Obama - Upsetting Checks and Balances? (UNIT 1)

Is Obama overstepping his bounds with executive actions?

After President Obama's 2013 State of the Union Address, many Americans were left with the impression that Obama is attempting to upset the separation of powers that keeps our government equal and stable. Some Americans are even going so far as to call for an impeachment, believing that our President's habit of favoring executive orders over working with Congress to accomplish goals is grounds for such a thing. Others are confident that the Supreme Court will be able to keep the Executive branch in check by examining whether or not Obama's executive orders infringe upon the Constitution and/or the powers of the other branches of government.

The CBS article provides concerns and reassurances for Obama's increased use of unilateral action. Most of his use of executive orders appears to stem from the makeup of Congress. Republicans control the House of Representatives and may be able to take the majority in the Senate with the upcoming elections, and their agenda is not always the same as Obama and the Democratic Party's. The struggle between the political parties is likely frustrating Obama, leading to his comment about his power of "pen and phone," and pressuring him to find a way around Congress to get his goals for America completed.

Only time may tell how things play out for the Obama administration, and hopefully Obama will make more of an effort to work with Congress instead of finding ways to undermine their power. Whether his actions are unconstitutional or not is up to the Supreme Court to decide.