Correction: I made a mistake when I originally wrote this assignment. The policy change was made by a directive, not an executive order. The general question about presidential power is still relevant.
President Obama's recent decision to change immigration policy by using an executive order highlights an increasing trend. Presidents - especially those hamstrung by Congress - have been using executive orders to establish and implement policies despite the objections of the legislative branch. Is this an example of executive overreach and an increasingly imperial executive, or is it an inevitable consequence of gridlock and a dysfunctional Congress? Regardless, it does indicate an increase in the powers and discretion of the presidency, but is it an unconstitutional expansion of presidential power?
Wade into this debate and let me know what you think. First, place Obama's recent actions in historical perspective. Is he doing anything that recent president - notably W Bush and Clinton - didn't do as well. Is this part of a trend?
A few helpful links:
- Executive Orders and Presidential Directives.
- List of United States federal executive orders.
- Executive Orders Disposition Tables Index.
- APP: Executive Orders.
