Line Item Veto - Collection Finding Aid

Line Item Veto - Collection Finding Aid

The Line Item Veto Act of 1996 passed into law April 9, 1996 became effective January 1, 1997. Clinton used his line item veto power eighty-two times in eleven appropriations bills. Disapproval by Congress and one impermissible cancellation ultimately restored thirty-nine of these appropriations. Ultimately the Supreme Court ruled that the Line Item Veto Act violated the separation of powers clause in the Constitution and struck it down. This collection contains Administration reviews of House Resolution (H.R.) 2, Senate Bill (S.) 4, and related bills prior to their passage. Records contained in this collection show how the Administration planned to use the veto and how they dealt with very short reporting periods once the veto was enacted. It contains records related to the drafting of cancellations and the forms submitted to the Federal Register relating to cancellations made by President Clinton. The collection contains the court materials filed in Federal court related to challenges to the Line Item Veto Act. Correspondence in the collection reveals how the Administration addressed the concerns of Representatives and Senators whose appropriations might be affected by a veto; and it also shows, in a few examples, public perception of the Line Item Veto.

William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum