What happens to a law when it is not signed?

When a law is not signed by the president or the governor within a specified timeframe, it can become law without their signature, depending on the jurisdiction. In the U.S. federal system, if the president does not sign a bill within ten days while Congress is in session, it automatically becomes law. However, if Congress adjourns during that period and the president does not sign, the bill is effectively vetoed through a procedure known as a "pocket veto." In state legislatures, the rules may vary, but similar principles generally apply.