Betty Culver, age 15, of Atlantic City, N.J., for her question:
DOES THE PRESIDENT HAVE UNLIMITED VETO POWER?
Only limited veto power has been granted to the president of the United States. His power is definitely not absolute or unlimited.
Veto is a Latin word that means "I forbid." When used by the president, it refers to the power that might kill a law that the legislative branch has already passed.
When the two houses of Congress pass a joint resolution or a bill, it is presented to the president of the United States. One of four things must happen:
The president may approve the bill. When he signs it, the bill becomes law.
The president may allow the bill to become law without his signature. The Constitution says that if any bill is not returned by the president within 10 days, the bill will become law without the president's signature.
The president may hold the bill, in the expectation that Congress will adjourn within 10 days and that the bill will thus be defeated. This method is called the pocket veto. This veto method is used when a president finds certain bills unsatisfactory but doesn't want to veto them openly.
The fourth thing a president can do when he receives a bill from the Congress is to veto it. If he does, he must send a message to Congress stating his reasons.
The president's veto power is limited. A vote of a two thirds majority of the members present in both houses of Congress can override the veto.
The sovereign of Great Britain still holds the power of absolute veto. But no British king or queen has used his power since 1707.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was president longer than any other person, used 372 regular vetoes and 263 pocket vetoes, the most used by any president. Congress reversed only nine of President Roosevelt's vetoes.
Grover Cleveland ranks second, with 346 regular vetoes and 238 pocket vetoes.
Throughout the nation's history, Congress has over riden only about 5 percent of presidents' vetoes. Congress usually goes along with the president. A total of 11 presidents who vetoed bills had none of their vetoes overriden by Congress.
Congress overrode only two of 73 vetoes that President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued. But it also overrode 15 of Andrew Johnson's 21 regular vetoes.
Seven presidents did not veto any bills.
Most state governors also have a veto power. But in some states, a simple majority of the members present in the houses of the legislature can override a veto, rather than a two thirds majority. Also, most governors can veto parts of appropriation bills.