A signing ceremony is a ceremony in which a document of importance is signed (approved). Typically the document is a bill passed by a legislature, thus becoming a law by an executive's signature. However, the document may also be, for example, an executive order,[1][2][3] international agreement,[1] or a veto statement that invalidates a legislative measure.[4][5][6]
The act of electronically signing a document may be referred to as a signing ceremony.[7][8][9] The act of physically signing a signature is seen as adding gravitas[10][11] to the moment.[12][13]
Signing ceremonies are derived from ceremonies that occurred when the British monarch gave Royal Assent to acts of Parliament. Signing ceremonies became an aspect of American politics.[citation needed]
Signing ceremonies may be performed by U.S. state governors upon signing a state document (generally an act of the state legislature, making it into state law) or by the President of the United States (generally making an act of Congress into federal law). The President typically invites Congressional leaders who were instrumental in the bill's passage as well as interested community members.[citation needed]
One practice is to use multiple pens and honor individuals by giving them the pens used to form the signature; typically, one pen would be used for each stroke of the president's signature. For example, the signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, President Lyndon B. Johnson used more than 75 pens. The pens were then given to attending dignitaries and supporters of the bill, including Rosa Parks, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey, Everett McKinley Dirksen and Martin Luther King Jr.[citation needed]
The practice of using multiple pens was briefly stopped during the presidency of Donald Trump, who preferred to sign the bills with one Sharpie-like pen and then hold up the signed document for a photo op. Joe Biden intermittently continued the practice of using multiple pens before reverting to using one pen in late 2021.[citation needed]
Signing ceremonies are associated with acts that are viewed as legislative triumphs for the executive. Conversely, laws that are passed reluctantly or are controversial are often signed into law quietly and privately without ceremony.[citation needed]
Signing ceremonies may be performed by non-government signatories for purposes including the signing of a contract[14] or will.[15] Signing ceremonies can attest to significant events, such as a beam-signing ceremony to mark a construction milestone.[16][17]
Remarks at the Signing Ceremony for the Israeli-Palestinian Declaration of Principles", "Bipartisan Commission on Entitlement Reform, Executive order signing ceremony", "Budget control and deficit reduction, Executive order signing ceremony", "Historically black colleges and universities, Executive order signing ceremony
President RICHARD M. NIXON signed the new "LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS IN THE FEDERAL SERVICE" Executive Order on October 29. The formal signing ceremony took place in the Cabinet Room of the White House...
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Furthermore, Bush signed the second pair [of] executive orders in a setting that closely resembled that of a traditional bill signing ceremony, as if they were regular pieces of legislation.
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Governor Ehrlich stated at the veto signing ceremony that...
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On Friday, Trump issued the first veto of his presidency to override a congressional blockade of the national emergency he declared at America's southern border. During the veto signing ceremony, Trump explained why he felt a national emergency was warranted to stop migrants from entering the US.
During the event, an electronic signature ceremony of the eIDAS Regulation was held.
A nice little signing ceremony—like asking users to type 'I agree' into a box—can be quite a good way of showing a level of commitment.
While e-signatures may objectively perform the same function as signing by hand, they do not exert the same symbolic weight in subsequent decision making.
(Photo caption) The strategic partnership signing ceremony between Novaland and Lotte E&C
Clients often joke and get easily distracted when visiting the lawyer's office for the actual signing ceremony.
The beam-signing ceremony, which took place during heavy rain showers, included...