1994 -- E.O. 12891 -- E.O. 12944 (54 Executive orders issued)
1995 -- E.O. 12945 -- E.O. 12984 (40 Executive orders issued) [5]
Clinton, unlike all his predecessors (including Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, JFK et. al.) reduced his usage of executive orders over each of his first 3 years in office. Unlike most all other presidents, Bill Clinton by the end of his first year in office appeared to be reticent to use executive orders--just as he was clearly reticent to undertake vetoes.
Moreover, aside from a one time increase in executive orders in 1996 (the year he won a re-election), Clinton continued a downward trend on average for the entire second term in office--having only attempted a total 108 vetoes (an average of 36 per year) in 1997, 1998, and 1999.
- 1996 -- E.O. 12985 -- E.O. 13033 (49 Executive orders issued)
- 1997 -- E.O. 13034 -- E.O. 13071 (38 Executive orders issued)
- 1998 -- E.O. 13072 -- E.O. 13109 (38 Executive orders issued)
- 1999 -- E.O. 13110 -- E.O. 13144 (35 Executive orders issued)
In short, at face value, my simple analysis that Office of the Presidency as an institution working with and contesting issues with the institution of Congress was not playing its cards right appeared to be correct. Therefore, further analysis in the field of political science was clearly warranted. However, no one seems to have listened to the simple facts for over 15 years--not till 2015 as Obama has come out and waved the flags in favor of undertaking more vetoes and more executive orders in the face of Congressional opposition.
Even the vocal George W. Bush--like Clinton before him--appears to have been extremely veto-shy. He undertook only 12 vetoes in the eight years he was president. Contrast that to his father, who had vetoed 44 times. [6]
Summary of Bills Vetoed, 1977-present[7]
Additional information about veto power and procedure can be found on the Vetoes page.
President (Years) Coinciding Congresses Vetoes Regular Pocket Total Overridden Barack H. Obama(2009-present) 114-111 4 0 4 0 George W. Bush(2001-2009) 110-107 12 0 12 4 William J. Clinton(1993-2001) 106-103 36 1 37 2 George H. W. Bush(1989-1993) 1 102-101 29 15 44 1 Ronald Reagan(1981-1989) 2 100-97 39 39 78 9 Jimmy Carter(1977-1981) 96-95 13 18 31 2YIPPEE OBAMA!
My professor at Texas A & M on "political institutions" claimed that I had nothing to say and short-changed my paper. The findings of my paper had clearly stated and shown that the Office of the President of the United Stats should be signalling that it will use the power of executive order to get things done if the Congress does not do so. Alternatively, it should also threaten and carry out more vetoes. This creates an important negotiating position before country and Congress.
The only alternative to signalling the usage of an executive order should be "actually using one"--i.e. don't follow the Wimpy Clinton or George W. Bush [8] approach by reducing executive orders and vetoes over most of one's final years in office!
How else can a lame-duck President get more things done and improve his legacy (and improve America too when the Congress is weak), i.e. if he gives up the power to veto or to enact his own legislation through executive order?
How can he make congress listen otherwise? Naturally, he can use his bully pulpit but without his using the tools to legislate through executive order and to threaten and carry out vetoes, he is a much weaker officer of state.
In summary, Mr. President, don't give up and try to make a difference every day and in every way! Don't tie your hands behind your back.
Go ahead and use vetoes and executive orders to make your case or cases before the public and Congress!
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