line-item veto

American  

[lahyn-ahy-tuhm] / ˈlaɪnˌaɪ təm /

noun

1. the power of the executive to veto particular items of a bill without having to veto the entire bill.

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line-item veto Cultural  

1. The authority of an executive to veto a specific appropriation in a budget passed by a legislature. Viewing the line-item veto as an effective tactic against pork-barrel legislation, presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush unsuccessfully sought this authority, which many state governors possess, from Congress. Under current law the president must choose between signing or vetoing the entire budget rather than parts (items on budget lines) of it.

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Example Sentences

They craft the state budget and have a line-item veto to eliminate legislative appropriations.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

At the time, Abbott's office defended his line-item veto and his request to review agency rules as measures that were within his constitutional authority.

From Salon • Oct. 25, 2022

During his time as acting solicitor general during the 1996-97 term of the high court, he argued nine cases including those dealing with doctor-assisted suicide and the line-item veto, according to his Duke Law biography.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 16, 2022

The line-item veto gives governors the ability to strike out a line or individual portions of a bill while letting the remainder pass into law.

From Textbooks • Jul. 28, 2021

As Governor, I found this line-item veto was a powerful tool against wasteful or extravagant spending.

From State of the Union Address by Reagan, Ronald