1. Define executive order
Executive orders have the full power of law when they take authority from the power granted directly to the Executive branch by the Constitution; a rule or order issued by the president to an executive branch of the government and having the force of law.
2. What is the difference between a law and an executive order?
An executive order has limited jurisdiction as compared to a law, and can only really be used to regulate activities of the executive branch and federal agencies.
3.Describe how an executive order can be overturned.
Congress may overturn an executive order by passing legislation such as a bill that opposes the order. However, the President can veto that bill, and Congress would need to override the veto to pass the bill. The Supreme Court can also declare an executive order to be unconstitutional.
4.In your opinion, what was President Bush's worst or best executive?
In my opinion, George Bush's worst executive order was this one:
No. 3: Finessing the Geneva Conventions
Executive Order 13440
July 20, 2007
This executive order bypassed the Supreme Court's hold on interrogation of detainees in Guantanamo Bay by allowing certain interrogation techniques to be allowed, whereas water-boarding was no longer a valid method.
5.In your opinion, what was President Obama's worst or best executive order?
My favorite has to be:
Accelerating Broadband Infrastructure Deployment
Executive Order 13616.June 14, 2012
I generally approve of this one because it is a sensible and well placed idea, as it is aimed at increasing the level of access to broadband (both wire-line or wireless). It seems to me as a overall good move in improving infrastructure on a more national level, and does not present anything that is controversial in way whatsoever.
6. Executive Order 13490:
It requires full-time political appointees, appointed on or after January 20, 2009, to sign the Ethics Pledge set out in section 1 of the Executive Order. The Ethics Pledge requires that appointees comply with the additional restrictions set out in the Pledge.
The Ethics Pledge requires:
Here is the Ethics Pledge in text:
As a condition, and in consideration, of my employment in the United States Government in a position invested with the public trust, I commit myself to the following obligations, which I understand are binding on me and are enforceable under law:
1. Lobbyist Gift Ban. I will not accept gifts from registered lobbyists or lobbying organizations for the duration of my service as an appointee.
2. Revolving Door Ban: All Appointees Entering Government. I will not for a period of 2 years from the date of my appointment participate in any particular matter involving specific parties that is directly and substantially related to my former employer or former clients, including regulations and contracts.
3. Revolving Door Ban: Lobbyists Entering Government. If I was a registered lobbyist within the 2 years before the date of my appointment, in addition to abiding by the limitations of paragraph 2, I will not for a period of 2 years after the date of my appointment:
(a) participate in any particular matter on which I lobbied within the 2 years before the date of my appointment;
(b) participate in the specific issue area in which that particular matter falls; or
(c) seek or accept employment with any executive agency that I lobbied within the 2 years before the date of my appointment.
4. Revolving Door Ban: Appointees Leaving Government. If, upon my departure from the Government, I am covered by the post employment restrictions on communicating with employees of my former executive agency set forth in section 207(c) of title 18, United States Code, I agree that I will abide by those restrictions for a period of 2 years following the end of my appointment.
5. Revolving Door Ban: Appointees Leaving Government to Lobby. In addition to abiding by the limitations of paragraph 4, I also agree, upon leaving Government service, not to lobby any covered executive branch official or non-career Senior Executive Service appointee for the remainder of the Administration.
6. Employment Qualification Commitment. I agree that any hiring or other employment decisions I make will be based on the candidate's qualifications, competence, and experience.
7. Assent to Enforcement. I acknowledge that the Executive Order entitled “Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel,” issued by the President on January 21, 2009, which I have read before signing this document, defines certain of the terms applicable to the foregoing obligations and sets forth the methods for enforcing them. I expressly accept the provisions of that Executive Order as a part of this agreement and as binding on me. I understand that the terms of this pledge are in addition to any statutory or other legal restrictions applicable to me by virtue of Federal Government service.
What is your opinion of this order?
I feel that it is a simple measure to more effectively run the agencies and members of the executive branch, and applies a more formal regulation of ethics in regards to political appointees and adds limits to the extent that lobbies maintain power over their actions.
7. You are the president. Write an executive order in the official language of an executive order. Bill Clinton's Executive Order 13128 is a good example of the official language of an Executive order.Executive Order 13661 of February 21, 2014
Reducing Foreign Aid
By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, in order to reduce foreign aid substantially so as to use the sum of funding saved for domestic interests and to provide more funding to and the creation of agencies which seek to provide aid those whom are United States citizens, I hereby order as follows:
Section 1. All federal spending that is diverted to the aid of foreign lands, individuals, or territories shall be discontinued. All funds that are diverted back to domestic use shall be utilized to subsidize medical care, education, and or charities that provide aid to citizens in need.
Section 2. The definition for foreign aid that shall be discontinued shall be any aid that does not adhere to the single purpose of relief effort in the wake of or in preparation of a disaster. In order to define disaster, it shall be limited to the possibility or happening of a substantial loss of life caused by either times of war, disease, or a large degree of destruction.
Section 3. In regards to acts of war or foreign conflict, relief effort shall be limited to aid of civilians and their general protection from forces of harm.
Section 4. Subsidizing shall be placed under control of the agencies of Health and Human Services and United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. These agencies shall be placed in control of where all funds from reduced foreign aid are sent. Funds shall be equally, or at least to some degree equally placed and dispersed between entities that provide aid and general welfare to citizens of the United States.
Section 5. In order to outline the exact use of funds, funds shall be given to subsidize medical care to those who qualify for aid, such as the subsidization of prescription drugs, general medical care, and the access to medical care. Education may also receive funding by increasing the funds for federal grant programs to students and individuals whom apply and qualify for said grants. Housing shall also benefit by receiving monetary subsidization of housing development for those in need. An agency or a newly created agency shall be placed in charge of this section of aid, and shall pursue general infrastructure improvement to provide housing for citizens that currently or will not have a standard place of living.
THE WEST STOKES WHITE HOUSE,
February 21, 2014.
Executive orders have the full power of law when they take authority from the power granted directly to the Executive branch by the Constitution; a rule or order issued by the president to an executive branch of the government and having the force of law.
2. What is the difference between a law and an executive order?
An executive order has limited jurisdiction as compared to a law, and can only really be used to regulate activities of the executive branch and federal agencies.
3.Describe how an executive order can be overturned.
Congress may overturn an executive order by passing legislation such as a bill that opposes the order. However, the President can veto that bill, and Congress would need to override the veto to pass the bill. The Supreme Court can also declare an executive order to be unconstitutional.
4.In your opinion, what was President Bush's worst or best executive?
In my opinion, George Bush's worst executive order was this one:
No. 3: Finessing the Geneva Conventions
Executive Order 13440
July 20, 2007
This executive order bypassed the Supreme Court's hold on interrogation of detainees in Guantanamo Bay by allowing certain interrogation techniques to be allowed, whereas water-boarding was no longer a valid method.
5.In your opinion, what was President Obama's worst or best executive order?
My favorite has to be:
Accelerating Broadband Infrastructure Deployment
Executive Order 13616.June 14, 2012
I generally approve of this one because it is a sensible and well placed idea, as it is aimed at increasing the level of access to broadband (both wire-line or wireless). It seems to me as a overall good move in improving infrastructure on a more national level, and does not present anything that is controversial in way whatsoever.
6. Executive Order 13490:
It requires full-time political appointees, appointed on or after January 20, 2009, to sign the Ethics Pledge set out in section 1 of the Executive Order. The Ethics Pledge requires that appointees comply with the additional restrictions set out in the Pledge.
The Ethics Pledge requires:
- Requires full-time political appointees to agree to additional restrictions by signing an Ethics Pledge;
- Authorizes the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to grant a waiver of one or more of the restrictions;
- Directs agencies to establish rules and procedures to ensure that every covered appointee signs the Ethics Pledge;
- Requires that a covered appointee’s ethics agreement address certain matters;
- Directs OGE to assist Designated Agency Ethics Officials in providing advice concerning the Ethics Pledge;
- Directs OGE to take steps to apply the Ethics Pledge’s lobbyist gift ban to all executive branch employees;
- Directs OGE to study or report on certain matters; and
- Provides for enforcement of the Ethics Pledge.
Here is the Ethics Pledge in text:
As a condition, and in consideration, of my employment in the United States Government in a position invested with the public trust, I commit myself to the following obligations, which I understand are binding on me and are enforceable under law:
1. Lobbyist Gift Ban. I will not accept gifts from registered lobbyists or lobbying organizations for the duration of my service as an appointee.
2. Revolving Door Ban: All Appointees Entering Government. I will not for a period of 2 years from the date of my appointment participate in any particular matter involving specific parties that is directly and substantially related to my former employer or former clients, including regulations and contracts.
3. Revolving Door Ban: Lobbyists Entering Government. If I was a registered lobbyist within the 2 years before the date of my appointment, in addition to abiding by the limitations of paragraph 2, I will not for a period of 2 years after the date of my appointment:
(a) participate in any particular matter on which I lobbied within the 2 years before the date of my appointment;
(b) participate in the specific issue area in which that particular matter falls; or
(c) seek or accept employment with any executive agency that I lobbied within the 2 years before the date of my appointment.
4. Revolving Door Ban: Appointees Leaving Government. If, upon my departure from the Government, I am covered by the post employment restrictions on communicating with employees of my former executive agency set forth in section 207(c) of title 18, United States Code, I agree that I will abide by those restrictions for a period of 2 years following the end of my appointment.
5. Revolving Door Ban: Appointees Leaving Government to Lobby. In addition to abiding by the limitations of paragraph 4, I also agree, upon leaving Government service, not to lobby any covered executive branch official or non-career Senior Executive Service appointee for the remainder of the Administration.
6. Employment Qualification Commitment. I agree that any hiring or other employment decisions I make will be based on the candidate's qualifications, competence, and experience.
7. Assent to Enforcement. I acknowledge that the Executive Order entitled “Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel,” issued by the President on January 21, 2009, which I have read before signing this document, defines certain of the terms applicable to the foregoing obligations and sets forth the methods for enforcing them. I expressly accept the provisions of that Executive Order as a part of this agreement and as binding on me. I understand that the terms of this pledge are in addition to any statutory or other legal restrictions applicable to me by virtue of Federal Government service.
What is your opinion of this order?
I feel that it is a simple measure to more effectively run the agencies and members of the executive branch, and applies a more formal regulation of ethics in regards to political appointees and adds limits to the extent that lobbies maintain power over their actions.
7. You are the president. Write an executive order in the official language of an executive order. Bill Clinton's Executive Order 13128 is a good example of the official language of an Executive order.Executive Order 13661 of February 21, 2014
Reducing Foreign Aid
By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, in order to reduce foreign aid substantially so as to use the sum of funding saved for domestic interests and to provide more funding to and the creation of agencies which seek to provide aid those whom are United States citizens, I hereby order as follows:
Section 1. All federal spending that is diverted to the aid of foreign lands, individuals, or territories shall be discontinued. All funds that are diverted back to domestic use shall be utilized to subsidize medical care, education, and or charities that provide aid to citizens in need.
Section 2. The definition for foreign aid that shall be discontinued shall be any aid that does not adhere to the single purpose of relief effort in the wake of or in preparation of a disaster. In order to define disaster, it shall be limited to the possibility or happening of a substantial loss of life caused by either times of war, disease, or a large degree of destruction.
Section 3. In regards to acts of war or foreign conflict, relief effort shall be limited to aid of civilians and their general protection from forces of harm.
Section 4. Subsidizing shall be placed under control of the agencies of Health and Human Services and United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. These agencies shall be placed in control of where all funds from reduced foreign aid are sent. Funds shall be equally, or at least to some degree equally placed and dispersed between entities that provide aid and general welfare to citizens of the United States.
Section 5. In order to outline the exact use of funds, funds shall be given to subsidize medical care to those who qualify for aid, such as the subsidization of prescription drugs, general medical care, and the access to medical care. Education may also receive funding by increasing the funds for federal grant programs to students and individuals whom apply and qualify for said grants. Housing shall also benefit by receiving monetary subsidization of housing development for those in need. An agency or a newly created agency shall be placed in charge of this section of aid, and shall pursue general infrastructure improvement to provide housing for citizens that currently or will not have a standard place of living.
THE WEST STOKES WHITE HOUSE,
February 21, 2014.