Legal Definitions - qualified veto

Qualified Veto

A qualified veto is a power held by an executive official, such as a president or governor, to reject a proposed law that has been passed by a legislative body. The term "qualified" signifies that this veto is not absolute; the legislature typically has the power to override the executive's rejection. To do so, a special majority vote, often two-thirds of the members in each legislative chamber, is usually required. If the legislature successfully overrides the veto, the bill becomes law despite the executive's initial objection.

Here are some examples illustrating a qualified veto:

• Example 1: Federal Legislation

  Imagine the U.S. Congress passes a bill to fund a new national infrastructure project. The President, concerned about the bill's cost and potential impact on the national debt, decides to exercise a veto. However, a significant number of members in both the House of Representatives and the Senate believe the project is vital. They gather enough votes to achieve a two-thirds majority in both chambers, successfully overriding the President's veto. In this scenario, the President's veto was qualified because Congress had the power to overturn it, making the infrastructure bill law.

• Example 2: State Budget Bill

  Consider a state legislature that passes a comprehensive budget bill for the upcoming fiscal year. The state governor, while agreeing with most of the budget, objects to a specific allocation for a particular agency, believing it to be excessive. The governor issues a veto on the entire budget bill. However, the state legislature, having carefully crafted the budget and believing the allocation is necessary, reconvenes. After intense debate, they vote to override the governor's veto with the constitutionally required supermajority in both the state House and Senate. This demonstrates a qualified veto because the governor's rejection was not final and could be, and was, overturned by the legislature.