Can Presidents use Executive Orders to do Whatever they Want?
Presidents of the U.S. are granted power to create executive orders by the Constitution, but orders must be lawful, keeping in-line with the Constitution and other legal statutes.
In other words, the President has considerable power, but they can’t do “whatever they want” (the United States rejects the concepts of tyrants and Kings by its nature). Furthermore, other branches of government can “check” executive orders and other actions of the executive branch.
The Powers of the President in Terms of Executive Orders
The President of The United States is empowered to give Executive Orders by Article II of the U.S. Constitution. The President can use them to tell federal agencies how to use their resources.
All Executive Orders orders must be lawful, adhering to the Constitution and legal statutes.
Executive Orders have the same power as a federal law and can be used to take action relatively quickly.
Executive orders cannot be used to make new laws or appropriate new funds. Only Congress can do that. The President can tell branches of government what to do within legal parameters that have already been set out. All Executive Orders are now numbered and available on the White House Website.
The President may also order proclamations, memorandums, determinations, and notices, but these are administrative rather than executive and may require the advice and consent of the Senate and approval of the House of Representatives. They can also be found on the White House website.
What Can Be Done by Executive Order?
Many of the most sweeping changes in our country’s history have taken place as a result of executive orders.
Lincoln fought the Civil War largely through executive orders. He suspended the writ of habeas corpus and issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Emancipation was given the full force of law only when the 13th amendment was ratified. Franklin Roosevelt used executive order 9066 to establish internment camps for Japanese Americans and created the Works Progress Administration. Dwight Eisenhower used an executive order to put the Arkansas National Guard under federal control to enforce desegregation.
Executive Orders do not need Congressional Approval. They can be used to act quickly and without majority support. All acts of Congress require majority support. Rulings that reconcile an existing federal budget can be passed through the Senate with a 50% majority. All other proposed legal measures need a 60% majority and a filibuster is allowed. Bills may pass back and forth between the House and Senate more than once before being sent to the president for approval or veto.
Presidents can’t do anything that is Congress’ job. They can’t borrow or spend money or raise taxes. They can’t overstep federal bounds and make state laws such as marriage and divorce laws. They can’t take away citizens “life, liberty or property.” They can’t declare war but can protect U.S. citizens and conduct “peacekeeping” operations. The President must respect the separations of powers and may not issue any order regarding a matter the concerns another branch of government.
For a summary of formal Presidential Powers granted by the Constitution see the following videos.
All executive orders may be reviewed by the legal system. Congress can pass new laws to override executive orders. These would, of course, be subject to a presidential veto. The Judicial Branch can stop orders from being enforced, and the Supreme Court can decide that certain orders are unconstitutional.
Je, Marais wanaweza kutumia Amri za Utendaji kufanya chochote wanachotaka? Rais wa Marekani ana mamlaka ya kutoa amri za kiutawala, lakini amri hizo lazima ziwe halali, zikipatana na katiba na sheria nyingine. Kwa maneno mengine, Rais ana nguvu kubwa, lakini hawawezi kufanya "kila kitu wanachotaka" (Mataifa ya Marekani hukataa dhana za wakandamizaji na Wafalme kwa asili yake). Zaidi ya hayo, matawi mengine ya serikali yanaweza "kuangalia" amri za mtendaji na vitendo vingine vya tawi la utekelezaji. Mamlaka ya Rais katika Masharti ya Amri za Utekelezaji Rais wa Marekani ana mamlaka ya kutoa Amri za Utekelezaji kwa kifungu cha pili cha Katiba ya Marekani. Rais anaweza kuitumia kuwaambia mashirika ya shirikisho jinsi ya kutumia rasilimali zao. Amri zote za Utekelezaji lazima ziwe halali, zikifuata Katiba na sheria. Amri za Utekelezaji zina nguvu sawa na sheria ya shirikisho na zinaweza kutumiwa kuchukua hatua haraka. Amri za Utekelezaji haziwezi kutumiwa kutunga sheria mpya au kutumia fedha mpya. Bunge pekee ndilo linaloweza kufanya hivyo. Rais anaweza kuwaambia matawi ya serikali nini cha kufanya ndani ya vigezo vya kisheria ambavyo tayari vimewekwa. Amri zote za Utekelezaji sasa zimeorodheshwa na zinapatikana kwenye Tovuti ya Ikulu ya White House. Rais anaweza pia kuagiza tangazo, kumbukumbu, maamuzi, na taarifa, lakini hizi ni za kiutawala badala ya utekelezaji na zinaweza kuhitaji ushauri na idhini ya Seneti na idhini ya Baraza la Wawakilishi. Pia zinaweza kupatikana kwenye tovuti ya White House. Amri ya Utekelezaji Inaweza Kufanya Nini? Mengi ya mabadiliko makubwa zaidi katika historia ya nchi yetu yametokea kama matokeo ya amri za kiutawala. Lincoln alipigana Vita vya Wenyewe kwa Wenyewe kwa njia ya amri za kiutawala. Alisimamisha hati ya habeas corpus na kutoa Tangazo la Ukombozi. Ukombozi wa kiume ulipata nguvu kamili ya sheria tu wakati marekebisho ya kumi na tatu yalipatikana. Franklin D. Roosevelt alitumia amri ya kiutawala ya 9066 kuanzisha kambi za uhamisho kwa Wamarekani wa Kijapani na kuunda Utawala wa Maendeleo ya Kazi. Dwight Eisenhower alitumia amri ya mtendaji kuweka Walinzi wa Taifa wa Arkansas chini ya udhibiti wa shirikisho kutekeleza desegregation. Amri za Utekelezaji hazihitaji idhini ya Bunge. Wanaweza kutumiwa kutenda haraka na bila msaada wa wengi. Hatua zote za Bunge zinahitaji msaada wa wengi. Sheria za kuunganisha bajeti ya serikali ya shirikisho zinaweza kupitishwa na Seneti kwa idadi ya asilimia 50. Kwa mujibu wa sheria, hatua nyingine zote zinahitaji kura ya asilimia 60 na filibuster inaruhusiwa. Sheria zinaweza kupitishwa na kupelekwa kwa mara nyingine kati ya Baraza la Wawakilishi na Baraza la Seneti kabla ya kutumwa kwa Rais kwa idhini au veto. Marais hawawezi kufanya chochote ambacho ni kazi ya Bunge. Hawawezi kukopa au kutumia pesa au kuongeza kodi. Hawawezi kuvuka mipaka ya shirikisho na kufanya sheria za serikali kama vile ndoa na sheria za talaka. Hawawezi kuchukua raia "maisha, uhuru au mali". Hawawezi kutangaza vita lakini wanaweza kulinda raia wa Marekani na kufanya shughuli za "kuhifadhi amani". Rais lazima aheshimu mgawanyiko wa mamlaka na hawezi kutoa amri yoyote kuhusu suala linalohusu tawi lingine la serikali. Kwa muhtasari wa Mamlaka rasmi za Rais zinazopewa na Katiba angalia video zifuatazo. Amri zote za kiutawala zinaweza kuchunguzwa na mfumo wa kisheria. Bunge linaweza kupitisha sheria mpya za kupinga amri za mtendaji. Hizi, bila shaka, zingekuwa chini ya veto ya rais. Tawi la Mahakama linaweza kuzuia amri zisitekelezwe, na Mahakama Kuu yaweza kuamua kwamba amri fulani hazipatani na katiba.