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Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution provides that the president must “take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” Presidents have used this authority to issue executive orders, which are orders to federal agencies that are a part of the executive branch and which contain detailed instructions on how laws enacted by Congress should be carried out.

Presidents are not specifically given the power to issue executive orders by the U.S. Constitution. Is it appropriate for the president to exercise powers that the Constitution does not specifically grant to him or her? Why, or why not?