pocket veto
Silent bill killer
A pocket veto is a way for a U.S. president to kill a bill without formally vetoing it.
If Congress adjourns within ten days of passing legislation, the president can simply not sign it, and the bill dies—Congress has no opportunity to override.
The term extends to any passive rejection through deliberate inaction: The committee chair gave the proposal a pocket veto by never scheduling a vote.
Elected leader of nation
- White HouseOfficial presidential residence
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- prerogativeExclusive right of office
inaction · passive · unsigned · disapproval · rejection · executive action · presidential · commander-in-chief
Temporary suspension of proceedings
- sessionScheduled time for activity
- recessPause in activity
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- billAmount owed, written
enactment · inaction · expiration · congressional · bicameral · senate · house · quorum
Constitutional distribution of authority
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
- judicial reviewCourts invalidating unconstitutional acts
- constitutionalityAccordance with founding charter
- overrideCancel by authority
Article I · founding fathers · federal · enumerated powers · unconstitutional · legal challenge · court ruling
Planned approach to goals
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
- power playStrategic leverage attempt
- calculationMathematical problem-solving process
timing · obstruction · delay · avoidance · accountability · circumvention · indirect · passive resistance
president
Elected leader of nation
- White HouseOfficial presidential residence
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
prerogative · inaction · passive · unsigned · disapproval · rejection · executive action · presidential · commander-in-chief · federal government
adjournment
Temporary suspension of proceedings
- sessionScheduled time for activity
- recessPause in activity
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
bill · enactment · inaction · expiration · congressional · bicameral · senate · house · quorum · lawmaking
separation of powers
Constitutional distribution of authority
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
- judicial reviewCourts invalidating unconstitutional acts
- constitutionalityAccordance with founding charter
override · Article I · founding fathers · federal · enumerated powers · unconstitutional · legal challenge · court ruling
strategy
Planned approach to goals
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
- power playStrategic leverage attempt
calculation · timing · obstruction · delay · avoidance · accountability · circumvention · indirect · passive resistance · stalling
- presidencyOval Office, president, Washington, executive branch, Adams
- checks and balanceschecks and balances, separation of powers, impeachment, congressional oversight, executive privilege
- Congress powersspending power, declare war, impeachment, lawmaking, appropriations
- gubernatorial powersexecutive orders, clemency, pardons, pardon power, appointments
- legislative powerslawmaking, appropriations, impeachment, war powers, advice and consent
- political tacticscampaigning, gerrymandering, filibuster, campaigns, voter suppression
pocket vetoenactment
Passing into law
ratification · signature · approval · signing · endorsement
poke, pocket, veto, pockets, pocketbook, pocketing, pocketed, pocketknife, pocketful