[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





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Memorandum of June 1, 1998--Plain Language in Government Writing
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 111 / Wednesday, June 10, 1998 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 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