What is the term used when Congress is adjourned and the President fails to sign a bill within the 10-day period?

What is the term used when Congress is adjourned and the President fails to sign a bill within the 10-day period?

• A. Veto
• B. Line-item veto
• C. Pocket veto
• D. Executive order

Answer: (C)

Pocket veto happens when Congress has adjourned and the President doesn’t sign a bill within the ten-day window. Because Congress isn’t in session, there’s no chance to return the bill with objections, and it effectively dies instead of becoming law. If Congress were still in session, the President’s inaction after ten days would allow the bill to become law automatically (no signature required). The other options don’t fit this scenario: a standard veto is a formal rejection with a return of the bill while Congress is in session; a line-item veto targets specific provisions and isn’t allowed at the federal level; an executive order is an administrative directive, not a method for enacting laws.

Pocket veto happens when Congress has adjourned and the President doesn’t sign a bill within the ten-day window. Because Congress isn’t in session, there’s no chance to return the bill with objections, and it effectively dies instead of becoming law. If Congress were still in session, the President’s inaction after ten days would allow the bill to become law automatically (no signature required). The other options don’t fit this scenario: a standard veto is a formal rejection with a return of the bill while Congress is in session; a line-item veto targets specific provisions and isn’t allowed at the federal level; an executive order is an administrative directive, not a method for enacting laws.