What is a Presidential Signing statement and how does it affect the law?

I saw in the news that President Bush signed a law for requiring a warrant to open mail with a signing statement. I have never heard of a signing statement. I was wondering 1) Where is the authority for them granted? 2) how do they affect the law as written and passed by Congress? 3) How will the judiciary handle issues with the law and the signing statement?

I recently read up on signing statements. Basically, they are like a reference note to a bill that is signed into law by a president. They mention how the president perceives the language in the bill and how they intend to enforce it. They are not supposed to be legally binding, nor can they be used as a line item veto, as Bush often tries to do. They really aren't supposed to have any legal merit, they are supposed to be footnotes or ideas or suggestions. The American Bar Association said that Bush's use of signing statements are illegal. And by the way, he has issues more than 750 of them, more than all presidents combined. I have a feeling that if it came to a court of law, they would rule them non-binding (or at least they should).

The executive branch of government is charged with enforcing the law. A signing statement is document that tells what the President believes the meaning of the law is. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/accuse_write?qid=20070105082654AAjD0vx&kid=Tcd8CDC6VTmt7dAqXOYsATV0oCpcZJBiiukVJtFimKod0TaCsmGO&s=comm&date=2007-01-08+16%3A39%3A30&.crumb=

The bill in question is pure political fraud. It has always been illegal to open mail without a warrant. Warrants have never been and never will be required in 'exigent circumstances'. That would be like requiring police to get a warrant before entering a residence after hearing gun shots inside. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/accuse_write?qid=20070105082654AAjD0vx&kid=Tcd8CDC6VTmt7dAqXOYsATV0oCpcZJBiiukVJtFimKod0TaCsmGO&s=comm&date=2007-01-08+16%3A42%3A23&.crumb=

First the statement was basically that he did not need a warrant to open mail, only exigent circumstances. Now as to your question. A signing statement is just the comments made by the president at the time of the bill signing and have no force of law. They also do not effect any wording in the bill or judicial review of said bill.