A/An _________ issued by a president has

the force of law and does not have to be
approved by Congress.

1. memorandum of law
2. formal opinion
3. determination letter
4. executive order

Would this be an executive order?

executive order is the strongest choice.

To determine if an executive order is issued by a president and has the force of law without requiring approval by Congress, you can start by understanding what each of the given options means:

1. Memorandum of Law: A memorandum of law is a legal document that outlines the details, analysis, and arguments related to a particular legal issue.
2. Formal Opinion: A formal opinion is a written statement issued by a court or legal authority that provides guidance or interpretation of the law.
3. Determination Letter: A determination letter is typically issued by a government agency to inform an individual or organization of its decision or determination regarding a specific matter or issue.
4. Executive Order: An executive order is a written directive or command issued by the President of the United States that manages operations of the federal government. Executive orders carry the force of law and do not require approval from Congress.

Given the description, an executive order aligns with the characteristics mentioned in the question: issued by a president, has the force of law, and doesn't need approval from Congress. Therefore, the correct answer would be option 4, executive order.