You remember John Hancock, right?
He is memorialized for his large and stylish signature on the United States Declaration of Independence … so much so that the term “John Hancock” became, in the United States, a synonym for “signature”.
According to Wikipedia – the people’s encyclopedia –…
The traditional function of a signature is evidential of:
- The provenance of the document (identity)
- The intention (will) of an individual with regard to that document
For example, you signed your 1040 tax return – either physically or digitally, right?
Did you read the fine print?
Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this return and accompanying schedules and statements, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, they are true, correct, and complete.
Hmmm.
Do the same requirements and penalties apply to Federal officials?
Here are some head-scratching examples to the contrary …