In-class essay: Executive Order 9066Franklin Delano Roosevelt's overreach of executive power in Executive Order 9066 demonstrates how the Executive Orders constitute an abuse of power by the President of the United States and are deliberately designed to comply with what is constitutionally permitted. They have been found constitutional by the Supreme Court, but are not as thoroughly vetted as laws that must pass through Congress. They can be used to decide how laws will be applied, address emergencies, explain minor details or policies, or set an agenda for the executive branch, but they must be based on Article II of the Constitution as well as existing laws or court cases ( Eaton). However, only two executive orders have been overturned due to a lawsuit and the delicate balance between controlling this right of the president and protecting the people from the possibility of a dictatorship. This particular executive order has been defended because it was passed in a time of war, but the rights of American citizens should be no less important in times of conflict and Executive Order 9066 has lived on in history for exactly what it was: an abuse of executive power and a dangerous step for FDR toward the role of a total dictatorship. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay This order was created during a time of war for this country, but it was not - and never has been - a new experience for the United States. This country was founded by a violent revolution and has been involved in a multitude of wars from the 18th century until today. The United States showed a history of racism even before the start of World War II when it made pacts with the Empire of Japan such as the "Gentleman's Agreement" to ban Japanese immigration, ultimately banning it through the Immigration Act of 1924 The United States thought nothing of these actions until Japan invaded China in July 1937 and suddenly Asia was thrown into the chaos of World War II (Eaton). When Japan began invading islands in the Pacific Ocean, Americans began to worry about how the country they had blocked from their borders might react now that they had the upper hand in the conflict. Many praised Roosevelt for Executive Order 9066 as they believed it was crucial in this time of war, as Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor just over two months before it was signed. However, when Roosevelt agreed to “authorize and direct the Secretary of War…to prescribe military areas” (Executive Order 9066), he forgot that the Supreme Court had never given him the power to make laws, and certainly not laws that would ignore the Read the Bill of Rights. This executive order demonstrates how presidents are able to guide their decisions as heads of state in the public interest, and equally shows that this power is too much to give to any one person. Roosevelt had no reason to believe his nation was in danger as the Munson Report had been created by the State Department only four months before Executive Order 9066 became law and stated: “There is no Japanese 'problem' on coast. There will be no armed revolt by the Japanese” (Munson Report). The authors of the report went on to state that while they believed there might be attempted attacks by Japanese citizens in the United States, the country was not under serious threat...