VETO

(hat. I forbid.) In Politics, the power enjoyed by a branch of the legislature, which cannot of itself originate or modify a law, to reject the propositions of the other branch or branches. In the Polish diet, every noble who was an independent member could prevent any resolution from pa ing by his simple di ent (expre ed in the words " Nie pozwalam," / do not permit). The privilege of thus arresting the deliberations of the diet was termed the " liberum veto," and proved the fertile source of the disorders and anarchy of that country. In most constitutional monarchies the king has an absolute veto (as in France and England); in some it is only suspensive. Thus, in Norway, if three succe ive storthings (a emblies) repeat the same resolution, it becomes law against the will of the king. The president of the United slates may return a bill, with his reasons for di enting from it, to the house in which it originated; but if both houses pa it afterwards by a majority of two thirds in each, it is not in his power again to reject it. Veto. An act pa ed by the General A embly of the Church of Scotland, known by the name of the Veto Act. Lay-patronage, or the presentation by a lay patron of a minister to a living in the church, has never been cordially recognised on the part of the people of Scotland. On the final establishment of Presbytery as the national church, in 1690, patronage was vested in the elders and heritors (landowners) of a parish. In 1711 (10 Anne, c. 12. s. 4.) that law was annulled, and patronage was transferred as a civil right to individuals as an acce ory of land, or as a separate estate; and those patronages which had of old belonged to the pope, or to monasteries, or to archbishops, bishops, and chapters, were vested in the crown. The act of Queen Anne was never universally acceptable in Scotland. Two di enting denominations (the United A ociate Synod, and the Relief) owed their origin to the indiscreet exercise of lay-patronage; and though patrons were generally disposed, particularly within the last twenty years, to show due deference to the feelings of the people, yet hostility to this mode of nominating clergymen having gained greater force, the general a embly, in 1834, pa ed the Veto Act, whereby, if a majority of the male heads of families, in full communion with the church, appear before the presbytery and di ent, or lodge di ents at the meeting for " moderating in a call," the presentee was to be rejected. No specific objections were required to be made by the act, the di entients being only required to declare, if asked, that they were actuated by no factious or malicious motive, but solely by a conscientious regard for tlie spiritual interests of themselves and the congregation; and if such declaration was made, their di ent was sustained; if not, it was rejected. Those entitled to di ent are ascertained from a roll annually made up. The Veto Act was first pa ed as an interim act; but, being referred to presbyteries, and having received the sanction of a majority of presbyteries, it was enacted into a standing law of the church by the General A embly of 1835. {Uiirs Practice of the Judicatories of the Church, p. 83.) 1293 [s. 1306]