As the chart above shows, Obama has been downright thrifty in issuing executive orders by historical standards. His 168 executive orders come out to less than 0.1 for every day he's been in office.

This executive order chart is a good example of how facts can truly raise the level of discourse. I would like to see many more charts on energy matters, environmental matters, and education issues, especially PreK-12 education.

It's not the quantity of executive orders that matters, but rather the content of the orders. As a limited government conservative I have no qualms with a president that issues orders on matters that fall under his responsibility. If something falls under the jurisdiction of the executive branch, then by all means the president has a right to make an EO to deal with it. The problem with Obama's "imperial" conduct is that he is nullifying, ignoring, or contradicting laws passed by Congress, something he does not have the right to do. It doesn't matter what side you're on; a country's leader bypassing its legislative body to implement his own agenda is a very dangerous thing. Congress, despite all the grief it causes Americans, is the most important component of our democratic republic. The legislative process cannot be repeatedly dismissed like this without dire consequences.

I realize I am a little late to the party, but I would like to know what laws, "he is nullifying, ignoring, or contradicting."