Karcher v. Kean

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

HANDLER, J.

This appeal requires our consideration of the nature and extent of the Governor’s constitutional power to veto line-items in the state budget that are encompassed in the annual appropriations act. The instant controversy was triggered by the Governor’s exercise of this constitutional veto power with respect to matters included in the Appropriations Act for fiscal year 1983.

I

On June 30, 1982, the last day of fiscal year 1982, Governor Thomas H. Kean signed Senate Bill 1600 into law, L. 1982, c. 49 (generally, Appropriations Act, Act, or…