Can Barack Obama legally do an end run around congress and the house?

Answer 1

I assume the "end run" you are concerned about is gun control legislation. Actually, throughout history, presidents have found ways to get around congress by using executive orders. While it is generally not something presidents claim they want to do (it can stir up resentment from congress and anger from the voters), there are times when they feel they have to do it, in order to move a policy initiative forward. Other presidents have done it, and while I cannot predict what President Obama will do, issuing executive orders is not uncommon and such orders are generally legal, even if they may be very unpopular.