Through them, researchers can track the exercise of executive power through nearly 200 years of American history. Because they carry the force of law, executive orders and proclamations are also essential sources for legal research. With access to these materials, lawyers can trace the origins of many important current legal issues.
Most librarians are familiar with the historic numbered series of executive orders.
But these numbered items account for fewer than half of all the orders and proclamations issued between 1789 and 1983. CIS has brought together the numbered and unnumbered orders and proclamations and created the first comprehensive means of access to these valuable materials. The 22-volume index covers more than 75,000 presidential documents issued between 1789 and 1983. CIS designed the index for use with either existing hardcopy holdings or with the companion microfiche collection. Components CIS has published the index in two chronological parts.