question about executive orders

[Syrinx]

What are the parameters of what the president can do unilaterally without Congress? It's something I've been thinking about.

[shraby]

1. Should be spelled out

in the constitution pretty much.

[punpirate]

2. Executive orders are intended to...

... clarify and implement law from Congress and to direct agencies in the rulemaking process. Since Nixon, they've been used, often, to accrue power to the Presidency. Bush has rather blatantly used them to circumvent the will of Congress, or to enable legislation on which Congress has not acted, or acted incompletely. An example of the first would be the restrictions placed on the release of Presidential and Vice-Presidential papers, and of the second, the executive order to proceed with aspects of faith-based initiatives not approved by Congress.