Veto override
Encyclopedia
A veto
override is an action by legislators and decision-makers to override an act of veto by someone with such powers - thus forcing through a new decision. The power to override a veto varies greatly in tandem with the veto power itself. The U.S constitution gives a 2/3 majority Congress the power to override the Presidential veto. In the U.N Security Council a veto by any permanent member is absolute and cannot be overridden by the other members. Other assemblies with veto power might have limited the veto power to a delaying action only - meaning to override it merely means to pass the suggestion again.
by having a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives
and Senate
, thus enacting the bill into law despite the president's veto. However, a veto may not be overridden if it is a pocket veto
, a veto in which the president simply ignores a bill between congressional sessions. The veto override is an example of checks and balances, the process in which various branches of the U.S. government can limit each others' power.
Many states of the U.S. have similar regulations, i.e. a state governor can veto (refuse to sign on) a bill passed by the legislature, and the legislature can override the veto. Most states require a two-thirds majority vote to override.
Reports from the Congressional Research Service
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Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
override is an action by legislators and decision-makers to override an act of veto by someone with such powers - thus forcing through a new decision. The power to override a veto varies greatly in tandem with the veto power itself. The U.S constitution gives a 2/3 majority Congress the power to override the Presidential veto. In the U.N Security Council a veto by any permanent member is absolute and cannot be overridden by the other members. Other assemblies with veto power might have limited the veto power to a delaying action only - meaning to override it merely means to pass the suggestion again.
United States
In the United States, Congress can override a presidential vetoVeto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
by having a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, thus enacting the bill into law despite the president's veto. However, a veto may not be overridden if it is a pocket veto
Pocket veto
A pocket veto is a legislative maneuver in United States federal lawmaking that allows the President to veto a bill indirectly.The U.S. Constitution limits the President's period for decision on whether to sign or veto any legislation to ten days while the United States Congress is in session...
, a veto in which the president simply ignores a bill between congressional sessions. The veto override is an example of checks and balances, the process in which various branches of the U.S. government can limit each others' power.
Many states of the U.S. have similar regulations, i.e. a state governor can veto (refuse to sign on) a bill passed by the legislature, and the legislature can override the veto. Most states require a two-thirds majority vote to override.
External links
Reports from the Congressional Research Service
Congressional Research Service
The Congressional Research Service , known as "Congress's think tank", is the public policy research arm of the United States Congress. As a legislative branch agency within the Library of Congress, CRS works exclusively and directly for Members of Congress, their Committees and staff on a...
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