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The Daily Insight Hub

Who can veto bills by Congress?

Author

Jackson Reed

Updated on January 25, 2026

The President may veto bills Congress passes, but Congress may also override a veto by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Article I of the Constitution enumerates the powers of Congress and the specific areas in which it may legislate.

Which branch can can veto bills?

The President in the executive branch can veto a law, but the legislative branch can override that veto with enough votes.

Can the governor veto a bill?

Every state constitution empowers the governor to veto an entire bill passed by the legislature. Partial veto methods include item (or line item) veto, amendatory veto and reduction veto.

Who can veto a governor?

Every state has a provision by which the legislature may override the governor’s veto, similar to Congress. In 17 states, citizens may veto decisions made by the state legislature via a veto referendum.

Can the President be vetoed?

The power of the President to refuse to approve a bill or joint resolution and thus prevent its enactment into law is the veto. This veto can be overridden only by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House. If this occurs, the bill becomes law over the President’s objections.

How do I pass a vetoed bill?

Congress can override a veto by passing the act by a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate. (Usually an act is passed with a simple majority.) This check prevents the President from blocking an act when significant support for it exists.

What branch makes money?

In the United States, coins are made by the United States Mint and paper money is made by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Both are part of the federal Department of the Treasury in the executive branch.

Who can veto the Supreme Court?

The President has the power to veto a bill sent from Congress, which would stop it from becoming a law. Congress has the power to impeach Supreme Court Judges or Presidents.

Can the governor veto a bill passed by the House and Senate?

The Governor can sign the bill into law, allow it to become law without his or her signature, or veto it. A governor’s veto can be overridden by a two thirds vote in both houses.

Is a pocket veto?

A pocket veto occurs when a bill fails to become law because the president does not sign it within the ten-day period and cannot return the bill to Congress because Congress is no longer in session.

Can a president veto a bill if he approves it?

If the president approves the bill, it becomes law. However, the president, as head of the executive branch, also has the ability to veto the bill. From 1789 to 2013, presidents have vetoed 2,564 bills.

Which branch of government vetoes a bill?

Bills are introduced in either the Senate or House of Representatives. After passing both chambers with a majority vote of approval, the bill is presented to the president. If the president approves the bill, it becomes law. However, the president, as head of the executive branch, also has the ability to veto the bill.

How does Congress override a president’s veto?

However, a vote may be scheduled if congressional leaders believe there are enough members in favor of the bill becoming law. The Constitution allows Congress to override a presidential veto if two-thirds of the members of each house vote in favor of passing the bill into law.

Why does a president threaten to veto a bill?

The Veto Threat. Presidents often publicly or privately threaten Congress with a veto in order to influence the content of a bill or prevent its passage. Increasingly, the “veto threat” has become a common tool of presidential politics and is often effective in shaping U.S. policy.