Civil Service Practice Exam 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

The President holds the power to veto bills, which is an essential part of the legislative process in the United States. This authority allows the President to reject legislation passed by Congress, thereby preventing it from becoming law. The veto power serves as a critical check on legislative authority, ensuring that the President can influence the types of laws that are enacted.

The President's ability to veto is rooted in the U.S. Constitution, specifically in Article I, Section 7, which outlines the legislative process and the President's role in it. When a bill is presented to the President, they have several options: they can either sign it into law, allow it to become law without a signature after ten days while Congress is in session, or return it with a veto. If the President chooses to veto, Congress can counter this decision by overriding the veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both houses, which demonstrates the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches.

The other roles mentioned—Vice President, Secretary of State, and Chief Justice—do not possess veto power over legislation. The Vice President has a primarily ceremonial role in the legislative process and can cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate but cannot veto bills. The Secretary of State manages foreign affairs and has