2008 civics test · Question 34 · System of Government
Who vetoes bills?
Official answer
- the President
What this means
The President vetoes bills.
A veto is the president’s power to reject a bill passed by Congress. When the president vetoes a bill, it is sent back to Congress and does not become law, at least not yet.
Congress is not powerless, though. It can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate, and then the bill becomes law without the president’s signature. This push and pull is checks and balances at work.
Both tests ask this the same way. Answer: the President.
Why this is on the test
The veto is one of the clearest examples of checks and balances, and both tests ask who holds that power.
How this question is asked
On the 2008 civics test, the officer asks up to 10 of the 100 questions out loud and you pass by answering 6 correctly. You answer in your own words. There is no multiple choice and nothing to write down for the civics portion.
This question also appears on the 2025 civics test , as question 44.
Related questions
More from System of Government.
- 13 Name one branch or part of the government. ★ 65/20 question
- 14 What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
- 15 Who is in charge of the executive branch?
- 16 Who makes federal laws?
- 17 What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress? ★ 65/20 question
- 18 How many U.S. Senators are there?