For most of his time in office, Barack Obama has frequently taken executive action rather than waiting for congressional legislation. He complains that “we can’t wait” for Congress, and brags that he’s “getting things done” this way. This week he once again renewed his promise to do something about jobs via executive orders: “[W]e are not just going to be waiting for a legislation in order to make sure that we’re providing Americans the kind of help that they need. I’ve got a pen … and I can use that pen to sign executive orders and take executive actions and administrative actions that move the ball forward.” Not only is this approach becoming his standard operating procedure, but he also seems increasingly to view himself more as a monarch than a president.