Since January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump has been making headlines with an aggressive run of executive orders—over 150 in just four months! Covering topics from tariffs and trade to birthright citizenship, immigration, and border security, these orders have quickly become a hallmark of his approach to governance.
This rapid-fire strategy bypasses the usual congressional debates and has set off more than 200 domestic lawsuits. Political science expert Mitchel Sollenberger reminds us that while presidents have used executive orders since the days of George Washington, the scale and scope of Trump’s actions are unprecedented. He notes that focusing solely on the numbers misses the point: it’s really about how these orders are reshaping the power balance.
Legal scholar David Super adds that some orders carry direct legal impact—like those on tariffs and birthright citizenship—while others appear designed to influence public debate. He highlights that these moves are challenging the traditional checks and balances that have long defined American governance. With courts and Congress often reluctant to step in due to deep partisanship and a conservative shift in the judiciary, many wonder if the system can rein in this surge of unilateral executive power.
The debate is heating up as experts point to a broader trend: over time, presidential power has been steadily increasing, sometimes at the expense of legislative oversight. As the nation watches closely, many young political enthusiasts, professionals, students, and cultural explorers are asking: Can the U.S. system of checks and balances keep up with such a bold use of executive authority? 🤔🔥
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Q&A: Can Congress and courts still check Trump's executive overreach?
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