“Executive Order vs. Law: What’s the Difference”

What’s a Law?

A law is a rule created by Congress (the House + the Senate), then signed by the President. It’s official, legally binding, and it applies to everyone including future presidents.

Examples of laws:

• The Civil Rights Act (1964)- Banned discrimination based on race, gender, religion, or nationality.

• The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)- Made healthcare more accessible and protected people with pre-existing conditions.

• The Voting Rights Act- Protected Black Americans from voter suppression like literacy tests and poll taxes.

✅ Laws take longer to pass, but they’re harder to undo.

What’s an Executive Order?

An executive order is like the President giving instructions to the government:

“This is how I want things run. Make it happen.”

It doesn’t go through Congress, and it’s not a new law but it can change how current laws are enforced.

Examples of executive orders:

• Biden’s order on federal police reform- Banned chokeholds and required body cams for federal officers.

• Trump’s Travel Ban (2017):- Blocked people from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S.

• Obama’s DACA protections for Dreamers- Obama’s order to protect undocumented young people from deportation.

⏳ These can be signed in a day and undone just as fast by the next president.

Why Should You Care?

Executive orders and laws both affect:

• Your rights- They decide what you can or can’t do — like who can vote, what speech is protected, or how you’re treated under the law.

• Your safety- They shape police practices, gun laws, emergency response, and how communities are protected (or over-policed).

• Your money- They influence wages, taxes, student loans, healthcare costs, and the programs your money funds like schools or SNAP.

• Your future- They determine access to education, immigration status, environmental protections, and the opportunities you (or your kids) will have.

And they often don’t make the news in plain language.

Law: The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) → Congress passed it → Created lasting healthcare changes.

Executive Order: Biden signed EO 14074 (Police Reform) → Ordered federal officers to ban chokeholds, use body cams, and track misconduct → But it doesn’t apply to local police unless they choose to follow it.

A law can lock in progress.An executive order can kickstart action or end it fast.

So when you see the news, ask:

🔍 Is this a law or an executive order?⏱️ Is this temporary or permanent?💬 What does this change for me or my people?

Quick Recap: An executive order is a directive from the President that tells federal agencies how to operate, but it isn’t a law and can be reversed by the next president. A law, on the other hand, is passed by Congress and signed by the President, making it more permanent and harder to undo. Executive orders are faster to create but more temporary. Laws take longer but have lasting power.