Some background on executive orders

An executive order is simply a devise used by presidents to manage the operations within the executive branch. Click here for FAQ's from the Federal Register. They have the force and effect of legislation. More controverisally, executive orders can be used for presidents to achieve policy objectives by going around Congress. As long as these objectives fit within the broad parameters of exiting law - which Congress had passed at some point - then presidents argue that the power is legitimate. Usually the courts side with presdients when there are challenges to these orders.

I say that since there are allegations that President Obama's use of executive orders for implementing his gun initiatives may have exceeded what is generally allowable. I'm skeptical that this is the case, but this is a good opportunity to present data on the use of such orders over time, and provide links for additional detail regarding their use by different presidents.

A useful graphic. Obama has issued fewer executive orders than any president in 100 years.


- Click here for a C-Span interview about executive orders.

- The National Archives has a link to executive orders disposition tables dating back to FDR.

- A list of executive orders from Wikipedia.