vetoing

Vetoing is the act of formally rejecting a proposal or decision, thereby blocking its adoption unless countermeasures are taken. It is a formal power used in political, legal, and organizational decision-making to prevent action without approval from the veto holder.

The term veto comes from the Latin veto, I forbid, and has been used since ancient times to describe a right to prevent action. In modern constitutional systems, veto powers are designed to provide checks and balances or to guard against harmful consequences of hasty legislation.

In government, veto powers are typically held by executives, legislatures, or both. An absolute veto allows the holder to block a bill outright; a suspensive veto permits passage but requires future reconsideration; a line-item veto targets specific provisions, usually budget items; a pocket veto occurs when the executive does not sign a bill and Congress has adjourned, preventing passage. Legislation may be overridden by a supermajority in the legislature, restoring it despite the veto.

At the international level, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council possess a veto on substantive resolutions, enabling any one of them to block action on international peace and security despite majority support.

In corporate and organizational contexts, veto rights may be granted to certain shareholders, executives, or independent directors to block fundamental changes or major policy shifts, often as a safeguard for minority interests or strategic stability.

Vetoing can prevent rash decisions and encourage negotiated settlements, but it can also cause gridlock and undermine democratic responsiveness when used to block legitimate proposals. The balance between effective checks and government efficiency remains a central debate about veto powers.