An indirect veto that occurs when the President takes no action on a bill and Congress adjourns within ten days, preventing the bill from becoming law. Unlike a regular veto, a pocket veto cannot be overridden by Congress.
The term emerged in the early 19th century, suggesting the President simply puts the bill in his pocket and ignores it. 'Veto' comes from Latin meaning 'I forbid,' but a pocket veto is a refusal to act rather than active rejection.
The pocket veto is the President's ultimate passive-aggressive move—by doing absolutely nothing, the President kills a bill more decisively than with a regular veto, since Congress can't override what technically isn't even a veto! Modern presidents have fought fierce battles over what counts as congressional 'adjournment' to use this sneaky power.
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