An executive order is a directive issued by the President of the United States that manages operations of the federal government. The legal or constitutional basis for executive orders has multiple sources, but the United States Constitution does not have a provision that explicitly permits the use of executive orders. Executive orders are numbered consecutively and may be referenced by their assigned number or their topic. They are published in the Federal Register, the official journal of the federal government, and remain in force until they are canceled, revoked, adjudicated unlawful, or expire on their terms. The President may revoke, modify, or make exceptions from any executive order, whether the order was made by the current president or a predecessor. Typically, a new president reviews in-force executive orders in the first few weeks in office.
Executive orders have been used to carry out policies and programs, and they have historically related to routine administrative matters and the internal operations of federal agencies. They are signed, written, and published directives that manage the operations of the federal government. The format, substance, and documentation of executive orders have varied across the history of the U.S. Presidency, but today, they follow a format and strict documentation system.
Some key features of executive orders include:
- Heading: Executive orders are generally labeled as such, include a number, and a date of issue.
- Title: Each executive order has a title, which typically indicates what the order concerns.
Executive orders do not require any action by Congress or state legislature to take effect, and the legislature cannot overturn them.
