Presidential Proclamations
Browse 20 landmark presidential proclamations spanning American history.
Showing 20 of 20 proclamations
Granting Pardon for the Offense of Simple Possession of Marijuana
Granted a full, complete, and unconditional pardon to all current and former U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who committed the offense of simple possession of marijuana in violation of federal law and D.C. law.
Bears Ears National Monument Restoration
Restored the boundaries of Bears Ears National Monument in Utah to their original size as designated by President Obama, reversing the Trump administration's significant reduction of the monument.
Juneteenth Day of Observance
Proclaimed Juneteenth National Independence Day as a federal holiday commemorating June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned of their freedom. The first new federal holiday established since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.
Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to the United States
Revoked the Trump travel ban (Proclamation 9645) and related proclamations, ending restrictions on entry from majority-Muslim countries. Directed the State Department to restart visa processing for affected nationals.
Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak
Declared a national emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, unlocking billions in federal funding and authorizing the use of emergency powers to respond to the public health crisis. The emergency was terminated in April 2023.
Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Southern Border of the United States
Declared a national emergency at the southern border to redirect military construction funds to build a border wall after Congress declined to appropriate the requested funding. Terminated by President Biden.
Enhancing Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats
The third iteration of the travel ban, imposing entry restrictions on nationals from eight countries (Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen). Upheld by the Supreme Court in Trump v. Hawaii (2018) in a 5-4 decision.
Declaration of National Emergency by Reason of Certain Terrorist Attacks
Declared a national emergency following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. This proclamation has been renewed annually by every subsequent president and remains in effect, providing the legal basis for various counterterrorism authorities.
Establishment of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Designated 1.7 million acres in southern Utah as the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument under the Antiquities Act. The designation was controversial, particularly among Utah politicians and mining interests.
National Emergency with Respect to Iran
Declared a national emergency with respect to Iran following the seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and the taking of American hostages. Froze Iranian government assets in the United States.
Granting Pardon for Violations of the Selective Service Act
Granted a full, complete, and unconditional pardon to all persons who had violated the Military Selective Service Act between August 4, 1964, and March 28, 1973, covering those who evaded the draft during the Vietnam War.
Confirming the Termination of Executive Order 9066
Formally terminated Executive Order 9066 which had authorized the Japanese American internment during World War II. Acknowledged that the evacuation and internment were wrong and declared that the kind of error shall never be repeated.
Human Rights Day and Human Rights Week
Designated December 10 as Human Rights Day and the week beginning December 10 as Human Rights Week, marking the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations.
Proclamation of Unlimited National Emergency
Declared an unlimited national emergency in response to the threat posed by Nazi Germany and the Axis powers to the Western Hemisphere. Authorized the president to exercise expanded executive powers for national defense.
Declaring a Bank Holiday
Declared a nationwide bank holiday, closing all banks for four days to stop a run on deposits during the Great Depression. Gave the Treasury Department time to inspect banks before allowing solvent ones to reopen.
Proclamation of Neutrality in the European War
Declared the neutrality of the United States in the war between Austria-Hungary and Serbia and associated European conflicts. The U.S. maintained neutrality until entering World War I in April 1917.
Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction
Offered pardons to most Confederates who took an oath of allegiance to the United States and accepted the emancipation of enslaved people. Established Lincoln's lenient plan for Reconstruction of the South.
Proclamation of Thanksgiving
Established the last Thursday of November as a national day of Thanksgiving. While days of thanksgiving had been proclaimed before, Lincoln's proclamation established the tradition of an annual national Thanksgiving holiday, later fixed to the fourth Thursday by Congress in 1941.
Emancipation Proclamation
Declared all enslaved persons in the Confederate states to be free. Transformed the Civil War from a struggle to preserve the Union into a war for human freedom. Applied only to states in rebellion, not to border states or areas already under Union control.
Monroe Doctrine Proclamation
While delivered as part of a State of the Union address, the Monroe Doctrine proclaimed that the Western Hemisphere was closed to future European colonization and that the U.S. would regard any European interference in the Americas as a threat. Became a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy.