Executive Privilege

For those conservatives skeptical of federal power, this term has become increasingly in recent times been associated with an abuse of power by the executive branch - with President Obama seen as exercising power at times, “more like a King” - than one held in check by a balance of powers.  

By contrast, many others see the use of executive privilege by Obama and others as well within the constitutional limits set by the founding fathers.

Presidents of both parties have used executive privilege  -  George Bush was assailed for his frequent use of “signing statements” to try to influence the interpretation of a statute - and the objections to it have often seemed to be based on who is doing it, and on objections to the practical impact (which policy is furthered or blocked.)