When a Governor Sits on a Bill: The Court's New Clock

A Governor has only three choices on a state bill: assent, send it back, or reserve it for the President.

The Supreme Court in April 2025 ruled there is no 'pocket veto' — sitting on a bill indefinitely is unconstitutional.

Indicative deadlines: roughly one month to act on a minister-advised bill, three months if acting against advice.

A bill re-passed by the legislature must get assent within about a month; the Governor can't reserve it again.

A Presidential Reference is now testing whether courts can fix such timelines at all — the last word isn't written.