Objective

Veto power is a mechanism in hierarchical non-monogamy that grants an established partner the authority to unilaterally terminate or restrict their partner's other relationships. Often stipulated as a "safety measure" to protect the primary dyad, this power allows one individual to end a metamour's connection without that third party's consent or input, prioritizing the stability of the original couple above all else.

This dynamic is a defining feature of strong hierarchy and is frequently contrasted with Non-Hierarchical Polyamory, where relationship autonomy is central. In frameworks like Relationship Anarchy, the use of veto power is rejected as unethical control over another adult's emotional life. Detractors argue that it treats additional partners as disposable accessories rather than autonomous individuals, often creating an environment of instability where "secondary" relationships exist solely at the whim of the primary partner.

Subjective

Contexts

• #consensual-non-monogamy-lexicon (See: Consensual Non-Monogamy (CNM) Glossary)