Legal Definitions - veto power

Veto power refers to the authority of an executive leader, such as a president, governor, or mayor, to formally reject a bill or resolution that has been passed by the legislative body. This action prevents the proposed law from taking effect, unless the legislature can muster a specific, often higher, number of votes to override the executive's objection.

Here are some examples illustrating how veto power works:

• Imagine the U.S. Congress passes a bill that proposes a new national tax on certain imported goods. The President of the United States believes this tax would harm international trade relations and ultimately hurt American consumers. The President can then exercise their veto power, sending the bill back to Congress with a message explaining their objections. This prevents the bill from immediately becoming law, forcing Congress to either abandon the bill or attempt to override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate.

• Consider a scenario where a state legislature approves a bill that would significantly change the funding model for public schools. The state Governor, after reviewing the bill, concludes that it would disproportionately disadvantage smaller, rural school districts. The Governor can veto this bill, thereby stopping it from becoming state law. The legislature would then need to gather enough votes, typically a supermajority, to override the Governor's veto if they wish for the bill to pass despite the executive's disapproval.

• At a local level, a city council might pass an ordinance to approve the construction of a large commercial complex in a residential neighborhood. The Mayor of the city, however, might believe this development would lead to excessive traffic and negatively impact the community's quality of life. The Mayor can veto the ordinance, preventing the city council's decision from taking immediate effect. The council would then have to decide whether to accept the Mayor's decision or attempt to override the veto, often requiring a specific number of council members to vote in favor of the override.