To veto a bill means that a leader like a president or governor refuses to approve a bill passed by the legislature, so it does not become law.

Quick Scoop: What “veto a bill” means

  • A veto is the formal power of one branch of government (usually the executive) to stop a law that another branch (the legislature) has approved.
  • When a president or governor vetoes a bill, they reject it instead of signing it, so the bill is blocked from becoming law.
  • In systems like the United States, the leader usually sends the bill back with a written explanation called a veto message , listing their objections.
  • The legislature often has a chance to respond: they can change the bill, drop it, or try to override the veto with a super‑majority vote (for example, two‑thirds of each house in the U.S. Congress).

A simple way to picture it

Imagine a school council passes a rule, but the principal has the power to say, “I forbid this,” and send it back with reasons. That “I forbid” moment is like a veto: it doesn’t mean rules can never change, but it forces everyone to reconsider before the rule actually takes effect.

In short: to veto a bill is to officially block it from becoming law, at least unless the legislature can successfully override that decision.

TL;DR: Vetoing a bill = an executive leader formally rejects a bill passed by the legislature so it doesn’t become law, unless lawmakers later override that decision.