Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. letter to W. N., July 17, 1998

ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR. 315 Cannon House Office Building Congress ot tfje <Hniteb States $ou8e of iRepreaentatibea BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES ©Hashmgton, JS£ 20515-2002 June 17, 1998 ASSISTANT MAJORITY WHIP Dear Thank you for contacting me with your concerns about intrusive executive orders. Our founding fathers, fearful of the tyranny that existed under English rule, designed the Constitution to create a separation of powers between the three branches of government. An aspect of separation of powers is the system of checks and balances which allows one branch of the government to oversee the actions of the other branches of government. Executive orders or proclamations, which have been used since George Washington was in office, allow the president to legislate, a task usually left to Congress. However, the president’s powers only extend to the constitutional limits as determined by the Supreme Court or within limits set by Congress. Succeeding presidents also have the power to revoke or amend executive orders made by previous presidents. Of the executive orders that you cite in your letter, Executive Orders 10997, 10998, 10999, 1 1000, 1 1002, and 11004 were revoked by Executive Order 1 1490. Moreover, Executive Order 11921 amended Executive Order 1 1490, which was, in turn, revoked by Executive Order 12656 in 1988. Executive Order 12656, Assignment of Emergency Preparedness Responsibilities, specifically instructs national agencies on operation during and after a national security emergency, such as a nuclear attack. The order does not refer to any national emergencies that are normally handled by individuals, the private sector, volunteer organizations, or state and local governments. The purpose of the order is to ensure food supply, commercial stability, resumption of school activities, maintain medical services, and other necessary services to guarantee the continuity of the government should we ever be faced with such an emergency situation. Thank you again for contacting me with you views. Please contact me if you have any additional questions. Very truly yours, Robert L/Ehrlich, Jr. Member of Congress