To what degree can a U.S. President "make law"?
(Could, for example, George Washington, invoked an "executive order" to free the slaves, or give women the right to vote, etc., claiming that to not do so would inevitably lead to national disruption (or that it's an inevitability?)
2007-01-11 11:24:01 · 4 answers · asked by stonerosedesigndotcom 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
All that a president can do is either veto or sign a bill into law. They can also make pardons. Of course, there are some other things, but that's all that pertains to the question.
2007-01-11 11:29:15 · answer #1 · answered by The Reaganite 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A U.S. president can use all sorts of tricks to extend his powers legally or illegally. Right now, Bush has used the extremely broad and poorly defined "war on terror" excuse to overstep his legal boundaries time and time again. So, in a sense they don't have to make law, they just need an excuse and the determination, and they can go ahead and ignore it.
As long as nobody in the other branches of government are exercising any checks to balance a president, he can flout the Consitution and Bill of Rights at will.
2007-01-11 19:31:39 · answer #2 · answered by Underground Man 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Executive orders are laws itself. Unless, the Judiciary and Legislature do not oppose the orders of the President, these are followed through the letter.
2007-01-11 19:28:44 · answer #3 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Watch bush as he does the best job of getting away with things
2007-01-11 19:28:42 · answer #4 · answered by Gypsy Gal 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋