Bush's final F.U.

[Maxxthepenguin]

Where did Presidents get the ability to make laws via executive order? Was there some event that made it necessary for them to have this?

Wikipedia: Executive order (United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

U.S. Presidents have issued executive orders since 1789. Although there is no Constitutional provision or statute that explicitly permits executive orders, there is a vague grant of "executive power" given in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution and the statement "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed" in Article II, Section 3. Most executive orders are orders issued by the President to US executive officers to help direct their operation, the result of failing to comply being removal from office.

Executive orders themselves are necessary. Some of the actions that have been done with them have not been.

[Valkrish]

this won't happen, unless they convince it to be pushed forward, with a reason.

yea, no.

[Kuya]

Seems like a rather steep slippery slope.

[Olo401]

How about we just get rid of the right for the President to make laws, you know, seeing how he isn't a part of the Legislative Branch and all. It shouldn't be too hard when you consider that nothing really gives him the right to pass these "laws" anyway. Oh, but who's actually ever read the Constitution?

Technically it's not making laws, but enforcing and enacting regulations based on existing laws passed by Congress as well as issuing orders pertaining to the executive powers under the Constitution.

But, of course, we already know how far Bushco, especially Cheney, have pushed that envelope.

[pohibaba]

Obviously it's not technically making laws, that's the entire reason why it's so terrible; it's pretty much an unchecked power. And President Bush isn't even close to the first President to "push the envelope" when it comes to this. There's years of precedent to give him the right to do what ever the fuck he wants to do when it comes to executive orders.

[Maxxthepenguin]

Seems like a rather steep slippery slope.

Having any sort of police force is a slippery slope. That doesn't mean we shouldn't have a police force. Executive orders are simply a recognition of the power of the executive branch in official form. It's the president's job to make executive orders.

And no pohi, it's not unchecked. Congress can make new laws that can make executive orders illegal. The supreme court can also overturn executive orders. It doesn't happen often, but that's partially because presidents aren't dumb enough to try to do things that are definitely not going to fulfill their intentions, but it's still not unchecked.

It's also the problem with having only one party ruling all 3 branches, political pressure can make people not oppose bad executive orders, no matter what they really think.

[Kuya]

The president needs to have this ability to make executive orders in order to do his job? How is this comparable to a police force? Elaborate that, and while you do that you can tell me who defines what the president's job is, if it's not the constitution.

Having the ability to make executive orders such as these without limits being placed a priori is a dangerous game to play.