Wednesday: Law & Civics

What is the name of the process by which a bill does not become a law if the President does not sign it within ten days while Congress has already adjourned?

Hint: The process is a strategic tool for the President to veto legislation discreetly without a formal rejection

A pocket veto is a unique presidential power used to indirectly veto a bill.

A pocket veto is a unique presidential power used to indirectly veto a bill. This occurs when the President takes no action on a bill within ten days, excluding Sundays, and Congress adjourns during that period, preventing the bill from becoming law. Unlike a regular veto, which can be overridden by a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate, a pocket veto cannot be overridden. The pocket veto is a strategic tool for the President to veto legislation discreetly without a formal rejection, typically used when there is insufficient time for Congress to respond or when the President wishes to avoid political confrontation.

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