(CNN) Sen. Bernie Sanders has instructed his team of campaign advisers to draw up a list of executive actions he can take immediately upon entering the White House as he embarks on what would be a challenging effort to enact his ambitious agenda.

The slate of potential day one directives encompasses a range of campaign promises, from declaring a climate change a national emergency, to allowing the US to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada and ordering his Justice Department to effectively legalize marijuana, according to a Washington Post report.

A Sanders aide with direct knowledge of the internal deliberations described the menu to CNN as a "working document" and said Sanders himself has been personally involved in the process. The goal, the aide said, would be to take action on a variety of issues that are within the purview of executive authority even before Sanders' Cabinet officials are confirmed by the Senate.

Sanders has faced questions throughout the primary campaign, which kicks off in earnest on Monday with the Iowa caucuses , over how he would implement his broad agenda in the face of opposition from Republicans in the Senate and some dissenters within the Democratic Party. He has mostly remained circumspect on issues related to process and been hesitant to endorse any plan to blow up the filibuster in the Senate, instead suggesting he would attempt to use the budget reconciliation process to pass his trademark "Medicare for All" legislation.

Asked by the New York Times editorial board how he would contend with a Senate run by Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Sanders -- as he often argues on the campaign trail -- said he would seek to harness popular support to apply overwhelming outside pressure on GOP lawmakers.

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