Beginning with George Washington, presidents have used executive orders to direct government action. Some executive orders are mundane and remain unnoticed; others have changed the course of history. “By Virtue” explores three executive orders that had a profound effect on the nation: the Emancipation Proclamation, President Truman’s seizure of the steel industry, and President Reagan’s executive order on regulations.

Four experts on presidential power, Professor John Yoo of UC Berkeley School of Law, Todd Gaziano of the Pacific Legal Foundation, Professor Heidi Kitrosser of Minnesota Law School, and Roger Pilon of the Cato Institute, discuss these three executive orders and their legal and political ramifications.

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no particular legal or public policy positions. All opinions expressed are those of the speakers.

Experts (in order of appearance):

Learn more about John Yoo:
https://www.law.berkeley.edu/our-faculty/faculty-profiles/john-yoo/

Learn more about Roger Pilon
https://www.cato.org/people/roger-pilon

Follow Roger Pilon on Twitter: @Roger_Pilon
https://twitter.com/Roger_Pilon

Learn more about Todd F. Gaziano:
https://pacificlegal.org/staff/todd-gaziano/

Follow Todd F. Gaziano on Twitter: @ToddGaziano
https://twitter.com/ToddGaziano 

Learn more about Heidi Kitrosser:
https://www.law.umn.edu/profiles/heidi-kitrosser

Follow Heidi Kitrosser on Twitter: @heidikitrosser
https://twitter.com/heidikitrosser 

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Related Links and Differing Views:

The Heritage Foundation: The Use and Abuse of Executive Orders and Other Presidential Directives
https://www.heritage.org/political-process/report/the-use-and-abuse-executive-orders-and-other-presidential-directives

Cato Institute: The Impact of Executive Orders on the Legislative Process: Executive Lawmaking?
https://www.cato.org/publications/congressional-testimony/impact-executive-orders-legislative-process-executive-lawmaking

Cato Institute: Executive Orders and National Emergencies: How Presidents Have Come to “Run the Country” by Usurping Legislative Power
https://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/executive-orders-national-emergencies-how-presidents-have-come-run-country-usurping-legislative-power

Hoover Institution: The Perils Of Executive Power
https://www.hoover.org/research/perils-executive-power

National Constitution Center: Executive Orders 101: What are they and how do Presidents use them?
https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/executive-orders-101-what-are-they-and-how-do-presidents-use-them/

The Heritage Foundation: Heritage Explains Executive Orders
https://www.heritage.org/political-process/heritage-explains/executive-orders

Cornell: Executive Power
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/executive_power