Sponsors (7)
The bill strengthens rule-of-law by requiring and clarifying that only the President may validly sign key executive instruments—reducing fraud and procedural ambiguity—at the cost of potential retroactive disruption to recipients and government programs, increased litigation and administrative burdens, and possible delays in time-sensitive actions.
All Americans gain clearer legal certainty that only documents personally signed by the President (bills, executive orders, pardons/commutations) are valid, reducing ambiguity about what actions are legally effective.
Federal and state officials would be prevented from relying on improperly signed or automated executive instruments, strengthening adherence to statutory signing procedures and reducing reliance on potentially invalid orders.
People harmed by improperly issued clemency would be better protected because the bill allows invalidation of pardons or commutations that were not lawfully signed, ensuring clemency follows lawful process.
Individuals who previously received pardons or commutations could lose that relief retroactively, creating severe legal, financial, and personal instability for recipients (e.g., veterans, immigrants).
Retroactive invalidation of improperly signed laws or executive orders could disrupt government programs, regulations, or benefits that relied on those instruments, affecting federal operations and public services.
The bill could trigger extensive litigation and legal disputes over the validity of past executive actions (including those signed with delegated authority or autopens), imposing high legal costs on individuals and the government and prolonging uncertainty.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires only the President to sign engrossed bills, executive orders, pardons, and commutations; bans autopens and voids instruments signed in violation.
Official title: To amend title 3, United States Code, to clarify that certain Presidential functions may not be delegated or carried out using any automated equipment.
Introduced July 15, 2025 by Addison P. McDowell · Last progress July 15, 2025
Prohibits anyone other than the President from lawfully signing engrossed bills, Executive orders, pardons, or commutations and bans use of automatic signing devices (including autopens). It also declares invalid any such instrument that was signed in violation of this rule, whether signed before or after the act takes effect.