Executive Orders

In the wake of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, President Lyndon B. Johnson faced mounting pressure to address racial segregation and discrimination in the United States. Frustrated by the slow progress in Congress, President Johnson took decisive action through Executive Order 11246 in 1965. This executive order prohibited federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin and required affirmative action measures to promote equal employment opportunity. This bold move by President Johnson sparked both praise and controversy, igniting debates over the role of the presidency in shaping civil rights policy and the use of executive authority to address systemic injustices. Executive Order 11246 not only transformed hiring practices within federal contractors but also set a precedent for future presidents to wield executive orders as a means of advancing social and political agendas.

Describe the specific constitutional authority or legal basis that enabled President Johnson to issue Executive Order 11246.

Explain how relationship between the president and Congress can affect the use of executive orders by the president.

Explain two checks that Congress and the Judicial Branch could use to counteract this or any executive order the President may issue.