Allen is targeting actions by the president last month where he said one of the goals was to expand background checks in a bid to restrict who can get weapons.

But Obama did not issue an executive order, which is a specific written directive to agencies under his control. Instead, the White House termed the measure an “executive action,’’ designed to “clarify’’ existing laws.

In this case, the administration pointed out that licensed gun dealers must conduct background checks on buyers. The White House said all this does is spell out that simply because a transaction occurs at a gun show does not mean it fits within existing exemptions from background checks for the person-to-person sale of weapons.

The action was a bit vague, with even the White House saying that there is “no specific threshold number of firearms purchased or sold that triggers the licensure requirement.’’

Allen said Tuesday that the latest action is just part of a pattern by the president of “abusing executive orders.’’

“If the executive branch starts bleeding over into the responsibilities of the other two branches of government, somebody has to check that.’’