Veto

Definition

A veto is the power of a president or governor to reject a bill (a proposed law) that has been passed by the legislature (like Congress).

Examples

• The president decided to veto the new spending bill because he thought it was too expensive.
• When the governor used his veto power, the bill did not become a law right away.

Why it Matters for Civic Life

The veto is an important part of the "checks and balances" system. It allows the Executive Branch (the president or governor) to stop a law from being made if they believe it's not good for the country, preventing the Legislative Branch from becoming too powerful.

Fun Fact!

If Congress still wants a bill to become law after a presidential veto, they can sometimes override the veto with a special two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate!