Veto power is the authority or right of an individual or entity, such as a government official or a governing body, to reject or block a decision or proposal made by another party. In political systems, veto power is often granted to leaders or governing bodies to prevent legislation or actions from being passed or implemented without their approval.
For example, in the United States, the President has the power to veto bills passed by Congress, which can be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the United Nations, the five permanent members of the Security Council (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) have veto power over substantive resolutions, which means that any one of them can block a proposed resolution from being adopted, regardless of the level of support from other members.
Veto power is often seen as a check on the power of other parties or as a means of ensuring that decisions are made in a way that is consistent with the interests or values of those holding the veto power. However, it can also be a source of conflict and gridlock if those with veto power use it excessively or irresponsibly.