Political science professor explains executive orders

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (WLIO) - Since taking office, President Donald Trump has signed approximately 60 executive orders.

Dr. Rob Alexander, a professor of political science at Bowling Green State University, explained that executive orders are a common tool for presidents to implement policy changes.

"An executive order allows a president to sidestep, if you will, Congress and issue a proclamation that has the force of law. Congress has 30 days or so to address it. They could override an executive order through a law; very difficult for them to do because the president does have a veto, and in this case, you know we've got a Republican House and a Republican Senate, so that's very unlikely," explained Dr. Rob Alexander, PH.D., BGSU Professor of Political Science.

He noted that while executive orders can streamline decision-making, they can also lead to legal challenges. "It can get messy, but the orders can be challenged in federal court or at the Supreme Court. It's part of the checks and balances," Alexander said.

Alexander also commented on Trump’s actions involving mass layoffs and the closing of departments and programs, which could prompt further checks on presidential power.

"And in that case, Congress actually had an act in the 1970s to regain some of its power, relative to the executive branch, again checks and balances, and so that was an act in the mid-1970s saying essentially that the president can't just take or prevent money from being spent that Congress has already appropriated for it, and so I think that we will see some fighting about that, and you know, something that's important for viewers to recognize is that this is bigger than individuals; it's really about institutions," added Alexander.

Alexander concluded by noting that downsizing and rethinking government models is a long-standing tradition in American politics. "We’ve seen it over the years," he said.