The Antiquities Act allows the president to proclaim a national monument -- setting aside lands to protect and conserve our nation's most spectacular historic, cultural, biologic, and aesthetic resources. Pressure is now building, however, to reverse some of Obama's historic national monument proclamations . Obama's recent designation of the Bears Ears National Monument just east of the Grand Staircase has renewed debate over the Antiquities Act. Presidents have proclaimed more than 100 national monuments and Congress has never reversed any of significance size or importance. And no president has even tried to wipe a national monument off the map.

Source: CNN February 08, 2017 18:00 UTC