1. How does President Trump's pace of executive orders within just days of taking office compare to his predecessors? (see graph below)

His written orders include documents titled "Executive Order," Memorandum, and Proclamation.

2. Is the content or subject matter of Trump's executive orders thus far markedly different than those issued in the early days of previous administrations?

Typically a President's initial orders are intended to immediately make good on campaign promises and commitments. As a result, these include specific acts repudiating the prior administration's policies. In that respect, Trump is very much in the normal stream.

However, often campaign commitments cannot be fulfilled by executive action (e.g., to change taxes, permanently cut spending, increase the size of the military, enact a new system of regulation of financial institutions). An aggressive legislative program would be needed.

Several of President Trump's orders request reports or analysis from agencies that presumably will later be reflected in legislation. Arguably President Trump is talking a very expansive view of the discretion available to him; certainly he takes a very strong rhetorical stance.