Legal Definitions - vetera statuta

A veto is a constitutional power held by an executive branch, such as a president or governor, to formally reject a bill passed by the legislative branch. This action prevents the bill from becoming law unless the legislature takes further action, typically by overriding the veto with a special majority vote. The power of a veto serves as a crucial mechanism of checks and balances, allowing one branch of government to limit the authority of another.

• Example 1: Presidential Veto of a Budget Bill

  After both houses of a national legislature pass a comprehensive budget bill, the President reviews it and decides it allocates too much funding to certain non-essential programs while neglecting critical infrastructure. The President then issues a formal veto, sending the bill back to the legislature with a message explaining the objections.

  This example illustrates a standard executive veto, where the President uses their power to prevent a legislative act (the budget bill) from becoming law due to policy disagreements.

• Example 2: Gubernatorial Veto Overridden by State Legislature

  A state legislature passes a bill to significantly reduce environmental protection regulations. The state's governor, concerned about the long-term impact, vetoes the bill. However, a strong majority of legislators in both the state's assembly and senate believe the bill is necessary for economic growth. They hold another vote, achieving the two-thirds majority required by the state constitution to override the governor's veto, and the bill becomes law despite the governor's objection.

  Here, the governor's initial veto demonstrates the executive's power to block legislation. The subsequent action by the legislature, however, shows how a veto can be overridden, highlighting the dynamic interplay between the branches of government.

• Example 3: A "Pocket Veto" by a Mayor

  A city council passes a controversial zoning amendment on the last day of its legislative session, sending it to the mayor for approval. The mayor disagrees with the amendment but doesn't want to issue a formal veto message that could spark further debate. Instead, the mayor simply takes no action, and because the legislative session ends before the deadline for the mayor to sign or veto the bill, the amendment automatically fails to become law.

  This scenario demonstrates a "pocket veto," a specific type of veto where an executive's inaction, combined with the legislature's adjournment, effectively kills a bill without a formal rejection.