Just hours after taking office, President Donald Trump signed a slew of executive orders, many aimed at overturning those signed under his predecessor.
The practice is not uncommon for newly inaugurated presidents and it’s the quickest way for a president to make changes in the federal government without action from Congress.
But how do executive orders work and what can the tool actually accomplish?
Here’s what you need to know:
What is an executive order?
In essence, it is a statement about how the President wants things to be managed.
Executive orders are directed to or govern the actions of government officials and agencies, according to the Library of Congress.
They are not legislation, and therefore require no approval from Congress and cannot be plainly overturned by the legislative branch.
What power does a president have and what are the limits?
Congress can pass legislation to “make it difficult, or even impossible, to carry out the order, such as removing funding,” according to the American Bar Association (ABA).
You can learn more about the legislative process here.
Only a sitting President can overturn an existing executive order by issuing another to do so, as Trump did on Monday to overturn dozens passed under former President Joe Biden.
They do have limitations, as the President cannot directly change or amend provisions in the Constitution.
Can they be challenged?
Executive orders can also – and are often – challenged in court.
Many states, including California, have already launched lawsuits over President Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship, arguing that it violates the U. S. Constitution.
In a statement on Tuesday, California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta called Trump’s move “unconstitutional” and “un-American.” “The President has overstepped his authority by a mile with this order, and we will hold him accountable,” Bonta added.
Well, considering all his children were born while the mother was still undocumented means all of Trumps children can lose the birthright citizenship. His EO clearly violates the 14th Amendment so I don’t see it following through, but if for some reason it does, I hope someone makes sure his children lose their birthright citizenship and get deported to prove a point.