Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) Practice Exam

What is an Executive Order?

1. An act passed by Congress

2. A proclamation by the President directing governmental agency actions

3. A regulation designed to create new judicial positions

4. A formal request submitted to the courts for a judicial review

The correct answer is: A proclamation by the President directing governmental agency actions

An Executive Order is a proclamation issued by the President of the United States that directs the actions of governmental agencies. This means that the President uses executive orders to manage the operations of the federal government and implement policies. They have the force of law, allowing the President to clarify existing laws, set policy priorities, or direct specific actions by federal agencies without the need for legislative approval. The other choices do not accurately describe an Executive Order. For example, an act passed by Congress represents legislation that requires approval from both houses of Congress and the President, which is fundamentally different from an Executive Order. The mention of regulations to create new judicial positions or a formal request to courts for judicial review also addresses processes outside the realm of executive orders, which are specifically tied to the President's authority and governmental administration.