A presidential executive order (EO) is a directive
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In many ways, presidential executive orders are similar to written orders, or instructions issued by the president of a corporation to its department heads or directors.
Thirty days after being published in the Federal Register, executive orders take effect. While they do bypass the U.S. Congress and the standard legislative law making process, no part of an executive order may direct the agencies to conduct illegal or unconstitutional activities.
President George Washington issued the first executive order in 1789. Since then, all U.S. presidents have issued executive orders, ranging from Presidents Adams, Madison and Monroe, who issued only one each, to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who issued 3,522 executive orders.
Reasons for Issuing Executive Orders