Final answer:
An executive order is a piece of public policy issued by the president that can have the same weight as a law. It is a directive from the president to the executive branch of the government that carries the force of law.
Step-by-step explanation:
An executive order is a piece of public policy issued by the president that can have the same weight as a law. It is a directive from the president to the executive branch of the government that carries the force of law. In the United States, executive orders are based on the president's authority outlined in Article II, Section 1, Clause 1 of the Constitution.
For example, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 in 1942, which authorized the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. This order had a significant impact on the lives of thousands of individuals and was carried out as if it were a law.
While executive orders have the force of law, they can be challenged and overturned by the courts if they are deemed unconstitutional.
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