Procedures and Rules

How a Rule Gets Issued

1. Trigger: Congress passes a law, a court decision demands action, or the President sets a policy priority.
2. Drafting: The responsible agency develops a draft rule, often with input from experts, stakeholders, and internal lawyers.
3. Review: The draft goes to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for cost-benefit review and interagency coordination.
4. Notice: The proposed rule is published in the Federal Register for public comment.
5. Comment Period: Citizens, organizations, and industries submit feedback—sometimes tens of thousands of comments.
6. Revision: The agency reviews comments, adjusts the rule, and prepares a final version.
7. Publication: The final rule is published and gains the force of law.
8. Judicial Review: Courts may review the rule if challenged, testing legality and reasonableness.

How an Executive Order Is Drafted and Reviewed

1. Concept: White House policy staff or agency leaders draft the idea, aligning it with presidential priorities.
2. Legal Review: The Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) checks constitutional and statutory authority.
3. Interagency Input: Agencies weigh in on feasibility, costs, and conflicts.
4. Presidential Decision: The President reviews, edits, and approves the final draft.
5. Publication: The EO is signed, numbered, and published in the Federal Register.
6. Implementation: Agencies receive instructions to carry out the order.
7. Oversight: Congress, courts, or watchdogs may test its legality or practicality.

How the Budget Is Built and Scored

1. Guidance: OMB issues instructions to agencies, signaling priorities.
2. Agency Proposals: Departments submit funding requests, often exceeding likely allocations.
3. Passback: OMB returns revised numbers, forcing agencies to cut or justify spending.
4. Appeals: Agencies may appeal directly to senior White House staff or the President.
5. Final Proposal: OMB compiles the President’s budget and sends it to Congress.
6. Scoring: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) evaluates costs and impacts.
7. Congressional Action: Committees revise, amend, and negotiate appropriations bills.

How to Track an Investigation or Audit

1. Initiation: An Inspector General, GAO, or watchdog launches an inquiry.
2. Information Gathering: Auditors request documents, interview staff, and analyze data.
3. Draft Report: Findings are shared internally with the agency for comment.
4. Final Report: The report is published (with some redactions) to the public.
5. Response: Agencies must outline corrective actions.
6. Follow-Up: Oversight bodies and Congress monitor compliance.

Rules and Standards

The executive branch is not bound by a set of rules, it operates under the Constitution which allows the branch to be highly flexible and adaptable. To maintain integrity, executive officials are bound by ethics rules covering conflicts of interest, financial holdings, gifts, lobbying restrictions, and political activity. 

Other Powers

Much of the powers that are exercised by the executive branch are not mentioned in Article II, making these powers implied powers. The Constitution has no mention of executive orders, emergency powers, or the structure of the administrative state—all now central to governance. This has allowed Presidents to adapt the office to new realities, but it also fuels the tension between energetic leadership and unchecked power.

Executive Orders

A formal directive issued by the President that instructs federal agencies on how to implement laws and manage government operations. These orders are a primary tool for presidents to guide the executive branch and can cover a wide range of issues, from  administrative procedures to national security. Executive orders cannot create new laws or appropriate funds that have not been authorized by Congress. Additionally, executive orders are subject to judicial review, meaning that courts can invalidate them if  they exceed the president's constitutional or statutory authority. Congress also has the power to pass legislation that can override  executive orders, and a subsequent president can revoke or modify previous orders.

Emergency Powers

Emergency powers allow the President to act swiftly during crises, using statutory and limited inherent authorities, but they are  constrained by Congress, the courts, and the Constitution. Emergency powers are special, temporary authorities granted to the  executive branch to respond to crises such as natural disasters, public health emergencies, terrorist attacks, or national security  threats. In the United States, the Constitution does not explicitly grant emergency powers to the President, but Congress has  delegated certain authorities through statutes.

The Structure of the Administrative State