Executive order, in United States law, is an official direction, proclamation, or statement issued by the president. Executive orders carry the force of law, even though they do not require congressional approval. The president’s power to issue executive orders is an implied power—that is, it is not specifically mentioned in the Constitution of the United States. However, it is considered necessary for effective government. Although the term executive order is mainly used in the United States, leaders of many other constitutional democracies have similar powers.
President George Washington issued the first executive order in the United States in 1789. It instructed the heads of government departments to make a “clear account” of matters in their departments. One of the most famous executive orders was the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It declared freedom for all slaves in the areas then under Confederate control. In 2001, President George W. Bush issued a series of executive orders aimed at eliminating terrorist organizations in the United States and abroad.
Executive orders can be controversial because they allow the president to make policy changes while bypassing legislative processes set forth by the Constitution. Some executive orders have been challenged or overturned by Congress or in court.
See also President of the United States (Chief executive) .
