Vetoavan

Vetoavan is a fictional governance device used in political theory and speculative fiction to illustrate how veto power can operate when it is consolidated across multiple decision-making bodies. The term denotes a single signal that can block proposals unless overridden under specified rules. It is not a real institution or law but a conceptual tool for analysis and storytelling.

Mechanism: In the vetoavan model, proposals pass through several independent councils or committees. Any council holding veto authority can emit a veto on the proposal, and the vetoavan aggregates these signals into an overall blocking decision. Overrides are possible only if a prescribed process—often a timed window and a higher threshold of agreement among other bodies—is met. The design is meant to show how centralized veto power can both prevent reckless decisions and induce gridlock, depending on the rules chosen.

Variants: Common variants include a unilateral veto by a designated actor, a joint veto by a coalition, or a rotating veto power assigned to different bodies. Some rules require an override vote, a cooling-off period, or a supermajority to overturn a veto signal.

In use: The vetoavan framework appears in theoretical studies and in science fiction to explore intergovernmental dynamics, negotiation strategies, and the potential for veto fatigue. The term is a neologism created for explanatory purposes.