--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the president is allowed to govern by…" description: "\"If the president is allowed to govern by executive action, then the rule of law greatly suffers.\" — Scott Pruitt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/scott-pruitt-5220_action_if-the-president-is-allowed-to-govern-by_2488383.jpg" --- # If the president is allowed to govern by executive action… ![“If the president is allowed to govern by executive action, then the rule of law greatly suffers.” quote by Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/scott-pruitt-5220_action_if-the-president-is-allowed-to-govern-by_2488383.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/scott-pruitt-5220_action_if-the-president-is-allowed-to-govern-by_2488383.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/scott-pruitt-5220_action_if-the-president-is-allowed-to-govern-by_2488383.jpg) > “If the president is allowed to govern by executive action, then the rule of law greatly suffers.” [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Executive actions bypass legislative oversight, eroding legal consistency and accountability. **In simple terms:** Bypassing law weakens accountability. Key Takeaway Defend legislative checks. Themes law government accountability Mood concerned critical Type political legal When to use this quote - policy making - judicial review - civil rights activism Key Concepts separation of powers rule of law Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance swift action with legal safeguards? - What safeguards protect against abuse? A Different Perspective Executive power can be necessary in emergencies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Rule of law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-of-law/) ## Related quotes > [The greatest threat we've had to economic growth has been that those in industry don't know what is expected of them. 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The first thing I intend to do is to rescind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/if-i-m-elected-president-let-me-tell-you-about-my-first-day-in-office/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [ We see President \[Donald\] Trump actually reclaiming the proper role of the executive, and undoing a lot of damage that was done to the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-see-president-donald-trump-actually-reclaiming-the-proper-role-of/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [“In effect, Truman had engaged the nation in war by executive action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-fehrenbach/in-effect-truman-had-engaged-the-nation-in-war-by-executive-action/) [T. R. Fehrenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-fehrenbach/) > [I've got a pen, and I've got a phone, and I can use that pen to sign executive orders and take executive action. 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Yet to this day, China has never developed the rule…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-wade/the-chinese-state-from-the-days-of-the-qin-was-an-efficient/) [Nicholas Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-wade/) > [A country's adhering to the rule of law does not mean that its citizens will not do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-inhofe/a-country-s-adhering-to-the-rule-of-law-does-not-mean-that-its/) [James Inhofe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-inhofe/) > [Overregulation corrupts citizens and weakens the rule of law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/overregulation-corrupts-citizens-and-weakens-the-rule-of-law/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Any new legal measures, or cooperative arrangements between government and companies meant to keep people from organizing violence or criminal actions, must not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/any-new-legal-measures-or-cooperative-arrangements-between-government/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) ## More by Scott Pruitt > [We're a small state. Our quantity of representation in Washington is not as large as a Texas, an Ohio, or a New York. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/we-re-a-small-state-our-quantity-of-representation-in-washington-is/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [Most lawsuits against the EPA historically have come either because of the agency's lack of regard for a statute or because the EPA failed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/most-lawsuits-against-the-epa-historically-have-come-either-because/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [I don't hang with polluters; I prosecute them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/i-don-t-hang-with-polluters-i-prosecute-them/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [Since my election as Oklahoma attorney general in 2010, I have been a proud member of a group of federalism-minded state attorneys general who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/since-my-election-as-oklahoma-attorney-general-in-2010-i-have-been-a/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [When you look at farmers and ranchers, for example, they are our first environmentalists. They are our first conservationists. When you look at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/when-you-look-at-farmers-and-ranchers-for-example-they-are-our-first/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [This notion that we cannot be about jobs and stewardship of the environment is just simply not right. 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I remember many days when my hands were pretty cut up and bleeding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/i-spent-many-hours-in-the-batting-cage-i-remember-many-days-when-my/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [Lead poisoning is an insidious menace that robs our citizens of their fullest potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/lead-poisoning-is-an-insidious-menace-that-robs-our-citizens-of-their/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [I spent a couple years just earnestly praying, asking the question that I don't think we ask enough: 'God what do you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/i-spent-a-couple-years-just-earnestly-praying-asking-the-question/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [This paradigm that says we have to choose industry over the environment or the environment over industry is the old way of thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/this-paradigm-that-says-we-have-to-choose-industry-over-the/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [We know humans have most flourished during times of what? Warming trends. 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Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. 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