Democracy Watch by the Numbers

•  Executive Orders Signed on the left | Laws Passed on the right

• Low to High = Democracy in action
  (Fewer Executive Orders Signed → More Laws Passed)
   
• High to Low = Authoritarian behavior in action
  (More Executive Orders Signed → Fewer Laws Passed)
   
• The steeper the line, the more extreme the trend

The green line accurately represents the average Executive Orders and Laws typically signed to date in an administration.   This shows a trend where power is shared. Laws are passed by elected representatives, with public debate and public input.  

 The red line shows the actual Executive Orders and Laws signed to date by the current administration.

• If the red line follows the same upward path as the green, democratic institutions are functioning, the people are part of the process of governing.
• But if the red line slopes in the opposite direction, the lines form an X—a clear warning that power is no longer flowing through the people.

When the red line crosses the green, it shows a shift away from democratic norms:
Policy and actions are skipping the democratic process . With fewer representative laws and more executive orders, there is less accountability and oversight. The steeper the line, the more anti-democratic the actions.

This is how authoritarianism takes hold:

🔹 Bypassing Congress skips your voice
🔹 Avoiding accountability shuts down oversight and public debate
🔹 Centralizing power puts decisions in the hands of one—not many

This isn’t just a change in process—it’s a concentration of power.

• Updated daily (or near daily) Sources: Congress.gov and FederalRegister.gov
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