EXECUTIVE ORDER
A presidential policy directive that implements or interprets a federal statute, a constitutional provision, or a treaty.
The president’s power to issue executive orders comes from Congress and the U.S. Constitution. Executive orders differ from presidential proclamations, which are used largely for ceremonial and honorary purposes, such as declaring National Newspaper Carrier Appreciation Day.
Executive orders do not require congres-
sional approval. Thus, the president can use
them to set policy while avoiding public debate
and opposition. Presidents have used executive
orders to direct a range of activities, including
establishing migratory bird refuges; putting
Japanese-Americans in internment camps dur-
ing WORLD WAR II; discharging civilian govern-
ment employees who had been disloyal,
following World War II; enlarging national
forests; prohibiting RACIAL DISCRIMINATION in
housing; pardoning VIETNAM WAR draft
evaders; giving federal workers the right to bar-
gain collectively; keeping the federal workplace
drug free; and sending U.S. troops to Bosnia.
Historically, executive orders related to rou-
tine administrative matters and to the internal
operations of federal agencies, such as amending
Civil Service Rules and overseeing the adminis-
tration of public lands.More recently, presidents
have used executive orders to carry out legisla-
tive policies and programs. As a result, the exec-
utive order has become a critical tool in
presidential policy making. For example, Presi-
dent JOHN F. KENNEDY used an executive order
to eliminate racial discrimination in federally
funded housing (Exec. Order No. 11,063, 3
