An executive order is a rule or order that is issued by the executive branch of the government and has the status of a law. The Maryland Intergovernmental Review and Coordination (MIRC) process was established through Presidential and Gubernatorial Executive Orders, with the Maryland State Clearinghouse for Intergovernmental Assistance having this responsibility.

In 1982 President Ronald Reagan (President 1981-1989) issued federal Presidential Executive Order 12372, entitled Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs, to "…foster an intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened federalism by relying on State and local processes for the State and local government coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance and direct Federal development…" Full text of that Order is available by clicking on Presidential Executive Order 12372. This Order was:

• Signed on July 14, 1982
• Published in the Federal Register on July 16, 1982 on page 47 FR 30959
• Amended by: Executive Order 12416 on April 8, 1983
• Supplemented by: Executive Order 13132 on August 4, 1999

In 1983 Governor Harry R. Hughes (Governor 1979-1987) issued Gubernatorial Executive Order 01.01.0983.17, entitled Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs and Activities, which established the Maryland Intergovernmental Review and Coordination Process. "In order to carry out federal law and this Executive Order, the Department of State Planning is designated as the single point of contact for federal agencies seeking the views of State, regional, and local public officials." Full text of that Order is available by clicking on Gubernatorial Executive Order 01.01.0983.17. This Order was established:

• Signed September 30, 1983
• Published in the Maryland Register on November 11, 1983, Vol. 10, Issue 23

The Department of State Planning is now the Maryland Department of Planning. The Maryland State Clearinghouse for Intergovernmental Assistance (Clearinghouse) is a unit within the Maryland Department of Planning.