The American Presidency Project

The American Presidency Project

Non-profit and non-partisan, the APP is devoted to the idea of Constitutional government. We are the source of presidential documents on the internet.  We are hosted at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

188,896 Presidential and Non-Presidential Records

Basic Search (case Sensitive!)

advanced search ›

Today in History

October 24, 1803
Thomas Jefferson
Special Message

To the Senate of the United States:

I lay before you the convention signed on the 12th day of May last between the United States and Great Britain for settling their boundaries in the northeastern and northwestern parts of the United States, which was mentioned in my general message of the 17th instant, together with such papers relating thereto as may enable you to det...

more

The American Presidency Project is the only free online searchable database including all of:

  • The Messages and Papers of the Presidents: 1789-1929
  • The Public Papers of the Presidents: since 1929
  • The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents: 1977-2009
  • The Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents: post-2009

Our archives also contain data related to First Ladies, Midterm Elections,  U.S. Party Platforms, Statements of Administration Policy, White House Press Briefing Transcripts, Presidential Debate transcripts. Visit our Documents and Statistics to learn more.

Presidency in the Constitution

"Before he enter on the Execution of his office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:  I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of the President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." (US Constitution, Article II, Section 1)

"He . . .by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law. . . (U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section 2)

"He shall from time to time give to Congress Information of the State of the Union. . .he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States." (U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section 3)

 

Give Now

Analyses

all analyses

The 2026 Midterm Elections: Are Historical Data Relevant?
September 12, 2026

The Republicans may be in for major losses in 2026.

Graph of the gap between Republican and Democratic rates of approval of PresidentGHWBush
Partisan Polarization in Presidential Approval
June 04, 2026

One of the most striking developments of recent US politics has been an increase in partisan polarization. This means a more consistent and extensive degree of separation between Democrats and Republicans.