The use of executive orders has been a major part of presidential power in the United States, allowing presidents to implement policies and decisions unilaterally. Since 1937, only three US presidents have issued executive orders on their first day in office. This exclusive group includes Joe Biden, Donald Trump and Bill Clinton.
President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to enact several policy promises on his first day back in the White House has sparked interest in the history of executive orders. If Trump signs an executive order on his first day in office, it will be the fourth time a US president has done so since 1937. It is based on an analysis of executive order data from the Office of the Federal Register by the Hearst Television data team.
The Federal Register tracks all executive orders signed by presidents beginning in 1937, except for executive orders from former President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first term. An executive order is a powerful tool that has the force of law, allowing presidents to enact their campaign promises or pursue policy goals that might face opposition or obstacles in Congress.
A notable example of the use of executive orders is former President Barack Obama’s decision in 2014 to raise the minimum wage for federal contract workers from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour. When lawmakers failed to act, Obama signed an executive order to raise the minimum wage. This highlights the ability of presidents to use executive orders to circumvent congressional opposition.
President Joe Biden holds the record for signing the most executive orders in his first day and first week in office. On his first day, Biden issued nine executive orders, six of which reversed Trump administration orders. These reversals included rescinding policies targeting communities that protected undocumented immigrants from deportation and requiring the use of face masks in federal buildings and lands.
Biden made extensive use of executive orders during his first week in office, signing a total of 22 orders. It sets a high bar for Trump, who will need to sign more than 22 executive orders on his first day to surpass Biden’s record.
Biden ended his 100 days in office with 42 executive orders and a total of 160 orders during his presidency.
In terms of the number of executive orders signed during a presidency, President Franklin D. Roosevelt holds the record with 2,023 executive orders signed during his second and third terms. Roosevelt’s unprecedented 12 years in office allowed him to use executive orders to deal with the Great Depression, run New Deal programs, and handle World War II.
Other notable presidents in terms of executive orders include Truman, who signed 906 executive orders, and Clinton, who signed 364 executive orders. At the other end of the spectrum, President George H.W. Bush issued the second fewest executive orders, with a total of 46 executive orders signed in 1991.
In conclusion, the use of executive orders is a powerful tool available to American presidents, allowing them to implement policies and decisions unilaterally. With President-elect Donald Trump vowing to implement several policy promises on his first day in the White House, it will be interesting to see how he uses executive orders during his presidency.
