Presidential memorandum facts for kids

A presidential memorandum is a special instruction from the president of the United States. It helps the president manage the different parts of the executive branch of the United States government. Think of it as a direct order to government departments and agencies. These memos have the power of law. They are often used to give tasks, tell agencies what to do, or start new rules.

There are three main kinds of presidential memorandums:

• Presidential determination (or finding)
• Memorandum of disapproval
• Hortatory memorandum

Sometimes, people confuse presidential memorandums with executive orders. Executive orders are also instructions from the president. However, executive orders are usually seen as more important. They must clearly state which part of the Constitution or which law gives the president the power to issue them.

Unlike executive orders, memorandums don't always have to be published in the Federal Register. The Federal Register is like an official newspaper for government rules. But for a memorandum to be fully official and affect everyone, it usually needs to be published there. The Federal Register often publishes executive orders and presidential proclamations first. A memorandum can be changed or canceled by another memorandum or an executive order. But an executive order is stronger and cannot be changed by a memorandum.

History of Presidential Memorandums

In the past, presidential memorandums were sometimes called presidential letters. They have been used by many presidents throughout history.

Here's how many memorandums some recent presidents have issued:

What is a Presidential Determination?

A presidential determination is a type of memorandum. It is often required by a specific statute (a law passed by Congress). The president must issue this determination before certain actions can happen. For example, if the U.S. wants to put sanctions (penalties) on another country, the president might first need to issue a presidential determination about that country's status.

Understanding a Memorandum of Disapproval

A memorandum of disapproval is a public statement from the president. It shows that the president does not approve of something, like a bill passed by Congress. It's similar to a veto, where the president rejects a bill.

What is a Hortatory Memorandum?

A hortatory memorandum is a broad statement about a policy. It's different from a presidential proclamation, which is usually for the public. A hortatory memorandum is specifically directed at the different agencies within the executive branch. It tells them how the president wants a certain policy to be carried out.

National Security Presidential Memorandums

Since 2017, President Donald Trump started using the name "national security presidential memorandums" for certain directives. These memos work a lot like executive orders. However, they only deal with matters of national security. Presidents have used similar directives for national security for a long time, going back to President Harry S. Truman. They just used different names for them.

See also

• Executive order (United States)
• Presidential directive
• Presidential proclamation
• Memorandum of conversation