Question: Then why bother?
Answer: To give the illegal activity the imprimatur of constitutionality.
And presidents issue secret directives that obliterate constitutional rights.
Like the creation of the NSA.
NSA testimony to Congress: "There is no law that prevents our domestic spying".
Such is the unconstitutional power of the Presidential Magic Order.
It is even threatened to be used to wipe out Congressional legislation:
: However, President Clinton has threatened to veto ProCode.
: If Congress over-rides a VETO President Clinton signed an
: executive order (11/15/96) which states he can revoke any law
: passed on national security grounds:
:
: "Upon enactment of any legislation reauthorizing the
: administration of export controls, the Secretary of Defense,
: the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General shall
: reexamine whether adequate controls on encryption products can
: be mai