By Douglas V. Gibbs
Last Tuesday I spoke to the Murrieta Calvary Christian School Independent Study Program group, and after the speech, I was asked to talk with the high school parents regarding teaching the Constitution to their kids. Of the questions, the one that gained the most interest was when a mom asked about the number of Executive Orders. "Isn't there supposed to be a limit?"
She had bought into the premise that the President can issue Executive Orders for any reason, including modifying law, or creating law.
The use of Executive Orders goes all the way back to George Washington. The Thanksgiving Proclamation was an Executive Order. The President is allowed to use Executive Orders, and he can issue as many as he pleases.
The Executive Order is not in the Constitution, so the parameters regarding the use of the executive tool must be thought about carefully. Historically, we know that Executive Orders have traditionally been used to issue proclamations, change rules within the Executive Branch, and affect law. Proclamations are not legally binding, and are merely things proclaimed by the President. Citizens are not legally required to follow Proclamations. When President Washington issued the Thanksgiving Proclamation, America citizens were not required under penalty to celebrate Thanksgiving. The National Day of Prayer, also created through a proclamation, holds no authority of law requiring you to pray on that day.
More great stuff at Political Pistachio
Last Tuesday I spoke to the Murrieta Calvary Christian School Independent Study Program group, and after the speech, I was asked to talk with the high school parents regarding teaching the Constitution to their kids. Of the questions, the one that gained the most interest was when a mom asked about the number of Executive Orders. "Isn't there supposed to be a limit?"
She had bought into the premise that the President can issue Executive Orders for any reason, including modifying law, or creating law.
The use of Executive Orders goes all the way back to George Washington. The Thanksgiving Proclamation was an Executive Order. The President is allowed to use Executive Orders, and he can issue as many as he pleases.
The Executive Order is not in the Constitution, so the parameters regarding the use of the executive tool must be thought about carefully. Historically, we know that Executive Orders have traditionally been used to issue proclamations, change rules within the Executive Branch, and affect law. Proclamations are not legally binding, and are merely things proclaimed by the President. Citizens are not legally required to follow Proclamations. When President Washington issued the Thanksgiving Proclamation, America citizens were not required under penalty to celebrate Thanksgiving. The National Day of Prayer, also created through a proclamation, holds no authority of law requiring you to pray on that day.
More great stuff at Political Pistachio