Presidential Veto & Overrides

1. Bills Sent to the President
Once a bill passes both chambers in identical form, it is “enrolled” — printed on parchment, signed by the presiding officers of the House and Senate, and presented to the President.
The President has ten days (excluding Sundays) to act on a bill while Congress is in session.
2. What a Veto Means
A veto is the President’s formal refusal to approve a bill. It returns to the chamber where it originated with a veto message explaining the objections.
  • Policy objections: The President disagrees with the substance or implications of the bill.
  • Constitutional objections: The President believes parts of the bill violate the Constitution.
The veto is a key check in the constitutional balance between the legislative and executive branches.
3. Pocket Vetoes
If Congress adjourns during the ten-day review period and the President takes no action, the bill does not become law. This is called a pocket veto.
Because Congress is no longer in session, it cannot override a pocket veto — the bill effectively dies.
4. Signing the Bill
If the President signs the bill within the ten-day period, it becomes law. Signing may include a signing statement — a written interpretation or constitutional note that does not affect the bill’s legal force.
Signing statements are often used to highlight how the administration intends to implement the new law.
5. The Override Process
When the President vetoes a bill, Congress may attempt to override the veto:
  • The originating chamber votes first.
  • If two-thirds of that chamber vote to override, the bill moves to the other chamber.
  • If both achieve a two-thirds vote, the bill becomes law without the President’s signature.
Overrides are rare and usually require strong bipartisan consensus.
6. Historical Context
Since 1789, more than 2,500 presidential vetoes have been issued — and only about 7% have been overridden by Congress.
The low override rate reflects both the difficulty of reaching a two-thirds majority and the influence of presidential party alignment in Congress.