Legislative glossary
Veto
Definition
The governor's power to reject a bill passed by the legislature. Some vetoes can be overridden; some can't, depending on state.
Why it matters
The veto is the executive's seat at the legislative table. Because everyone knows it is waiting at the end, it shapes bills long before it is used: provisions get softened, funding mechanisms change, and effective dates move to keep a signature in reach. Some state governors also have line-item, amendatory, or pocket-veto authority.
In the game
The Executive stage is The Bill to Law Game's endgame: read the governor's signals, decide what to concede in advance, and if the veto comes anyway: count to two-thirds.
Related terms
Comes up alongside