Balkinization  

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

A Pocket Veto of the Stimulus Bill

Gerard N. Magliocca

A year that began with a presidential impeachment trial could end with another rare constitutional act (at least in recent decades): a presidential pocket veto.

The pandemic stimulus bill passed both Houses of Congress on Monday, December 21st. The Constitution gives the President ten days (Sundays excepted) to decide whether to sign or veto a bill. If he chooses not to sign or to veto, then normally the bill becomes law. If the Congress adjourns during the ten day period before the President acts, though, then the bill dies.

Ten days excluding Sundays from December 21 brings us to January 1st, right before the new Congress comes into session. This means that the lame-duck Congress can stay in session and block a pocket veto, though I don't know if Congress has ever stayed in session into a third January since the starting date was moved to January 3rd by the 20th Amendment. If the President takes the full ten days to act, though, foes of the bill could try to use stalling tactics to delay an override vote until one or both Houses must adjourn. sine die

One last thought--the pocket veto rule means that anything Congress might pass after Christmas must receive the President's signature to become law. He need not issue an actual veto to block the bill. 

UPDATE: I was incorrect in one respect. The stimulus bill is not yet enrolled. Thus, the 10 day clock is not yet running. As a result, the President can pocket veto the bill. I decided to leave the original post as is.


Comments:

Post a Comment

Older Posts
Newer Posts
Home