If Congress adjourns during the ten days a president has to consider a bill, what is the outcome if the president does not sign it?

When Congress adjourns during the ten days a president has to consider a bill, and the president does not sign it, the outcome is that the bill fails to become law due to what is known as a pocket veto. A pocket veto occurs when the president neither signs nor explicitly vetoes the bill, and because Congress is not in session to return the bill, it effectively "dies." This is a strategic way for a president to prevent legislation from becoming law without issuing a formal veto, allowing them to take no action while Congress is unable to override the decision.

The concept of the pocket veto is significant because it demonstrates the balance of powers between the executive and legislative branches, showing how the president can exert influence over the legislation process even without a formal veto power. It also emphasizes the importance of timing and congressional recess in the legislative process.