Even 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.
Well, we don't really see all the democracy in the US, especially in this last term.
When 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.
An executive order isn't a law. It is an instruction for an executive branch agency or committee.
https://www.federalregister.gov/presidential-documents/execu...