of its provisions, and outline any concerns or limitations regarding its implementation. This provides additional context for lawmakers and the public, explaining how the administration intends to apply the law and can sometimes indicate areas where the president may interpret the law differently than Congress intended.

In contrast, executive orders are directives issued by the president to manage the operations of the federal government and often do not pertain to the explanation of legislative endorsements. Executive privilege refers to the president's right to withhold information from Congress or the courts, mainly in matters of national security or sensitive communications. Presidential pardons are acts of clemency that permit the president to forgive individuals for certain crimes, which is unrelated to the legislative process or the endorsement of bills. Therefore, signing statements accurately serve the specific purpose of communicating a president's stance on newly enacted legislation.