What does the line-item veto allow an executive to do?

The line-item veto empowers an executive, such as a governor or president, to selectively strike specific items from a budget proposal without having to reject the entire budget. This ability to target individual line items allows for greater precision in budgetary decision-making, enabling the executive to eliminate unnecessary or objectionable expenditures while allowing the remainder of the budget to be approved.

Choosing to remove specific line items helps in managing government spending effectively, aligning the budget more closely with policy priorities or fiscal constraints. This process can promote accountability and efficiency in budgetary practices, as it puts pressure on legislative bodies to justify their individual budget requests. This selective veto power is particularly significant in executive negotiations with legislatures, as it can influence the contents of future budget proposals.