Ruling by Executive Orders (eBook, ePUB)

"Ruling by Executive Orders" offers a comprehensive analysis of the significant role executive orders have played in shaping U.S. governance throughout history. This book delves into the use of executive powers by U.S. presidents to manage the executive branch, address national security challenges, enforce laws, and make bold policy decisions, often bypassing legislative gridlock. The book critically examines the various instances where presidents have employed executive orders to take swift action in times of crisis or to implement their political agenda, analyzing their impact on American society and governance.The book is structured into chapters that explore the historical evolution and contemporary use of executive orders, focusing on key themes such as:Managing the Executive Branch and Federal Agencies: The use of executive orders to reorganize government agencies, exemplified by Franklin D. Roosevelt‘s New Deal programs and Harry Truman‘s desegregation of the military.National Security and Foreign Affairs: How executive orders have been wielded in times of war, national emergency, or international tension, such as Abraham Lincoln‘s Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War, and George W. Bush‘s creation of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp post-9/11.Enforcing or Interpreting Laws: A look at how executive orders have been used to enforce or clarify laws passed by Congress, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Barack Obama‘s DACA initiative.Emergency Powers: The exploration of presidential powers exercised under national emergencies, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt‘s internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and Donald Trump‘s national emergency declaration at the southern border.Addressing Social and Economic Issues: Executive orders‘ role in addressing domestic issues such as labor rights, economic recovery, and social justice, featuring the impacts of FDR‘s New Deal and LBJ‘s civil rights efforts.Executive Orders on Immigration and Border Control: A deep dive into how executive orders have shaped U.S. immigration policy, from Dwight D. Eisenhower‘s enforcement of the Bracero Program to Donald Trump‘s "Muslim Ban."Environmental and Regulatory Changes: The environmental dimension of executive orders, including Barack Obama‘s climate initiatives and Donald Trump‘s rollback of environmental regulations.Limiting the Scope of Executive Orders: A discussion of how some presidents have issued executive orders to curtail their use or ensure they comply with constitutional checks and balances, exemplified by Carter and Clinton‘s executive order reforms.Overriding Congressional Action: How executive orders sometimes serve as a means to bypass Congressional opposition, notably during Truman‘s desegregation efforts and Obama‘s immigration reforms.In addition to these analyses, the book examines landmark cases and controversies that have tested the limits of executive power, from the Emancipation Proclamation‘s constitutional questions to modern-day challenges like DACA and Trump‘s border policies."Ruling by Executive Orders" offers a scholarly yet accessible exploration of the ways presidents have utilized executive orders to alter the course of history, pushing the boundaries of executive authority while navigating the complexities of American governance. It examines not only the constitutional and legal implications of these orders but also their societal impact, offering readers a nuanced understanding of one of the most powerful tools in the U.S. president‘s arsenal.