Executive orders by a president aren’t exactly laws. But they can create sweeping changes in society.
In theory, we have separation of powers and checks and balances. In reality, a tug of war between institutions of government is inevitable. The president isn’t supposed make laws. Congress does. President Obama, and others before him, made executive orders. President Donald Trump issued several big EOs in his first week. What gives?
Laws or executive orders?
Many orders fall into grey areas. Was President Obama making immigration law by halting deportation hearings of many undocumented immigrants? Some argue he was using a prosecutor’s discretion to make plea bargains with defendants.
The Supreme Court can overturn an order by ruling it unconstitutional; the president has exceeded his authority. President Harry Truman had an EO invalidated by the high court.
We take a look at some significant executive orders in our history and their history of ups and downs.
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