[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 23 (Monday, June 8, 1998)]
[Pages 1010-1011]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Memorandum on Plain Language in Government Writing

June 1, 1998

Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

Subject: Plain Language in Government Writing

    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:
<bullet>    common, everyday words, except for necessary technical 
            terms;
<bullet>    ``you'' and other pronouns;
<bullet>    the active voice; and
<bullet>    short sentences.
    To ensure the use of plain language, I direct you to do the 
following:
<bullet>    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.

<bullet>    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

[[Page 1011]]

            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 of Management and Budget will publish this memorandum in the 
Federal Register.
                                            William J. Clinton