Bonus Bill - Definition and Overview

The Bonus Bill of 1817 was a bill introduced by John Calhoun to provide United States highways linking The East and South to The West using the earnings Bonus from the Second Bank of the United States. Calhoun argued for it using general welfare and post roads clauses. It was an early example of pork barrel politics. Though he approved of the goals, President James Madison vetoed the bill as unconstitutional.