Know difference between US executive order and proclamation? 4 POTUS actions explained

Do you know about the exact difference between the US president’s executive order and proclamation? The White House’s website classifies the US presidential action into four broad categories, including executive orders, proclamations and memoranda. These serve distinct purposes and also vary in legalities. 

Here are the four types of orders explained with examples: 

Executive order

A US executive order is a formal directive issued to federal American agencies, departments or officials, instructing them to manage official operations or to implement policies. 

Typically, executive orders are noted in the Federal Register — — and numbered for record keeping. 

An executive order comes into force based on the US president’s constitutional or statutory authority.

For example, the Trump 1.0 administration’s travel ban in 2017, restricting entry into the US from several Middle Eastern countries, was imposed through Executive Order 13769.

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Proclamation

A proclamation, recorded and numbered like an executive order, is an official statement or announcement made by POTUS. These communications are addressed to the public at large or specific groups but not American government departments or similar entities. 

A proclamation can be ceremonial in nature, like declaring a national holiday or announcing a national monument. 

Normally, these orders are symbolic in nature, without binding force, and carry legal effect only if issued under specific legal authority.

For example, the US suspended immigrant entry into the US under certain conditions during the pandemic in 2020 through Proclamation 9892.

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Memorandum

A presidential memorandum is a rather informal directive issued by POTUS to manage operations within the executive branch. It is used for day-to-day administrative guidance to official agencies. 

Although legal, it typically carries less formal weight than an executive order. 

A presidential memorandum is not numbered and need not be published in the Federal Register. 

It can be revoked or modified by subsequent memoranda or executive orders.

For example, in 2017, the Trump 1.0 office ordered agencies to expedite the construction of barriers — described by President Trump as ‘the great wall’ — at the US-Mexico border.

Nominations and appointments

Under this section, the White House lists the decisions made under the formal process by which POTUS selects individuals for key official positions. 

These decisions are often subject to Senate approval.

While a nomination is POTUS’s formal proposal of an individual to fill a federal position, an appointment is the act of officially assigning the nominee to a government position.

For example, Mike Pompeo served as Secretary of State from 2018 to 2021 after being nominated by President Trump and confirmed by Senate. Pompeo served as the principal foreign policy advisor.