Adirective issued by a president or governor that has the force of law is known as

It is known as "executive order". 

An executive order is an official order from the president to government offices that regularly have much a similar power of a law. All through history, executive orders have been one way that the authority of the president and the official branch of government has extended, to degrees that are some of the time disputable.

answer; does not include a reference to the audience;