What Exactly Is an 'Executive Order'?

In the aftermath of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, there is a lot of confusion about the phrase "executive actions." The president has an assortment of different tools, and it is important to distinguish among them.

"Executive orders," issued by the president personally, often involve large-scale, government-wide matters, and contain his own orders to the officials who work for him. For example, an executive order might require executive agencies to reassess and streamline existing regulations, to promote diversity in the federal workforce, or to improve customer service.