Pragmatically the difference does not really matter, om the other hand a executive order migth have more action behind it than a law.
replyEven with the hugely expansive U.S. government and executive branch, an executive order is much more restricted in scope than a law passed by congress.
replyWell, we don't really see all the democracy in the US, especially in this last term.
replyWhen the congress doesn't even know that the president can do this or that, it's just dictatorship with some theater. In Europe, the EU's powers are much much more limited.