Throughout the history of our nation, President's have issued Executive Orders which are mainly administrative in nature to help run the government and departments thereof.
Executive orders do not require congressional approval. Thus, the president can use them to set policy while avoiding public debate and opposition. Presidents have used executive orders to direct a range of activities, including establishing migratory bird refuges; putting Japanese-Americans in internment camps during World War II; discharging civilian government employees who had been disloyal, following World War II; enlarging national forests; prohibiting racial discrimination in housing; pardoning Vietnam War draft evaders; giving federal workers the right to bargain collectively; keeping the federal workplace drug free; and sending U.S. troops to Bosnia.
Historically, executive orders related to routine administrative matters and to the internal operations of federal agencies, such as amending Civil Service Rules and overseeing the administration of public lands. More recently, presidents have used executive orders to carry out legislative policies and programs. As a result, the executive order has become a critical tool in presidential policy making. For example, President john f. kennedy used an executive order to eliminate racial discrimination in federally funded housing (Exec. Order No. 11,063, 3
See more HERE on the definition.
For a complete list of Executive Orders passed by President's going back to the early 1900's see HERE. Another nice interactive site that can be used to look up and research the list of Executive Orders that have been signed by past and present Presidents is HERE. Most all of the president's from FDR have signed many executive orders.
The key fact to note about Executive orders is that they are NOT a law. Laws are passed by Congress.
At the federal level of government in the United States, laws are made almost exclusively by legislation. Such legislation originates as an Act of Congress passed by the Congress of the United States (and its predecessor, the Continental Congress); such acts were either signed into law by the President or passed by Congress after a presidential veto.
However, legislation is not the only source of regulations which have the force of law. There is also judge-made common law and constitutional law. The President can issue executive orders pursuant to a grant of discretion from Congress, or under the inherent powers that office holds to deal with certain matters of foreign policy.
Many early executive orders were not recorded. The State Department began numbering executive orders in the early 20th century, starting retroactively from President Abraham Lincoln's Executive Order Establishing a Provisional Court in Louisiana issued in 1862.
One key fact to keep in mind about the design and implementation of our government is that the Founding Fathers wanted "Checks & Balances".
"The accumulation of all power, legislative, executive, and judiciary in the same hands...may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny."
--James Madison, Federalist 46As such they purposefully designed our government very different from what they had experienced under the King of England. As such the Executive branch (President), the Congress (both the House of Representatives & Senate) and the Judiciary (Supreme Court) are all EQUAL branches of government. The best proof source on this topic that was found resides at the Heritage Foundation.
Regardless on your thoughts on Executive Orders it's probably a foregone conclusion that this administration will use this means to further their anti-gun agenda. In a press release and earlier today as reported on MSNBC there are 19 areas where the Obama administration can and probably will use Executive orders to restrict and infringe on the 2nd amendment.
Another article by Katie Pavlich states that the Obama administration will use more gun tracking. Great, one has to wonder if it will be similar to the type of tracking that was reported in the Journal News where all the legal gun owners in New York were listed by name and address. In addition there are recent reports that the map was used by burglars to target a home.
Clearly there are many American's that are voting with their wallets and gun sales have skyrocketed. Many retailers are completely sold out and it's even hard to find a box of ammo to go shooting these days. Thousands of Americans have joined the NRA and other pro 2nd Amendment organizations in the past weeks. A good article on InfoWars states that there would be mass resistance if this administration over steps its bounds. many Americans are really stepping up to the plate to defend their rights!
Other law enforcement officials, like numerous state legislatures, are pursuing nullification in an effort to void any unconstitutional statutes within their jurisdictions. Gilberton Borough, Pennsylvania, Police Chief Mark Kessler, for example, is asking local lawmakers to adopt the “Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance,” which cites the state and U.S. constitutions to invalidate any further assaults on the unalienable rights of residents in his community.The sad fact is that gun violence is clearly a multi-factual issue involving violent movies, video games and a miserable system of caring for and treating the mentally-ill. Once again the easy, knee jerk reaction is to pass more useless gun regulations that only limit and restrict law abiding gun owners rights.
The 2nd Amendment is not about hunting and never has been. Sadly as more gun restrictions and regulations are looked at, considered, mulled over, debated and possibly passed ... VERY LITTLE will be done to address violence in our media culture or caring for and helping the mentally ill....that's the real crime here.
Hopefully we will see some Executive Orders to address these issues too! Somehow I doubt it!
WELCOME to All Supporters of the 2nd Amendment, Shooting and Firearms Enthusiasts!
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