When he first took office, President Barack Obama made a bold statement to the nation, declaring that he would not sit idly by and wait for Congress to act. “I’ve got a pen,” the president proclaimed.
Those who supported Obama’s political views likely cheered this statement. If you are among the millions of Americans who want leaders to take action, even without the approval of the legislative branch (representing the people), it may be time to reconsider your stance and loyalty to our Constitution.
Basic civics education reminds us that the legislative branch creates laws, the executive branch enforces them, and the judicial branch interprets them. Of these branches, the legislative holds the greatest significance as it has the authority to enact new laws or amend existing ones—or, at least, that was the original intent.
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Yet, in reality, all three branches now vie for lawmaking authority, significantly altering the size, reach, and trust in government at both the federal and state levels.
Take, for instance, President Joe Biden’s recent move to forgive student loans without any congressional approval. This action relies on reinterpretations of legislation from the early 2000s to “forgive” debts (essentially transferring the burden to taxpayers) despite court rulings deeming it unconstitutional.
