List of U.S. Presidential Proclamation Dates

Published: 2018-12-20 - Updated: 2023-05-28
Author: Disabled World | Contact: Disabled World (Disabled-World.com)
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Library of Related Papers: Disability Awareness Publications

Synopsis: List of annual awareness and observance dates including days, weeks and months, as recognized by U.S. presidential proclamation. United States law provides for the declaration of selected public observances by the President as designated by Congress or the discretion of the President. Proclamations are the oldest form of presidential directive, and in theory the most sweeping, they are often directed at citizens - not just government officials.

Main Digest

What Are U.S. Presidential Proclamations?

A U.S. presidential proclamation is a statement issued by the United States President on an issue of public policy, and is in a way a Presidential directive.

Related Publications:

All proclamations are first published in the Federal Register and compiled annually in Title 3 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents and United States Code Congressional and Administrative News also publish presidential proclamations.

A presidential proclamation is an instrument that either:

Declares a law and requires obedience
Recognizes an event
States a condition
Triggers implementation of a law, by recognizing that the circumstances described in the law have been realized

Unless authorized by U.S. Congress, a President's proclamation does not have the force of law. If Congress were to pass an act that would take effect upon the happening of a contingent event, and subsequently the President proclaimed that the event happened, then the proclamation would have the force of law.

Difference Between Proclamations and Executive Orders

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Photo shows the North Portico exterior of the United States White House illuminated with pink lights in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Oct. 1, 2012 (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert).

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Proclamations - Proclamations are the oldest form of presidential directive, and in theory the most sweeping. They are often directed at citizens - not just government officials - and may call on them to take a specific action.

Executive Orders - Like proclamations, executive orders have the force of law - but only on the executive branch. They're also numbered and published in the Federal Register. Presidents use them to establish councils and commissions, set administration-wide policy on hiring or purchasing, or give federal employees a day off.

Special Dates

United States law also provides for the declaration of selected public observances by the President as designated by Congress or the discretion of the President. Generally the President will provide a statement about the purpose and significance of the observance date and/or occasion, and call on the people of the United States to observe the day "with appropriate ceremonies and activities". Listed below are annual special dates as recognized by U.S. presidential proclamation.

List of U.S. Presidential Proclamation Dates
Jump To: Days Weeks Months
U.S. Presidential Proclamation List of Observance Dates
U.S. Presidential Proclamation Days
January January 16 - Religious Freedom Day 3rd Monday in January - Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday 3rd Sunday in January - U.S. Sanctity of Human Life Day February February 15 - Susan B. Anthony Day March March 25 - Greek Independence Day March 31 - Cesar Chavez Day April 2nd Thursday in April - U.S. D.A.R.E. Day April 9 - U.S. Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day April 14 - Pan American Day and Pan American Week May May 1 - Loyalty Day May 1 - Law Day, U.S.A. May 15 - Peace Officer Memorial Day 1st Thursday in May - U.S. Day of Prayer 2nd Friday in May - Military Spouses Day 2nd Sunday in May - Mother's Day 3rd Friday in May - U.S. Defense Transportation Day and U.S. Transportation Week 3rd Saturday in May - Armed Forces Day May 22 - U.S. Maritime Day May 25 - U.S. Missing Children's Day Last Monday in May - Memorial Day June 1st Monday in June - U.S. Child's Day June 14 - Flag Day and U.S. Flag Week 3rd Sunday in June - Father's Day July July 27 - U.S. Korean War Veterans Armistice Day Last Sunday in July - Parent's Day August August 16 - U.S. Airborne Day August 26 - Women's Equality Day September Weekend before September 11 - U.S. Days of Prayer and Remembrance September 11 - Patriot Day September 11 - Emergency Number Day 3rd Friday in September U.S. POW/MIA Recognition Day September 17 - Citizenship Day and Constitution Week September 22 - American Business Women's Day September 28 - U.S. Good Neighbor Day 4th Monday in September - Family Day Last Sunday in September - Gold Star Mother's Day October 1st Monday in October - Child Health Day October 6 - German-American Day 2nd Monday in October - Columbus Day October 9 - Leif Erikson Day October 11 - General Pulaski Memorial Day October 15 - White Cane Safety Day October 24 - United Nations Day November November 9 - World Freedom Day November 11 - Veterans Day November 15 - U.S. Philanthropy Day November 15 - America Recycles Day 4th Thursday in November - Thanksgiving Day Friday after Thanksgiving - Native American Heritage Day December December 1 - World AIDS Day December 3 - International Day of Persons with Disabilities December 7 - U.S. Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day December 10 - Human Rights Day and Human Rights Week December 15 - Bill of Rights Day December 17 - Wright Brothers Day
U.S. Presidential Proclamation Weeks
March 1st week of March - Save Your Vision Week 3rd week of March - U.S. Poison Prevention Week April Last week of April - U.S. Volunteer Week Varies in April - Crime Victims' Rights Week Last week of April - U.S. Park Week May Third week of May - World Trade Week Third week of May - U.S. Hurricane Preparedness Week Week prior to Memorial Day - U.S. Safe Boating Week July Third week of July - Captive Nations Week August August 16th-22nd - U.S. Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week September Varies in September - Minority Enterprise Development Week 3rd week of September - U.S. Farm Safety and Health Week Varies in September - U.S. Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week October Week of October 9 - Fire Prevention Week Week of 2nd Sunday in October - U.S. School Lunch Week Week of 3rd Sunday in October - U.S. Forest Products Week 3rd week in October - U.S. Character Counts Week Week prior to Thanksgiving - U.S. Farm-City Week Week of Thanksgiving - U.S. Family Week
U.S. Presidential Proclamation Months
January U.S. Mentoring Month Stalking Awareness Month Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month February American Heart Month Black History Month March American Red Cross Month Women's History Month Irish-American Heritage Month April Cancer Control Month U.S. Donate Life Month Prevent Child Abuse Month U.S. Sexual Assault Awareness Month U.S. Financial Literacy Month May Older Americans Month Jewish American Heritage Month Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Mental Health Awareness Month U.S. Physical Fitness and Sports Month U.S. Foster Care Month June Gay and Lesbian Pride Month Caribbean-American Heritage Month Great Outdoors Month U.S. Oceans Month Black Music Month July U.S. Ice Cream Month September Childhood Cancer Awareness Hydrocephalus Awareness Month U.S. Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month SU.S. Ovarian and Prostate Cancer Awareness Month U.S. Wilderness Month U.S. Preparedness Month U.S. Childhood Obesity Awareness Month September 15 to October 15 - U.S. Hispanic Heritage Month October U.S. Information Literacy Awareness Month Italian American Heritage and Culture Month U.S. Breast Cancer Awareness Month U.S. Domestic Violence Awareness Month U.S. Arts and Humanities Month U.S. Disability Employment Awareness Month U.S. Cyber Security Awareness Month U.S. Energy Awareness Month November U.S. Entrepreneurship Month Military Family Month U.S. Bone Marrow Donor Awareness Month U.S. Hospice Month U.S. Adoption Month U.S. Family Caregivers Month U.S. Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month U.S. Diabetes Month U.S. American Indian Heritage Month December U.S. Impaired Driving Prevention Month U.S. Critical Infrastructure Protection Month

Resources That Provide Relevant Information

Awareness Ribbons Chart: Color and Meaning of Awareness Ribbon Causes - List of awareness ribbon colors and associated causes regarding health and disability - Includes printable awareness ribbon chart.
Awareness Dates: Days - Weeks - Months - List of major awareness dates and commemorative observance days weeks and months that focus on health medical and disability research or ethical causes of importance.
U.N. International Awareness and Commemorative Dates - List of International days of observance established by the United Nations (UN), World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Notable LGBT Awareness Dates and Events - List of important LGBT+ community awareness remembrance dates and coming events in respect to sexual orientation, gender identity, transgenderism, transsexualism, and intersexuality.

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