Does the Administration have law making authority,,ever?

[Toots]

That is now a claim being made by some on the right. If the Administration can make law then there is no longer any purpose for Congress and we the people no longer have a say in how our government operates..They have gotten away with virtually every single thing they have wanted plus some but will they get away with this?

[DemInDistress]

1. No such animal...not in the America I knew....

where the bush crime family can arbitrarily make and break laws,,all I can say is,
FORTUNATELY FOR BUSH HE CAN STILL FOOL SOME OF THE PEOPLE (GOPERS) ALL OF THE TIME". I often throw that line out to the FOOLS FROM THE RIGHT..

[justabob]

2. If the People don't stand up for their rights

BushCo most certainly will get away with it. No one can do it for us... not Dean, not Kerry, not Clark....whoever. There is no white knight that can do it, the People have to make a stand. I used to be a lot more optimistic about the sleeping giant that is the People, but I am losing that optimism with every day that passes and every new outrage that is revealed.

edit: added a little more

[marylanddem]

3. The sense of outrage is spreading. For some reason,

I feel hopeful today. It's just a little bitty thing (oh Jebus here I go quoting (or paraphrasing?) Emily Dickenson again: "hope is a thing with feathers that perches in the soul"...) Be hopeful. Never give up hope. You don't have to be optimistic to keep hope alive.

[Laelth]

4. Well, yes, sort of.

Congress occasionally gives the executive branch lawmaking power. EPA regulations, OSHA regulations, and IRS regulations are examples of law made by administrative agencies within the executive branch. These regulations carry the force of law, but the power to write these regulations is always, explicitly authorized by Congress in some piece of Congressional legislation. Other than that, though, the executive branch lacks the power to "make law," as far as I know.

-Laelth

[Toots]

8. Regulations do carry the force of Law, yes but they are not Law

As a side note though they are probably more powerful than law because only the Commision or Agency that created them can change them. Congress can not so therefor the people can not...good example by the way..

[Greyhound]

10. These are examples of the worthless 'representatives' abrogating

the powers that the constitution endowed it with, and it has been going on for a very long time, under all of the political parties.
You left out the biggest desertion of congress, the Federal Reserve Act.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. No

n/t

[alfredo]

6. bill Bennett said it, who else?

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

7. NO NO NO NO

It is the "executive" branch, ie executing the laws.

The "legislative" branch makes the legislation.

[IndianaGreen]

9. Bush is a dictator and has put himself above the Constitution

Unless he is impeached, and soon, he will dismantle the Republic and replace it with an absolute monarchy.

[wishlist]

11. I believe he only has authority over executive branch employee benefits

I worked for a Federal agency and the President had no authority to change or override any regulations of the government programs we administered and carried out. As I recall in my years of work, the President's powers were limited to Federal personnel matters such as appointing people to high level management positions, deciding to expand or freeze hiring and granting employee benefits such as extra holidays and time off. I believe Clinton used his mandate to expand family friendly leave policies for Federal workers and to allow our health insurance premiums to not be subject to income tax. But only Congress could change the laws and regulations that we were carrying out in the course of doing our jobs.

[ThomWV]

12. 3 Branches

Despite the pure and simple bullshit you hear from Republicans all the time here is how it works.

The Executive Branch, which is more than the President, executes the laws. That means it is the Executive branch which makes rules which implement laws and through its branches the Executive also enforces the laws. The Executive branch may also, from time to time, suggest laws that it would find useful. All legitimate activities of the Executive Branch exist only within the framework of the Constitution and the laws (authority) authorized by Congress.

The Congress, in its two bodies, writes law. The Congress can write any law it likes. The laws passed by the Congress are to be executed and enforced by the Executive.

The court neither writes, executes, nor enforces laws. The court has two functions. First, the court acts as referee to see if the laws written by the Congress, if challenged, are in accord with the Constitution. Second, that the Executive Branch, in executing or enforcing the law, or that which it believes to be the law, is acting within Constitutional authority and constraints.

In short: The Executive executes, the Congress enacts, the Court oversees.

[creeksneakers2]

13. Article 1 section 1

All legislative powers granted herein shall be vested in a Congress of the United States...