What is an executive order, how many has Donald Trump signed and what is the immigration order?
The orders can be controversial as they allow the President to make major decisions without the consent of Congress
EXECUTIVE orders are a key tool for US presidents trying to make their mark without the approval of Congress.
They are often in the news, and Donald Trump was not been shy to issue them during the early months of his presidency – but how do they work? Here's what you need to know...
Donald Trump wasted no time in issuing executive orders to overturn Barack Obama's policies
What is an executive order?
The United States President, as the head of the Executive Branch, issues executive orders which are legally-binding.
They usually direct officials in how they execute established laws or policies.
However, in many instances they have been used to guide officers to carry out directions in contrary to established law.
They are controversial for this reason because they allow the President to make major decisions, even law, without the consent of Congress.
The basis of executive orders' authority lie in Article Two of the US Constitution.
It states: "The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America."
If Congress disagrees with an order it can rewrite or amend a previous law, or spell out in greater detail how the Executive Branch must act.
The President can veto this if they disagree with it but a 2/3 majority is often required for that to happen.
LATEST TRUMP NEWS
What is the immigration order signed by Donald Trump?
On June 20 the President signed an executive order to prevent migrant children being split up from their families at the US border with Mexico.
Videos of youngsters in cages and an audiotape of kids crying for their mothers had quickly become a major crisis for the White House.
While signing the order, Trump said: “It's about keeping families together. I did not like the sight of families being separated.”
However, the brash billionaire added that his administration would continue its "zero tolerance policy" towards illegal immigration.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he hoped that his measure would be matched with legislation.
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen drafted the executive action for Trump that would direct her department to keep families together after they are detained crossing the border illegally.
How many executive orders has President Donald Trump signed?
In the first year of his presidency, Donald Trump signed over 50 executive orders.
Many of these came in the first 100 days after his inauguration, as the new President sought to fulfil some of his key campaign pledges.
These included orders on Obamacare, the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, the US coal industry and America's abortion policy.
Trump has continued to issued executive orders in 2018, and has now signed a total of 77.
He has used the measure far more frequently than either of two predecessors – George W. Bush issued 36.4 a year and Barack Obama 34.6.