No override
A pocket veto is absolute — Congress cannot vote to override it because the bill never formally returns.
In plain English
Killing a bill by doing nothing.
If Congress goes home before the President's 10-day window to sign a bill runs out, the President can kill it by simply doing nothing.
Simple example
Presidents have pocket-vetoed more than a thousand bills in U.S. history; unlike a regular veto, Congress gets no chance to override.
Why it matters
What the term actually changes.
End-of-session leverage
Bills passed in a session's final days are uniquely vulnerable, giving the President quiet power over late legislation.
How it works
The mechanics, in practice.
The 10-day clock
The President has 10 days (excluding Sundays) to sign or veto a bill once it arrives.
Adjournment trigger
If Congress adjourns during that window and the President does nothing, the bill dies instead of becoming law.
Related guide
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A quick guide to one of the most-watched numbers in American politics — and what it can and cannot tell you.
Read the guide → Related issue brief
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Read the brief →You’ve learned the term. Now vote.
Do you approve of how the President is handling the job?
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