Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

pocket-veto

noun

/ˈpɒkɪt ˈviːtoʊ/

Definition

A pocket veto is a special type of veto used by the president of the United States or a governor, where they do not sign a bill into law nor explicitly veto it, allowing the bill to die without a formal rejection.

Examples

If Congress sends a bill to the president and he does not sign or veto it within ten days, it becomes law unless Congress adjourns, in which case he can use a pocket veto.
The president exercised a pocket veto on the bill regarding environmental regulations, allowing it to lapse without a formal decision.

Meaning

The term ‘pocket veto’ refers to a situation in which the president or governor indirectly stops the legislation by not signing it into law and taking no action for a specific period, thus effectively preventing it from becoming law without formally declining it.