The line-item veto was declared unconstitutional after approximately how many months of use?

The line-item veto was declared unconstitutional after approximately how many months of use?

• A. 12 months
• B. 16 months
• C. 24 months
• D. 36 months

Answer: (B)

The line-item veto let the president strike out individual spending items in appropriations bills, reshaping laws after Congress had passed them. It went into effect after the 1996 act and saw its first use in 1997, but in 1998 the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional. That means it operated for about 16 months before being struck down. The ruling centered on constitutional limits that prevent the executive from unilaterally rewriting legislation, preserving the normal process where Congress enacts entire laws and the president can approve or veto them in full. The 16-month period reflects the time from its initial use to the Supreme Court decision, not the longer spans of 12, 24, or 36 months.

The line-item veto let the president strike out individual spending items in appropriations bills, reshaping laws after Congress had passed them. It went into effect after the 1996 act and saw its first use in 1997, but in 1998 the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional. That means it operated for about 16 months before being struck down. The ruling centered on constitutional limits that prevent the executive from unilaterally rewriting legislation, preserving the normal process where Congress enacts entire laws and the president can approve or veto them in full. The 16-month period reflects the time from its initial use to the Supreme Court decision, not the longer spans of 12, 24, or 36 months.