While some dictatorships get bogged down with writing their fascistic rules and regulations, George W. Bush has found a much easier way to rule over his empire. He lets Congress toil over the wording of new bills, then signs them uncontested. But when the lights go off, according to a recent Boston Globe story, Bush has become notorious for adding “signing statements” to the laws, which spell out how he plans to interpret them, and grants himself the authority to ignore them altogether. The Globe says he signed over 750 of them.

From immigration to torture, the Patriot Act to whistleblower protections, Bush has repeatedly stated his authority as President to have the final say on how or if a law will be practised. For example, after the routine torture at Abu Ghraib came to light, Congress passed new regulations on the treatment of military prisoners. Bush signed these into law, then added a signing statement declaring his right to ignore them all.

Exactly which laws Bush has actively broken is unknown, because he also declared himself immune to requirements to reveal to Congress or oversight committees what his office has been up to.

» Scott Saxon