Which document or regulation is often less weighty than laws passed by the legislature?

Executive orders are directives issued by the president or state governors that manage the operations of the government. While they hold significant authority, they are generally considered less weighty than laws passed by the legislature, which have undergone the formal legislative process, including debate and voting by elected representatives. Laws enacted by legislatures reflect a more comprehensive democratic process and typically have a broader scope and lasting authority compared to executive orders, which can be more easily reversed or modified by subsequent administrations.

The other options, such as the Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, as well as judicial rulings that interpret laws and policies derived from legislative acts, have far greater weight and permanence than executive orders. Policies and procedures, while important for guiding day-to-day operations within government agencies, also do not have the same legal standing or enforceability as laws passed by the legislature. Therefore, of the choices presented, executive orders are the correct answer as they can be overruled by more substantial legal frameworks established by legislative action.