POLSCI 389 Chapter 8: 1-30 Reading Veto Threats as a Policy Tool
19 Feb 2018
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What we know about veto threats: decisions to veto are affected both by political resources and by environmental constraints. Public opinion, congressional coalitions, issue area, and importance of legislation all impact a veto choice: veto threats save the president resources (avoids weakened image, angering congressional allies, etc. ) Because presidents can only affect the legislative process at the margins, the rhetoric of veto threats can be used to enhance the bargaining position while the bill is being crafted. In this way, presidents can avoid costly vetoes and still sign bills that contain measures they prefer: veto threats work as bargaining tools: cameron finds that congress offers concessions on legislation for 90% of all threatened bills!!!! Congress: policy-related factors, appropriations bills more likely to be subject to veto threats than authorization bills, threat-related factors. If congress grows accustomed to veto use, a threat may be seen as an ineffective bargaining tool.
