Executive Orders and Proclamations Declaring National Emergencies

President Wilson was the first President to declare a national emergency, on February 5, 1917. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry S Truman, Richard M. Nixon, James E. Carter, Ronald W. Reagan, George H.W. Bush, William J. Clinton, and George Walker Bush have all issued national emergency declarations. The following links provide the text of these executive orders and proclamations.

Executive Order Study Referenced (September 21, 2005)

The Cato Institute study co-authored by Bill Olson, "Executive Orders and National Emergencies: How Presidents Have Come to 'Run the Country' by Usurping Legislative Power," was referenced in a presentation celebrating Constitution Day at Truman State University.

"Why Do Conservatives Continue To Support The Republican Party?" (August 1, 2003)

A Covenant News article by Chuck Baldwin quoted Bill Olson and mentioned his efforts lobbying Congress to restrict a president's ability to legislate by executive order or proclamation.

"Justice Fights to Keep Clinton Monument Edicts Intact" (July 28, 2003)

A Washington Times article quoted Bill Olson regarding his disappointment of the Bush administration's defense in the Supreme Court of President Clinton's proclamation restricting access to seven national monuments and millions of acres of public land.

Executive Order Study Cited (April 24, 2002)

The executive order study, co-authored by Bill Olson, was cited in the statement of Morton Rosenberg, Congressional Research Service, before the House Subcommittee on Efficiency, Financial Management and Intergovernmental Relations, Committee on Government Reform, concerning H.R. 4187, The Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2002.

'National Emergencies' Give Prez Too Much Power (December 10, 2001)

A SFGate.com article by Harley Sorensen warning about the unbalanced power of presidential declarations of national emergencies referenced our web site.

Executive Order Press Coverage (September 27, 2001)

A WorldNetDaily.com article quoted Bill Olson regarding executive power grab through national emergencies and executive orders.

President Bush Declares Another State of Emergency (September 23, 2001)

President Bush issued a new executive order declaring another state of national emergency and invoking certain additional standby powers. President Bush relies on actions of the United Nations as a principal source of his authority to defend the United States. This curious practice perpetuates the approach taken by President Clinton.

President Bush Declares State of Emergency (September 18, 2001)

Since his inauguration, President George W. Bush has issued two Executive Orders declaring national emergencies. The second was issued September 14, retroactive to September 11, 2001.

Reagan Executive Order Assigning Federal Agencies Authority Over American Economy

President Bush's declaration of a national state of emergency invokes stand-by powers contained in Executive Order, No. 12656 issued by President Ronald W. Reagan. Attached is a synopsis of the Executive Order as well as the Executive Order itself.

Executive Orders: Additional Information

Includes the following information: names of presidential directives, executive orders by president, national emergency declarations, currently effective presidentially-declared states of national emergency, and constitutional provisions for emergency powers.

The Art of Presidential Usurpation (November 2000)

Bill Olson co-authored an article on executive orders, "The Art of Presidential Usurpation," that was published in the November 2000 issue of USA Today magazine.

A Constitutional Analysis of H.R. 2655 - The Separation of Powers Restoration Act, by William J. Olson

A Word from Congressman Zach Wamp, An Abuse We Need to Stop (January 9, 2000)

The Cato Institute study on executive orders, co-authored by Bill Olson, was quoted by Congressman Zach Wamp.

Executive Order Study Quoted

The Cato Institute study on executive orders, co-authored by Bill Olson, was quoted in the PERC report "End of the Road?" by Shannon Fitzsimmons.

More Executive Order Study Press Coverage (January 5, 2000)

The Cato Institute study on executive orders, co-authored by Bill Olson, was quoted in this GovExec.com article "Conservatives Seek to Limit Executive Orders" by Michael Posner.

Executive Order Study Press Coverage (December 20, 1999)

The Cato Institute study co-authored by Bill Olson, "Executive Orders and National Emergencies: How Presidents Have Come to 'Run the Country' by Usurping Legislative Power," was quoted in this Enter Stage Right article "Congress Must Seize Back the Law-making Power."


"Clinton's Abuse of Executive Power" (December 13, 1999)

Bill Olson and the study he co-authored, "Executive Orders and National Emergencies: How Presidents Have Come to 'Run the Country' by Usurping Legislative Power," were mentioned in this Insight on the News article.

Executive Orders and National Emergencies: How Presidents Have Come to "Run the Country" by Usurping Legislative Power
by William J. Olson and Alan Woll
October 28, 1999

Testimony on Executive Orders before the House Rules Committee's Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process (October 27, 1999)

Bill Olson was asked to testify before the House Rules Committee's Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process. The topic of the hearing was "The Impact of Executive Orders on the Legislative Process: Executive Lawmaking?" Bill Olson also submitted answers to questions before the House Rules Committee's Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process.

"Critics Claim Exec Orders Permit Government by Fiat - Presidential Executive Orders" (September 27, 1999)

Bill Olson was quoted in this Insight on the News article by Frank J. Murray about executive orders.

Clinton's Executive Orders Sweeping, Controversial, The Washington Times, September 13 - 19, 1999 -- National Weekly Edition, By Frank J. Murray