[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 111 (Wednesday, June 10, 1998)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 31885-31886]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15700]
[[Page 31883]]
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Part VII
The President
_______________________________________________________________________
Memorandum of June 1, 1998--Plain Language in Government Writing
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 111 / Wednesday, June 10, 1998 /
Presidential Documents
___________________________________________________________________
Title 3--
The President
[[Page 31885]]
Memorandum of June 1, 1998
Plain Language in Government Writing
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and
Agencies
The Vice President and I have made reinventing the
Federal Government a top priority of my Administration.
We are determined to make the Government more
responsive, accessible, and understandable in its
communications with the public.
The Federal Government's writing must be in plain
language. By using plain language, we send a clear
message about what the Government is doing, what it
requires, and what services it offers. Plain language
saves the Government and the private sector time,
effort, and money.
Plain language requirements vary from one document to
another, depending on the intended audience. Plain
language documents have logical organization, easy-to-
read design features, and use:
common, everyday words, except for necessary
technical terms;
``you'' and other pronouns;
the active voice; and
short sentences.
To ensure the use of plain language, I direct you to do
the following:
By October 1, 1998, use plain language in
all new documents, other than regulations, that
explain how to obtain a benefit or service or how
to comply with a requirement you administer or
enforce. For example, these documents may include
letters, forms, notices, and instructions. By
January 1, 2002, all such documents created prior
to October 1, 1998, must also be in plain language.
By January 1, 1999, use plain language in
all proposed and final rulemaking documents
published in the Federal Register, unless you
proposed the rule before that date. You should
consider rewriting existing regulations in plain
language when you have the opportunity and
resources to do so.
The National Partnership for Reinventing Government
will issue guidance to help you comply with these
directives and to explain more fully the elements of
plain language. You should also use customer feedback
and common sense to guide your plain language efforts.
I ask the independent agencies to comply with these
directives.
This memorandum does not confer any right or benefit
enforceable by law against the United States or its
representatives. The Director of the Office
[[Page 31886]]
of Management and Budget will publish this memorandum
in the Federal Register.
(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, June 1, 1998.
[FR Doc. 98-15700
Filed 6-9-98; 10:56 am]
Billing code 3110-01-M
