Since 1789, The President has had the Authority to Veto Legislation Passed by Congress

Reading Passage Question

Since 1789, the President has had the authority to veto legislation passed by Congress; this is a powerful tool. The threat of a veto can help bring about compromise in the content of a bill long before it reaches the President. The “return” veto is a qualified negative veto that the Congress can override with a two-thirds vote. The “pocket” veto is a veto that becomes effective when the President simply does not sign a bill while Congress is in session. Once Congress has adjourned, it is unable to override the veto. Opponents of the pocket veto allege that it grants the President too much power. They describe it as an absolute veto, a prerogative of the English kings that the Framers vehemently despised.

The presidential dominance arguments misrepresent the pocket veto. Unlike the royal prerogative, the pocket veto is exercised by a democratically elected leader pursuant to a clearly defined constitutional procedure. Congress may arrange presentation of a bill to thwart the President’s opportunity to use the pocket veto. Moreover, a true absolute veto forecloses further action on a proposal; Congress, however, may overcome a pocket veto by reintroducing and passing the rejected bill.

The pocket veto’s flaw, if any, is that it permits the President to block legislation when Congress would have almost certainly overridden a return veto. Specifically, the pocket veto grants the President a special political tool against “popular will.” Herein lies the fundamental disagreement over the pocket veto. Opponents press for the President to defer to the seemingly inevitable congressional victory. The President, in contrast, stands behind the historical use of the pocket veto to delay legislation he thinks unwise.

Not every bill pocket vetoed would have been subjected to a return veto. And not every return veto of a bill that was overwhelmingly popular in Congress would have been overridden. But in those cases in which the President would use the return veto, and Congress would vote to override that return, the pocket veto acts to stop or delay popular legislation. If legislative supremacy is the most important value to protect, then the pocket veto is wrong. But, more realistically, if circumspection and deliberation are the more valued aspects of the lawmaking process, even the most blatantly political use of the pocket veto passes muster. Historical practice favors the President’s employing this tool to act as an interloper, as it were, in the legislative process.

“Since 1789, the President has had the authority to veto legislation passed by Congress”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.

This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 3 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation

1. As used in the passage, the word “interloper” in the last sentence most nearly means:

1. one who unjustly assumes power through the use of force
2. one who acts as a liaison between different parties
3. one who intervenes in a situation or process
4. one who thinks carefully before acting
5. one who makes executive decisions

2. Which of the following best describes the structure of this passage?

1. Presentation of a historical authority; discussion of how this authority is used today; recommendation for continued use of this authority.
2. Examination of royal authority; presentation of democratic use of a similar authority; conclusion that this authority has no place within a democratic government.
3. Description of a power exercised by the President; discussion of pros and cons of this power; recommendation that this power should be maintained.
4. Explanation of an executive power; analysis of arguments against use of this power; conclusion in favor of this power.
5. Survey of attitudes towards Presidential power; historical use of this power; agreement with the attitude of the majority

3. The author’s conclusion that those who oppose use of the pocket veto misrepresent its power depends on which of the following assumptions?

1. A democratically elected leader who is bound by constitutional checks cannot accumulate too much legislative power.
2. In a democracy, the legislative and executive branches are balanced by the authority of the judicial branch.
3. Royal prerogatives no longer exist in modern governments.
4. The pocket veto limits the President’s power to counteract a congressional motion.
5. The pocket veto prevents congressional victory over the popular will.

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