Question

"When a meeting occurred, it was generally to give department heads what one presidential assistant called their marching orders." What do the words "marching orders" mean in this context?

Answer 1

In the context of a presidential meeting, "marching orders" means specific instructions or tasks given to department heads to ensure they carry out the president's policies effectively. These are often facilitated through the use of executive orders.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a meeting occurred in the presidential context, to give department heads what is referred to as their marching orders, the phrase typically means specific instructions, directives, or tasks that are to be carried out by the department heads. These marching orders are akin to commands that military officers would give to their subordinates, ensuring that everyone is clear on their objectives and actions needed. This terminology underscores the expectation of obedience and the structured nature of how directives are communicated and executed within the executive branch.

Presidents use executive orders as one of the tools to issue these marching orders, as they are directives to administrators in the executive branch on how to implement legislation. In this way, executive orders function similarly to laws and are an integral part of how a president ensures that their policies are executed and the laws are administered in accordance with their agenda.