The correct spelling of "lineitem veto" is "lʌɪnˈaɪtəm ˈvitoʊ". This phrase refers to a legal power granted to some government executives, such as the US President, allowing them to veto specific provisions of a bill while keeping the rest of it intact. The spelling of this phrase is a combination of "line item", which is a budgeting term meaning individual items listed in an account or invoice, and "veto", a word of Latin origin meaning "I forbid."
Line-item veto refers to a power granted to certain executive officials, usually the head of state or governor, which allows them to selectively cancel or remove specific provisions or elements of a bill while approving the rest of it. With line-item veto authority, an executive can essentially strike individual line items or sections from a proposed legislation, often pertaining to budgetary appropriations or spending, without necessarily rejecting the entire bill. This enables the executive to eliminate certain objectionable portions of a legislation while still achieving the overall objective or goal of the law.
Line-item veto is primarily used to limit excessive spending or to delete particular provisions that are seen as wasteful or unnecessary. By eliminating or altering specific items within a bill, the executive aims to exercise greater control over the budget and achieve fiscal responsibility. It is perceived as a mechanism for preventing unnecessary special interest provisions from being passed into law and for ensuring greater accountability in managing public funds.
The use of line-item veto varies across different countries and regions, as it depends on the constitutional provisions or laws authorized by a particular government. Supporters argue that this power gives executives the ability to target problematic sections of a bill without rejecting the entire legislation, while critics contend that it can undermine the separation of powers and concentrated power in the hands of the executive branch.
The term "line-item veto" is a compound phrase derived from two separate words: "line" and "item", combined with the term "veto".
1. Line: The word "line" in this context refers to a written or printed record, typically indicating a specific entry or item. In budgetary or financial contexts, it is used to refer to an individual entry or item in a budget or expenditure list.
2. Item: The term "item" generally denotes an individual thing or unit, especially when it is part of a larger collection or list. In financial contexts, it refers to a particular entry or expenditure in a budget or financial statement.
3. Veto: The word "veto" originates from Latin, meaning "I forbid". It is a term used to describe the power or right of an authority figure to reject or prohibit a decision or proposal made by others.