Pocket Veto Case Okanogan Indians v. United States 279 U.S. 655 (1929)

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POCKET VETO CASE Okanogan Indians v. United States 279 U.S. 655 (1929)

A unanimous Supreme Court, speaking through Justice edward sanford, held that a bill passed by Congress, but not signed by the President, had died when the 69th Congress adjourned between its first and second sessions. The pocket veto may therefore be used during the adjournment between sessions, and not merely at the final adjournment, of a particular Congress.

inWright v. United States (1938) and Kennedy v. Sampson (1965) federal courts established that the pocket veto could not be used during intrasession adjournments.

Dennis J. Mahoney
(1986)