Executive power is a term that has frequented news channels during president Obama’s terms. Executive power is the power defined by the Constitution that the president can act without the approval of Congress. The system of checks and balances that exists to control the power of the branches of government limits what the president can do without the approval of Congress. It is the exact power that the president has, though is never explicitly defined and is subject to debate. The purpose of the executive branch of government traditionally is supposed to enforce law and it can choose to enforce the law in whatever way they deem necessary. This fact is often cited when executive power is disputed as to whether the president is changing the way
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The President is “...acting as the head of the Executive Branch, to Federal Administrative Agencies....” when he/she makes and executive order (Vox). “Executive Orders do not require Congressional approval to take effect but they have the same legal weight as laws passed by Congress” (Vox). When an executive order is made, no one is allowed to question it. The order becomes law. Executive orders have been made ever since George Washington’s presidency, who made eight executive orders himself (Peters). Theodore Roosevelt was the first president to sign over 1,000 executive orders. Franklin Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt each signed a significant number of orders, more than the other presidents. Franklin signed 3721, the most so far in any presidency. One of his famous executive orders was one that “...authorized the internment of tens of thousands of American citizens of Japanese ancestry and resident aliens from Japan” (Executive Order 9066). More than 110,000 Japanese were relocated. This order took place on February 19, 1942 after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, occurring December 7, 1941 by the Japanese. Abraham Lincoln made one of the most important executive orders, the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves. Eisenhower ordered the desegregation of schools. Lyndon B. Johnson signed the executive order that outlawed discrimination in federal employment and John F. Kennedy signed a similar order which disallowed improper treatment of workers due to pregitus. These executive orders all helped the USA become more democratic and made their citizens more equal (Roos). However, there have been many executive orders that have not been popular and therein lies the the controversy of executive
The President is “...acting as the head of the Executive Branch, to Federal Administrative Agencies....” when he/she makes and executive order (Vox). “Executive Orders do not require Congressional approval to take effect but they have the same legal weight as laws passed by Congress” (Vox). When an executive order is made, no one is allowed to question it. The order becomes law. Executive orders have been made ever since George Washington’s presidency, who made eight executive orders himself (Peters). Theodore Roosevelt was the first president to sign over 1,000 executive orders. Franklin Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt each signed a significant number of orders, more than the other presidents. Franklin signed 3721, the most so far in any presidency. One of his famous executive orders was one that “...authorized the internment of tens of thousands of American citizens of Japanese ancestry and resident aliens from Japan” (Executive Order 9066). More than 110,000 Japanese were relocated. This order took place on February 19, 1942 after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, occurring December 7, 1941 by the Japanese. Abraham Lincoln made one of the most important executive orders, the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves. Eisenhower ordered the desegregation of schools. Lyndon B. Johnson signed the executive order that outlawed discrimination in federal employment and John F. Kennedy signed a similar order which disallowed improper treatment of workers due to pregitus. These executive orders all helped the USA become more democratic and made their citizens more equal (Roos). However, there have been many executive orders that have not been popular and therein lies the the controversy of executive