Word: congress
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Dates: during 1920-1929
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...President Madison, the "Father of the Constitution," announced to the 2nd session of the 12th Congress the "pocket veto" of a bill passed at its 1st session, employing these words...
...Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall...
...difficulty inheres in the word "adjournment." It is the contention of counsel for the Indians that "only the final adjournment of the Congress prevents the return (and reconsideration) of a vetoed bill." That is to say, "adjournment" in the above clause means only adjournment by reason of the expiration of the mandate of the Congress, which occurs on March 4 in the odd-numbered years...
...case the Houses disagree "with Respect to the Time of Adjournment" the President "may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper." From the above and other passages it will appear that "adjournment" may be not merely due to the expiration of the life of a Congress, but from day to day, or until a certain day, or sine die. The occasion upon whch an unsigned bill is "pocket vetoed" occurs when "the Congress by their Adjournment" prevent its return. Adjournment from day to day is clearly not such an occasion. Adjournment sine die would seem clearly...
...bill... which passed the two Houses at the last session of Congress, having appeared to me liable of abuse..., and therefore not been signed; and having been presented at an hour too near the close of the session to be returned with objections for reconsideration, the bill failed to become a law." Other Presidents who have expressly or implicitly concurred in the belief that the "pocket veto" is efficacious at the end of any session of a Congress include Jackson, Tyler, Buchanan, Lincoln, Johnson, Grant, Arthur, Cleveland, Harrison, McKinley, Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson, Harding, and Coolidge. The practice was upheld...