Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) criticized President Barack Obama Sunday for issuing executive orders on major issues like health care rather than going through Congress, arguing that it was leading to an "increasingly lawless presidency."

Speaking on ABC's "This Week," Ryan said that Obama was subverting Congress by signing executive orders, which Ryan said is "creating a dangerous trend which is contrary to the Constitution."

Obama said during his State of the Union address last Tuesday, "Wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that's what I'm going to do."

Although "This Week" host George Stephanopoulos pointed out that the number of executive orders Obama has issued is not higher than that of other recent presidents, Ryan rejected that argument. "It's not the number of executive orders," he said, "it's the scope of the executive orders."