Legal Definitions - legislative veto

A legislative veto is a provision in administrative law that allows Congress to nullify a rulemaking or other action taken by an executive agency. This provision is passed by a majority of Congress but not signed by the President.

For example, Congress would give the INS power to regulate immigration, but retain the power to overrule any of their decisions by legislative veto. However, the legislative veto was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in INS v. Chadha, 462 U.S. 919 (1983).

Overall, the legislative veto was a way for Congress to maintain control over administrative agencies, but it was deemed unconstitutional because it violated the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches of government.