By Order of the President: The Use and Abuse of Executive Direct Action (Paperback)

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As Cooper reveals, there has been virtually no significant policy area or level of government left untouched by the application of these presidential "power tools." Whether seeking to regulate the economy, committing troops to battle without a congressional declaration of war, or blocking commercial access to federal lands, presidents have wielded these powers to achieve their goals, often in ways that seem to fly in the face of true representative government. Cooper defines the different forms these powers take--executive orders, presidential memoranda, proclamations, national security directives, and signing statements--demonstrates their uses, critiques their strengths and dangers, and shows how they have changed over time.

Here are Washington's "Neutrality Proclamation," Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, and the more than 1,700 executive orders issued by Woodrow Wilson in World War I. FDR issued many executive orders to implement his National Industrial Recovery Act--but also issued one that led to the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. Truman issued orders to desegregate the military and compel loyalty oaths for federal employees. Eisenhower issued numerous national security directives. JFK launched the Peace Corps and issued an order to control racial violence in Alabama. All through executive action.

As Cooper demonstrates in his balanced treatment of these and subsequent presidencies, each successive administration seems to find new ways of using these tools to achieve policy goals--especially those goals they know they are unlikely to accomplish with the help of Congress. Reviewing all recent administrations up to George W. Bush's "faith-based initiatives," Cooper assesses the costs and benefits of these executive actions and offers a crucial new perspective on the ongoing debate regarding the expanding scope of presidential power.

This book is part of the Studies in Government and Public Policy series.

From the Back Cover
"A fascinating book filled with incisive analysis that leads the reader through the thicket of executive orders, proclamations, directives, and signing statements that presidents have at their disposal."--James Pfiffner, author of The Strategic Presidency

"A judicious but alarming book that sheds light on the truly staggering amount of governmental action that springs from presidential orders of various kinds. . . . Should enjoy a wide readership."--Donald Robinson, author of "To the Best of My Ability": The Presidency and the Constitution

"Contains a wealth of research and insight and does an excellent job of putting these presidential actions in their political context."--Louis Fisher, author of Presidential War Power

See all Editorial Reviews