A veto is the President's constitutional power to reject a bill Congress has passed, returning it unsigned to the chamber where it originated along with a written statement of objections. A veto does not permanently kill a bill, Congress can attempt to override it, covered in detail on this page.

What is a pocket veto, and how is it different from a regular veto?

A pocket veto happens when the President takes no action on a bill and Congress adjourns within the ten-day window in a way that prevents the bill from being returned. Unlike a regular veto, it requires no written veto message, and because the bill never goes back to Congress, there is no override vote available at all.

Can the President veto just part of a bill?

No. The President can only sign or veto an entire bill, not strike individual provisions from it. Congress briefly gave presidents that power with the Line Item Veto Act of 1996, but the Supreme Court struck it down as unconstitutional in Clinton v. City of New York (1998).

How many votes does it take for Congress to override a veto?

Two-thirds of the members present and voting in each chamber, the House and the Senate separately. Both chambers have to independently clear that threshold; if either falls short, the veto stands and the bill does not become law.

What happens if Congress overrides a veto?

The bill becomes law exactly as originally passed, despite the President's objection, with no need for the President's signature. Overrides are rare because they require supermajority support that typically has to include members of the President's own party.

The United States Capitol building under a clear sky

Legislative Branch

How the Veto and Veto Override Work

The President can reject a bill Congress passes, and Congress can push back with a two-thirds vote in both chambers. Here is exactly how a veto works, the different kinds of veto, and how an override actually happens.

3 kinds of veto2/3 vote to override

Three Kinds of Veto

The Constitution gives the President one basic tool, the power to reject a bill, but it works differently depending on the circumstances. Here is the regular veto, the pocket veto, and the line-item veto Congress tried and the Supreme Court struck down.

Sources & Further Reading

National Archives, The Constitution
Congress.gov, Vetoes
Oyez, Clinton v. City of New York (1998)
U.S. Senate, Vetoes
History, Art & Archives, U.S. House of Representatives, Vetoes

This page describes the Constitution's veto and override process and documented historical examples of it in use. It takes no position on any current political dispute. Case and vote details are sourced to the Constitution's text, Congress.gov, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and Supreme Court opinions via Oyez.

How the Veto and Veto Override Work

Three Kinds of Veto

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading