What do you know about US presidential decrees?

(Baonghean.vn) - President Donald Trump has issued at least four executive orders in the first week after taking office. This is considered the main tool for White House owners to make their mark on government decisions.

1. What is an executive order?

US President Donald Trump signs executive order (Photo: EPA)

An executive order is essentially a written order issued by the president to the federal government without congressional approval.

The authority to issue executive orders stems from Article II of the US Constitution, which states: “The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States.”

The scope of executive orders is quite broad, ranging from major policies, such as President Donald Trump's recent order approving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, to small-scale actions such as former President Barack Obama's proposal to close government offices for half a day on Christmas Eve in 2015.

2. Why do US presidents sign executive orders?

On November 21, 2014, President Obama signed an executive order expanding immigration policies. This has created many opposing opinions from Congress and the people. Photo: Reuters

Sometimes executive orders are issued during wartime to prevent an internal crisis. In 1952, President Harry S Truman signed an executive order with the purpose of placing the US steel industry under government control to prevent a strike from occurring.

President Obama also signed a number of controversial executive orders during his two terms in the White House to resolve the "blockage" in Congress when many policies could not be passed due to prolonged obstruction by the Republican opposition.

3. Why is the executive order politically sensitive?

Protests in the US against President Trump's executive order banning residents of seven Muslim countries from entering the US for 90 days. Photo: REUTERS

Executive orders are often controversial because they bypass congressional approval. Instead, they allow the president to make decisions on his own.

Republican lawmakers successfully sued President Obama over some of his 2010 health care changes. The lawmakers argued that the president exceeded his constitutional authority by unilaterally delaying provisions of the health insurance law.

A president may issue an executive order when members of Congress are working too slowly to pass a certain issue, or when the president feels it is necessary to add details to a new law.

4. How many executive orders have US presidents signed?

Number of executive orders issued by US presidents since Roosevelt. Graphic: CNN.

President Roosevelt issued 3,721 executive orders in his 12 years in office, while President Obama signed only 279. President George W Bush issued 291 executive orders in his 8 years in the White House.

President Obama’s number of executive orders is “modest” compared to any president by modern standards. Mr. Obama signs an average of 35 executive orders a year, the lowest number since President Grover Cleveland, who held the position of US leader for 2 terms from 1885-1889 and from 1893-1897, with an average of 32 executive orders a year.

Kim Ngoc

(Synthetic)