Legal Literacy – Comprehensive Review of Veto Rights: Definition, UN & Constitutional Legal Basis, Types, Case Studies, Pros and Cons, and FAQs

In summary

  • Veto right is the authority to cancel or stop the enactment of a decision, even if supported by the majority.
  • In the UN, the veto is only held by the 5 permanent members of the Security Council (P5) and only applies to substantivedecisions, not procedural. Abstain/absent not a veto. Source: United Nations – Voting System
  • Since General Assembly Resolution 76/262 (2022), whenever there is a veto, the General Assembly is obliged to hold a debate on the related issue — increasing the political accountability of the use of the veto. Source: UN Press (GA/12417)
  • In the Indonesia, the President does not have veto power over bills that have been jointly approved by the DPR; if not signed within 30 days, the Bill remain valid become law. Source: BPHN – 1945 Constitution (PDF)

What is a veto?

Simply put, a veto is the right to say “no” to a decision so that the decision is nullified or cannot be taken. In practice, a veto functions as an emergency brake to protect the vital interests of the party that holds it, forcing the process of negotiation/compromise, or preventing “tyranny of the majority”.

Veto power in the UN

Legal basis & how it works

UN Charter Article 27 mentions decisions procedural taken…