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Obama executive order on immigration will be judged by U.S. Supreme Court

President Barack Obama shakes hands after speaking during a Organizing for Action event Monday in Washington, D.C. An appeals court handed Obama a setback Monday, upholding a lower court’s injunction against his executive order protecting some undocumented immigrants from deportation.
President Barack Obama shakes hands after speaking during a Organizing for Action event Monday in Washington, D.C. An appeals court handed Obama a setback Monday, upholding a lower court’s injunction against his executive order protecting some undocumented immigrants from deportation. Evan Vucci Associated Press

Happy 800th birthday, Magna Carta!

Is President Obama obeying the laws created by Congress when he changed immigration policy through a presidential order or is he acting more like King Obama and doing whatever he wants?

The kings of England used to have the right to do whatever they wanted according to the "Divine Right of Kings," but on June 15, 1215 the English barons made King John sign the Magna Carta (The Great Charter). This written document listed the laws that everyone had to follow, even the king.

The Magna Carta was the beginning of the "Rule of Written Law," which is the basis of our entire democracy. Now we all must obey written laws, even kings and presidents.

So, is President Obama breaking the law with his presidential order on immigration? That question will be decided not by a king or president, but by the U.S. Supreme Court, which was created by another written document, the U.S. Constitution.

Happy 800th birthday, Magna Carta!

Steve Scott

Sarasota

This story was originally published November 20, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Obama executive order on immigration will be judged by U.S. Supreme Court ."

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