How do executive orders work? - Christina Greer

譯者: YUYI TONG 審譯者: Helen Chang

在 1863 年 1 月 1 日

On January 1, 1863,

Abraham Lincoln legally changed the status of over 3 million enslaved blacks

林肯總統合法地改變了 300 多萬黑人奴隸的身份

across ten states from slave to free.

橫跨十個州分 把他們從奴隸改為自由身

他的解放宣告既不是法律

His Emancipation Proclamation wasn't a law,

or a presidential decree.

也不是總統令

It was an executive order.

而是一份「行政命令」

美國憲法的制定者為各行政部門

The framers of the American Constitution made the power of executive order

available to the executive branch.

提供了發出行政命令的權力

But what exactly is this tool?

但這份命令實際上是什麼呢？

它是如何運作的呢？

How does it work?

它有多大的權力？

And what is the extent of its power?

其實行政命令不是一項法律 但它具有法律的效力

Well, an executive order isn't a law, but it can carry the weight of one.

Passing laws involves a fairly lengthy process.

通過一項法律是一個相當漫長的過程

First, a member of Congress proposes a piece of legislation

首先，國會議員以法案的形式

in the form of a bill.

提出一項立法

After many committees and revisions,

經過許多次委員會會議及修訂後

if the bill is approved by a majority votes in Congress,

如果法案獲得國會大部分成員通過

that is both the House and Senate,

也就是同時獲得 眾議院和參議院的支持

the bill is then sent to the president for signature.

法案才會讓總統簽署

If the president signs the bill, it then becomes a law.

在總統簽署法案後，便正式成為律例

An executive order, on the other hand,

而行政命令

is something the president issues without consultation

是一項總統無須諮詢或經過國會同意

or permission from Congress.

便能發出的命令

They are, however, enforced like laws,

但它仍會像法律一樣需要執行

and are subject to judicial review by the court system

並由法院系統進行司法審查

to make sure they're within the limits of the Constitution.

以確保其在憲法的範圍內

That means the courts have the power to invalidate any executive decisions

這意味著法院有權 在認為總統過份使用權力時

that they determine are an overreach of the president in trying to assert power.

判定行政命令無效

And once the president leaves office,

一旦總統離任

if his or her successor wants to eliminate the executive order,

如果他或她的繼任者 想要取消行政命令

they can do so.

是可以的

So when does a president use an executive order?

那麼總統何時會使用行政命令呢？

Sometimes a president feels the need to exert power without working with Congress,

有時候總統會認為沒有必要 經過國會來運用權力

and in times of crisis, quick decisions can be justified.

而在危機時刻，快速決定是合理的

But most executive orders are not responses to emergencies.

但大部分行政命令的推行 不是因為緊急情況

They're often directed towards agencies in the federal government

這些命令往往是針對聯邦政府機構

in order to expand or contract their power.

以擴大或約束其權力

Others determine the extent to which legislation should be enforced.

其他還包括決定哪條法律的執行力度

And sometimes, a president may use an executive order

有時候總統可能會透過行政命令

to clarify and help implement a policy that needs to be easily defined.

釐清和幫助實施需要明確定義的政策

Some of the most famous executive orders

一些有名的行政命令

have changed the course of American history.

改變了美國歷史的進程

FDR issued an executive order to establish the Works Progress Administration,

羅斯福總統發布一項行政命令 建立「公共事業振興署」

which helped build thousands of roads, bridges, and parks

幫全國修了數千條道路

橋樑和公園

throughout the country.

The WPA also employed thousands of writers,

公共事業振興署還聘用了數千名作家

painters,

畫家

sculptors,

雕塑家

and artists to create works of art in public spaces.

和藝術家來進行公共空間的美化工程

Additionally, Harry Truman used an executive order

此外，杜魯門總統也在 1948 年

to desegregate the armed forces in 1948.

利用行政命令來解散軍隊

And in 1965, Lyndon Johnson signed an executive order

1965 年，詹森總統簽署了一份行政命令

to establish requirements for nondiscriminatory practices

確定了聘用和就業方面的

in hiring and employment.

非歧視性做法的要求

Executive orders have often been used in positive and inclusive ways,

行政命令的運用 通常是積極和具包容性的

but they've also been used to exclude and divide.

但也存在排除和分割的情況

One of the most notable examples being FDR's 1942 executive order.

其中一個最好的例子是羅斯福總統 在 1942 年頒布的行政命令

He gave the military authority to target predominantly Japanese-Americans,

他授予軍事機構 主要針對日裔美國人

as well as German-Americans and Italian-Americans,

德裔美國人和意大利裔美國人

in certain regions across the country.

範圍涵蓋全國多個地區

This executive order also removed any or all of those people into military zones,

同時這份行政命令把其中 部分或全部的人撤到軍區

most commonly known as internment camps.

通常被稱作拘留營的軍區

Beginning in the early 1960s,

從 1960 年代初開始

each president has issued roughly 300 executive orders,

每任總統大概頒布 300 份行政命令

but FDR issued over 3,500.

但羅斯福總統頒布的超過 3500 份

At the other end of the spectrum,

另一方的極端

William Henry Harrison never issued an executive order,

哈里森總統從未發布過任何行政命令

probably because his presidency only lasted 31 days.

大概是因為他在任只有短短的 31 天

The U.S. Constitution is somewhat ambiguous on the extent of the president's power.

美國憲法對總統權力的定義有些模糊

That's resulted in executive orders expanding over time.

導致行政命令的權力逐漸增大

For instance, since Lyndon Johnson,

比如，自詹森總統起

presidents have begun issuing orders to create faith-based initiatives,

總統開始發出命令 來制定信仰方面的舉措

establish federal agencies,

建立聯邦機構

and remove barriers for scientific research.

讓科學研究有更多自由

美國的政治制度有制衡機制

There are checks and balances in the U.S. political system.

Congress can pass laws to counteract executive orders,

國會可以通過法律來抵制行政命令

and judges can halt them by deeming them unconstitutional.

而法官可以通過認定違憲來阻止

But in the time it takes for those things to happen,

但以上事情需要時間實行

an executive order can go into effect

而在此期間行政命令已經生效

and possibly change the course of history, for better or for worse.

並可能往好或壞的方向改變歷史進程