Who has the authority to veto bills?

The authority to veto bills is held by the President of the United States. This power is outlined in Article I, Section 7 of the U.S. Constitution, which grants the President the ability to reject legislation passed by Congress. When a bill is presented to the President, they have several options: sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action, which may result in the bill becoming law after ten days without a presidential signature if Congress is in session.

The veto power serves as a crucial check on legislative authority, enabling the President to prevent the enactment of laws that they believe are not in the best interest of the public or that may overstep the powers granted to Congress. This system of checks and balances is fundamental to the functioning of the U.S. government, ensuring that no one branch becomes too powerful.

The other options do not have veto authority: Congress is responsible for making laws, but it does not have the power to unilaterally reject a bill; the Senate, as part of Congress, cannot veto legislation on its own; and the Supreme Court interprets laws and can rule on their constitutionality but does not have the authority to veto legislation. Thus, the President is the sole figure with the power to