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Veto override guide

What is a veto override?

A veto override lets Congress enact a bill despite the president’s veto. Congress can override a presidential veto if two-thirds of the members voting in each chamber agree to repass the bill.

The House and Senate must each reach that threshold. A successful override makes the bill law without the president’s signature. Read What is a veto? for how the president rejects a bill.

How many votes does an override need?

The two-thirds threshold counts members present and voting, not the full membership. Each chamber must have a quorum, the minimum number of members needed to conduct business.

  • If all 435 voting House members vote, the House needs 290 votes to override.
  • If all 100 senators vote, the Senate needs 67 votes to override.
  • If 90 senators vote with a quorum present, 60 votes can override a veto.

These are not fixed vote counts. A simple majority is not enough. The override threshold is separate from the Senate’s cloture rule.

The Congressional Research Service guide to veto overrides explains the two-thirds threshold and the order of action.

What happens during an override?

  1. The president returns the bill with written objections to the chamber where it started.
  2. That chamber considers the veto first. If two-thirds of its members voting agree to repass the bill, the other chamber considers it.
  3. If both chambers reach the two-thirds threshold, the bill becomes law without the president’s signature.

If either chamber falls short, the veto stands. One chamber cannot override a veto alone. If the first chamber fails, the other chamber cannot consider the override. Congress does not have to hold an override vote.

Can Congress override a pocket veto?

No. Congress cannot override a pocket veto. Congress must pass the bill again later and present it to the president. The CRS overview of regular and pocket vetoes explains why Congress must start over.

A pocket veto occurs when Congress’s adjournment prevents the president from returning an unsigned bill within 10 days, excluding Sundays. Not every recess prevents return. Read What is a pocket veto? for the rule and its limits.

The Senate’s veto record separates regular vetoes, pocket vetoes, and successful overrides. It also links to CRS reports on both types of veto.

Follow your representatives’ votes

The original bill vote and the override vote are separate decisions. A member who supported the bill may vote against the override. Follow recorded votes to see how your representative and senators acted.

Get major votes in your inbox

Cappy Pillow uses your ZIP code to find your senators and your House representative. Get free plain-English emails about their recorded votes on major bills. Enter your email and ZIP code to sign up for vote alerts.

These are vote alerts, not alerts for every presidential action. D.C. and U.S. territories have no U.S. senators. A split ZIP code may not identify your exact House district.

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