Executive Orders

For John, BLUF:  It is usually interesting to examine the back story on any assertion.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Executive order

On the City Life Show Friday I was challenged by one of the co-hosts a to the fact that President Trump was running the nation by Executive Orders.  I immediately flashed on President Barack Obama and his infamous quote that "I’ve got a pen and I’ve got a phone".

Here is the Wikipedia entry, first three paragraphs:

In the United States, an executive order is a directive issued by the president of the United States that manages operations of the federal government.  The legal or constitutional basis for executive orders has multiple sources.  Article Two of the United States Constitution gives the president broad executive and enforcement authority to use their discretion to determine how to enforce the law or to otherwise manage the resources and staff of the executive branch.  The ability to make such orders is also based on express or implied Acts of Congress that delegate to the president some degree of discretionary power (delegated legislation).

Like both legislative statutes and regulations promulgated by government agencies, executive orders are subject to judicial review and may be overturned if the orders lack support by statute or the Constitution.  Some policy initiatives require approval by the legislative branch, but executive orders have significant influence over the internal affairs of government, deciding how and to what degree legislation will be enforced, dealing with emergencies, waging wars, and in general fine-tuning policy choices in the implementation of broad statutes.  As the head of state and head of government of the United States, as well as commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces, only the president of the United States can issue an executive order.

Presidential executive orders, once issued, remain in force until they are canceled, revoked, adjudicated unlawful, or expire on their own terms.  At any time, the president may revoke, modify, or make exceptions from any executive order, whether the order was made by the current president or a predecessor.  Typically, a new president reviews enforced executive orders in the first few weeks in office.

President Obama issued 276 during his eight years in office.

President Trump has issued 138 Executive Orders so far in a little over years.♠

Here is a partial list of Presidential Executive Orders:

PRESIDENT	EOs	Terms
John F. Kennedy	214	<1
Lyndon B. Johnson	325	1+
Richard Nixon	346	1+
Gerald R. Ford	169	<1
Jimmy Carter	320	1
Ronald Reagan	381	2
George H. W. Bush	166	1
Bill Clinton	308	2
George W. Bush	291	2
Barack Obama	276	2
Donald Trump	140	<1

It appears that President Trump is on track to issue a few more Executive Orders than President Obama, but not out of line with other Presidents.

I guess we could do a year by year trend analysis, but only if someone writes a comment asking for it.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  One Wikipedia page says 138 and one says 140.  We just can't seem to get a consensus on President Trump. (LOL)