Summary
Presentation of Legislation and
The Veto Process
Presentation to the President
Bills (H.R. or S.) or joint resolutions (H.J.Res. or S.J.Res.) that have passed both the House and Senate in identical form
The President solicits the opinions of executive agencies on legislation through the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). During the 10 day period, OMB collects and presents agency responses to the President to inform the President's final decision on the bill through a process described by Circular A-19.*
Deadline for Decision by the President
Return Veto
According to the U.S. Constitution Article 1, Section 7:
"If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it..."
"…unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent [the bill's] Return, in which Case the bill] shall not be a Law."
The House and Senate are not required to vote directly on the question of overriding the veto; the chambers have, for example, referred a vetoed bill to committee instead.
The House and Senate act sequentially, not simultaneously, beginning with the bill's originating chamber. If the first-acting chamber fails to override the veto, the other chamber cannot consider it.
2/3 of those voting a quorum being present
To Pass: 290 Representatives if 435 Representatives voting; 67 Senators if 100 Senators voting
Meghan M. Stuessy, Analyst, Government Organization & Management, 7-1281
*For more information about Circular A-19, see CRS Report R44539, by Meghan M. Stuessy. For more information about the veto override process, see CRS Report RS22654, by Elizabeth Rybicki; veto use, see CRS Report RS22188, by Meghan M. Stuessy.
Document ID: IG10007