Ever feel like each day brings a new executive order? You’re not far off.

Since January, the Trump Administration has issued more than 150 of these policy pronouncements. However, not all of them become a reality. It’s hard to ignore the volume and impact of the executive orders and actions coming out of the Trump White House, and to address this, we plan to dive deeper into executive orders in our company blog this month.

For now, we just want you to remember that an executive order isn’t a law. It’s a way for the president to fill gaps in legislation, promote enforcement, or start new policy initiatives (like the Peace Corps). Executive orders move fast and can shape major policies overnight, but they’re not immune to legal challenges.

Since taking office, Trump has faced 162 (and counting) legal challenges to his executive actions, with as many as 53 being temporarily paused by the courts.

So, who’s holding them accountable? Right now, 23 Democratic state attorneys general are leading the charge, but there are several individuals, advocacy groups, and grassroots organizations fighting right alongside them. Here’s one recent court case with federal elections at the center.

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HEREBY HIGHLIGHTED

DNC v. Trump

On March 25, President Trump signed “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” an executive order that introduces major changes to federal election processes, including:

  • Requiring proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote
  • Ordering federal agencies to audit voter registration lists in every state
  • Blocking states from counting absentee ballots received after Election Day
  • Tying federal funding to states’ compliance with the executive order

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) and other groups responded by filing a lawsuit requesting a block to this executive order. In court documents, the plaintiffs allege that in addition to making it harder to register, vote, and administer fair elections, the executive order violates the Constitution and other federal statutes.

Why This Matters to You

Free and fair elections are the foundation of American democracy. For many of us, voting on Election Day may be something we take for granted, but throughout history, Americans have fought and died for access to this right.


The Clause Out platform cannot replace the importance of voting for elected officials, but it does have the goal of giving you a real say on real policy proposals.

ZINGER

Taking A Stand, Literally

On Tuesday, Senator Cory Booker broke the record for the longest speech on the Senate Floor. Booker vowed to use his time to disrupt "the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able." And he meant it.


For the next 25 hours and 5 minutes, Booker did not sit, eat, or use the restroom. His fitness tracker, clearly concerned, kept asking if he was working out, and at one point, showed that his heart rate shot up to over 100 beats per minute.


Now that is what we call standing on business.  

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