The President has the power to suspend the Constitution and the Bill of Rights in a real or "perceived" emergency by means of Executive Orders (E.O.s). Lincoln or Roosevelt derived these powers from real wartime needs. In order to keep these dictorial powers alive, other presidents created (perceived) "emergencies" by "declaring war" on matters such as crime, poverty, drugs, etc.
President Jackson used executive powers to force the "law abiding Cherokee Nation" off their ancestral lands, resulting in a journey that would be called the Trail of Tears. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an E.O. that forced 100,000 Japanese residents into concentration camps and their property confiscated.
Here is a list of a few Executive Orders that would suspend the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Some of these E.O.s have been on record for over 20 years, and they could be enacted by a mere stroke of the Presidents pen.
#10990 ~ Allows the government to take over modes of transportation and control of highways and seaports.
#10995 ~ Allows the government to seize and control communication media.
#10997 ~ Allows the government to take over all electrical power, gas, petroleum and fuels.
#11000 ~ Allows the government to mobilize civilians into work brigades under government supervision.
#11001 ~ Allows the government to take over all health, education and welfare functions.
#11002 ~ Designates the Postmaster General to operate a national registration of all persons.
#11003 ~ Allows the government to take over all airports and aircraft, including commercial aircraft.
#11004 ~ Allows the Housing and Finance Authority to relocate communities, build new housing with public funds, designate areas to be abandoned, and establsh new locations for populations.
#11921 ~ Allows the Federal Emergency Preparedness Agency to develop plans to establish control over the mechanisms of production and distribution, of energey resources, wages, salaries, credit and the flow of money in U.S. financial institutions in any undefined national emergency. It also provides that when a state of Emergency is declared by the President, "Congress cannot reveiew the actions for six months.
While in England in May 1998, President Clinton signed E.O. #13083 entitled "Federalism". It lists nine "exceptions" under which "the powers of various states and the people can be seized by the Federal Government ~ regardless of what the 10th Amendment to the Constitutions says. Due to growing public criticism the White House has removed all references to this E.O. from their Web Library site.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Clinton is planning a blitz of new Executive Ordersshortly. He is upset because the Republicans in Congress are blocking his big-government agenda. White House spokesman Rahm Emanuel told the Los Angeles Times, "He's ready to work with Congress if they will work with him. But if they choose partisanship, he will choose 'progress' (E.O.s)."
Bill Clinton has already issued more Executive Orders than any other President in U.S. history.