Veto

Definition

A veto is the power to unilaterally stop an official action, especially the enactment of legislation. In the context of political science, it is a constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body.

Related terms

Legislation: The process through which statutory laws are proposed, enacted, or modified by legislative bodies.

Executive Branch:

The division of government primarily responsible for implementing laws and policies and often holds the veto power.

Checks and Balances:

A system that allows each branch of government to amend or veto acts of another branch so as to prevent any one branch from exerting too much power