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An Analysis of Reasons for the Use of the Line‐Item Veto in Southern States
Author(s) -
Reese Catherine C.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
politics and policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.259
H-Index - 23
eISSN - 1747-1346
pISSN - 1555-5623
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-1346.2004.tb00198.x
Subject(s) - veto , state (computer science) , legislature , control (management) , public economics , line (geometry) , executive branch , economics , political science , law , politics , computer science , geometry , mathematics , management , algorithm
This study analyzes reasons given for the individual use of line‐item vetoes by the governors of Southern states from 1973–1992 in light of historical changes in gubernatorial roles in state budgetary processes. The original purpose of the line‐item veto was to defend executive budget estimates and prevent unconstitutional expenditure. However, reasons for its use have evolved along with changes in state budgetary processes. Thus, the line‐item veto is used most of the time today not only to defend executive budget estimates and prevent unconstitutional expenditures, but also to protect gubernatorial policy prerogatives and occasionally control overall state spending. Conventional wisdom notwithstanding, it is seldom used against pork‐barrel expenditure. Much more common is the occasional intensive use of the line‐item veto by particular governors over specific policy‐related disagreements with state legislatures.