Which describes the presidential killing of a bill by inaction after Congress adjourns?

• A. Pocket veto
• B. Pork barrel
• C. Impeachment
• D. Reapportionment

Answer: (A)

Pocket veto is when the president effectively kills a bill by not acting after Congress adjourns. If Congress adjourns within ten days of a bill being sent to the president, and the president does not sign, the bill dies because there’s no session left to receive an override or a signature. If Congress had remained in session, the president’s inaction would not block the bill—the ten-day clock would run, and the bill could become law without a signature or be vetoed with a potential override. This distinguishes it from a regular veto, where the president actively rejects the bill and returns it to Congress for possible override. The other terms refer to different concepts entirely: pork barrel relates to targeted spending for local projects, impeachment to removal from office, and reapportionment to redistributing seats in the legislature.