Legal Definitions - executive order

An executive order is a declaration made by the President or a Governor that has the power of law. It is usually based on existing laws and does not require approval from Congress or the state legislature to take effect. The legislature cannot overturn it either.

For example, President George H. Bush signed Executive Order 12724 in anticipation of the Gulf War. This order prohibited transactions with Iraq and transferred ownership of Iraqi government property in the United States to the United States government. The order was issued based on Congressional statutes, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and the National Emergencies Act.

Recent presidential executive orders, memoranda, and proclamations are available on the official website of the White House. Almost all presidential executive orders are published in the Federal Register.

Executive orders are important because they allow the President or Governor to take action quickly without waiting for approval from Congress or the state legislature. However, they can also be controversial because they bypass the normal legislative process and can be seen as an abuse of power.