The "Veto" Session

A downloadable image illustrating what happens in the Virginia General Assembly during the reconvened session.

Reconvened session — often called the veto session — is today. The legislature will spend the day considering the Governor's amendments and vetoes of legislation, including changes to the budget. There are 159 amended bills, 205 budget amendments, eight budget line-item vetoes, and 157 vetoed bills.

This presents an excellent opportunity to discuss divided government with your students — specifically how legislative outcomes are affected when the General Assembly's majority party differs from the Governor's party.

Potential discussion prompts:

• Is it easier for the legislature to pass a Governor's amendment to a bill, or to reject it?
• Currently, the Democrats hold a narrow majority in both the House and Senate, and the Governor is Republican. What is the likelihood of overriding a veto, and why?