History of Executive order in Timeline

Executive orders are directives issued by a head of state to manage a nation's federal administration. These orders enable leaders to direct government agencies, implement policies, or respond to emergencies without requiring new legislation. The structure and authority of executive orders vary across countries. In many systems, their legality is subject to constitutional or legislative limits and judicial oversight. The term is commonly associated with presidential systems like that of the United States, where executive orders have legal weight within the president's administration.

1907: US Department of State institutes numbering scheme

In 1907, the US Department of State instituted a numbering scheme for Executive Orders, starting retroactively with United States Executive Order 1, which had been issued on October 20, 1862, by President Lincoln.

1932: Executive orders before 1932

Before 1932, uncontested executive orders had determined such issues as national mourning on the death of a president and the lowering of flags to half-staff.

March 6, 1933: Bank Holiday Declared

On March 6, 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt issued his first executive order, declaring a bank holiday and forbidding banks to release gold coin or bullion. Executive Order 6102 forbade the hoarding of gold coin, bullion, and gold certificates.

March 7, 1934: Establishment of National Recovery Review Board

On March 7, 1934, President Franklin Roosevelt established the National Recovery Review Board through Executive Order 6632.

1934: NIRA found unconstitutional

In 1934, the Supreme Court, under Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes, found the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) was unconstitutional.

1935: Supreme Court overturns executive orders

In 1935, the Supreme Court overturned five of Franklin Roosevelt's executive orders: 6199, 6204, 6256, 6284a and 6855.

1935: Re-establishment of the National Emergency Council

President Franklin Roosevelt issued Executive Order 7073 in 1935, re-establishing the National Emergency Council to administer the functions of the NIRA in carrying out the provisions of the Emergency Relief Appropriations Act.

1952: Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer

In 1952, the Supreme Court case Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer, 343 US 579, found that President Harry Truman's Executive Order 10340 was invalid because it attempted to make law instead of clarifying existing law.

1995: Executive Order 12954 overturned

In 1995, President Bill Clinton's Executive Order 12954, which attempted to prevent the federal government from contracting with organizations that had strike-breakers on the payroll, was overturned by a federal appeals court because it conflicted with the National Labor Relations Act.

1997: Article 48(4) of Hong Kong's Basic Law

In 1997, Article 48(4) of Hong Kong's Basic Law empowers the Chief Executive to make executive orders but does not elaborate on the scope of this power or how it can be exercised, though the concept has been clarified by the courts in the years since.

1997: First executive order in Hong Kong

In 1997, shortly after the Handover, Hong Kong issued its first executive order, the Public Service (Administration) Order 1997 (cited as Executive Order No. 1 of 1997), replacing the role of the Colonial Regulations.

1998: The Association of Expatriate Civil Servants of Hong Kong v Chief Executive

In 1998, the Court of First Instance held in The Association of Expatriate Civil Servants of Hong Kong v Chief Executive that executive orders are not law, it did not rule on whether executive orders are equivalent to the Colonial Regulations.

1999: Kosovo War

In 1999, the Kosovo War was fought upon executive order during President Bill Clinton's second term in office. However, the war also had authorizing resolutions from Congress.

2001: Executive Order 13233

In 2001, President George W. Bush issued Executive Order 13233, which restricted public access to the papers of former presidents. The order was criticized by the Society of American Archivists and other groups.

2005: Law Enforcement (Covert Surveillance Procedures) Order

In 2005, Chief Executive Donald Tsang issued the Law Enforcement (Covert Surveillance Procedures) Order to regulate covert surveillance conducted by law enforcement agencies.

2007: Executive order to reduce water use

In 2007, Sonny Perdue, the governor of Georgia, issued an executive order for all its state agencies to reduce water use during a major drought. The same was demanded of its counties' water systems as well.

January 2009: Revocation of Executive Order 13233

In January 2009, President Barack Obama revoked Executive Order 13233, which had restricted public access to presidential papers.

July 30, 2014: House authorizes lawsuit against President Obama

On July 30, 2014, the US House of Representatives approved a resolution authorizing Speaker of the House John Boehner to sue President Obama over claims that he exceeded his executive authority in changing a key provision of the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare").

November 21, 2014: Lawsuit filed against President Obama

On November 21, 2014, the lawsuit authorized by the US House of Representatives was filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, alleging that President Obama exceeded his executive authority in changing a key provision of the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare").

January 28, 2017: Stay on President Trump's executive order

On January 28, 2017, a federal court stayed part of President Donald Trump's executive order Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States, which temporarily banned entry to the US of citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries.

June 26, 2018: Supreme Court affirms Trump's executive order

On June 26, 2018, the US Supreme Court overturned the lower court order in Trump v. Hawaii and affirmed that the executive order was within the president's constitutional authority.