Executive Orders
Presidential executive orders are legally binding directives issued by the President of the United States to manage the operations of the federal government.
What is an Executive Order?
An executive order is a signed, written, and published directive from the President of the United States that manages operations of the federal government. They have the force of law but can be revoked by a future president or invalidated by Congress or the courts.
Legal Authority
Executive orders are authorized by Article II of the U.S. Constitution, which vests executive power in the President. They are published in the Federal Register and codified in Title 3 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Limits on Executive Orders
Executive orders cannot override an Act of Congress or the Constitution. Congress can pass legislation to override an executive order, and federal courts can strike one down if it exceeds presidential authority.
Executive Orders
Executive order records are being added to our database.
In the meantime, you can browse all presidential executive orders directly from the official Federal Register.
Browse on Federal Register →Official Sources
Federal Register — Executive Orders
All presidential executive orders published in the Federal Register, searchable by EO number, subject, and administration.
The American Presidency Project — Executive Orders
A comprehensive archive of executive orders from George Washington to the present, maintained by the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Code of Federal Regulations — Title 3
Title 3 of the CFR contains the compilations of presidential documents, including executive orders, proclamations, and other presidential directives.