Yes, but actually no. (Part of the weirdness of U.S. law.)
Passed bills have 10 days during the current legislative session to be signed into law. If they don’t get signed, they automatically become laws. Unless the current legislative session is ending, that is.
If the legislative session is set to end before that 10-day period, not signing the law is a means to veto it without vetoing it - aka the pocket veto.
So - not signing a bill could be a pocket veto, but in this case it is not because the legislative session is going to continue on for awhile.
(Editing to add that this is my ‘just woke up from a nap and typed this out from memory’ recollection of the process. I might be wrong on some specifics, but it should, overall, be correct.)
This bill was passed with a veto proof majority though, it was like hundreds to 67 against or something. But I am fuzzy on the rules to be sure, I should learn them more as you are.
Your comment made me realize I didn’t know. So I looked this up, and it’s actually a bit of both. It depends on if Congress is in session when the 10 days have passed:
If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a Law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a Law.
Isn’t not signing a pocket veto? Where did you get that?
Yes, but actually no. (Part of the weirdness of U.S. law.)
Passed bills have 10 days during the current legislative session to be signed into law. If they don’t get signed, they automatically become laws. Unless the current legislative session is ending, that is.
If the legislative session is set to end before that 10-day period, not signing the law is a means to veto it without vetoing it - aka the pocket veto.
So - not signing a bill could be a pocket veto, but in this case it is not because the legislative session is going to continue on for awhile.
(Editing to add that this is my ‘just woke up from a nap and typed this out from memory’ recollection of the process. I might be wrong on some specifics, but it should, overall, be correct.)
Huh.
This bill was passed with a veto proof majority though, it was like hundreds to 67 against or something. But I am fuzzy on the rules to be sure, I should learn them more as you are.
Your comment made me realize I didn’t know. So I looked this up, and it’s actually a bit of both. It depends on if Congress is in session when the 10 days have passed: