Veto

In the Legal Latin feature of this issue veto is defined in the context of corporate meetings. However, veto is more famously known for its use in the public policy arena.

A veto most generally describes the method by which the President of the United States says no to a bill from Congress. When Congress is in session, the president has ten days to exercise a veto after he or she has received a bill enacted by Congress. If the president fails to act, whether to veto the bill or to sign the bill, it becomes law. If the president does veto legislation, Congress may override the veto by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. In some instances the president may exercise a so-called pocket veto. Here, the president intentionally fails to sign a bill within the 10 days allowed by the Constitution, and, if Congress has adjourned, the pocket veto will have the same effect as a formal veto. However, if Congress is in session and the president fails to sign the bill, it becomes law without his signature.

Sometimes legislation is so widely popular it is considered to be veto-proof. This occurs when a bill is enacted with a margin sufficient to override a veto, should it occur. Since a 2/3 vote is required to override, a veto-proof majority is 290 in the House and 67 in the Senate.

Congress also has a form of veto; the legislative veto. The legislative veto refers to Congressional repeal of federal agency or presidential actions that would otherwise stand unless nullified by disapproval resolutions passed by Congress.