Q: Can you please tell me how many executive orders President Barack Obama has issued since being in office compared to other presidents?
—Frank Mims, Marietta
A: Obama had issued 182 executive orders through June 20, according to the American Presidency Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He issued 147 in his first term and 35 in his second term. Here are the number of executive orders for the 10 previous presidents:
- George W. Bush, 291 (173 in first term, 118 in second)
- Bill Clinton, 364 (200, 164)
- George H.W. Bush, 166
- Ronald Reagan, 381 (213, 168)
- Jimmy Carter, 320
- Gerald Ford, 169
- Richard Nixon, 346 (247, 99)
- Lyndon Johnson, 325
- John Kennedy, 214
- Dwight Eisenhower, 484 (266, 218)
Executive orders are defined as “official actions taken by the president directing the federal government and bureaucracies,” by PolitiFact.com. They “carry the power of law,” but future administrations can revoke or amend them, according to the website.
Q: When will the Georgia Department of Transportation begin to four-lane the highway from Jonesboro to McDonough Road?
—Ernest Duffey, Fayetteville
A: GDOT has purchased 174 of the 227 parcels needed for the project and aims to begin construction in 2018, a spokeswoman told Q&A on the News in an email. This widening of Ga. 54 will begin just north of McDonough Road in Fayette County and will increase the road from two to four lanes for about 5.3 miles until it reaches U.S. 19/41 in Clayton County. The project also includes raised medians, sidewalks and bike lanes.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
About the Author
