Search recent US presidential Executive Orders published in the Federal Register. Optionally filter by keyword and date. Returns EO number, signing/publication date, title and links.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| term | No | Optional keyword to search within executive orders. | |
| since | No | Only EOs published on/after this date (YYYY-MM-DD). | |
| per_page | No | Results to return (default 10, max 30). |
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
No annotations provided, so description carries full burden. It discloses return fields (EO number, dates, title, links) but does not mention pagination, result limits, or freshness of data. Adequate but could be more transparent about behavior.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
Two efficient sentences with no fluff. Directly conveys purpose and capabilities.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
No output schema, but description lists return fields. With 3 optional params and simple output, description is mostly complete. Minor gaps: default ordering, result limits (per_page in schema but not mentioned in description), and scope of 'recent'.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema description coverage is 100%, so baseline is 3. The description adds no new information beyond the schema; it simply restates optional filtering by keyword and date. No extra semantic value.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states it searches US presidential Executive Orders from the Federal Register, with optional filtering. It distinguishes itself from sibling tools like 'agencies' and 'search_documents' by specifying a focused resource and scope.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description indicates when to use this tool (searching executive orders) but does not explicitly state when not to use or provide alternatives. The sibling names provide implicit context, but the description itself lacks exclusion guidance.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
Add one secure layer between your agents and this server.
Each tool targets a distinct workflow: agency lookup, document detail, EO search, recent-document monitoring, and general search. There is minor overlap between recent_documents and search_documents, but their descriptions make the intended use clear.
All names are lower_snake and resource-oriented, but the pattern is not perfectly uniform: most are nouns (agencies, document, executive_orders, recent_documents) while search_documents uses a verb prefix. This is predictable and readable, with a minor deviation.
Five tools is well-scoped for a Federal Register intelligence server: each tool covers a necessary part of the workflow without redundancy or bloat.
The server covers the core regulatory-intel loop: agency discovery, search, recent monitoring, and detailed document retrieval. Minor gaps such as dedicated full-text or docket-level tools exist, but agents can work around them with the provided links and search options.