Who vetoes bills?

Why This Matters

The President has the power to veto bills. A veto means the President rejects a bill that Congress has passed. When the President vetoes a bill, it does not become law, at least not right away. This power is an important part of the system of checks and balances that prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.

The veto gives the President a direct way to block legislation. If the President believes a bill is bad for the country, unconstitutional, or poorly written, the President can refuse to sign it and send it back to Congress. The President usually includes a message explaining why the bill was rejected. This forces Congress to consider the President's concerns.

However, a veto is not the final word. Congress can override a presidential veto, but it takes a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate to do so. This is a very high bar, which means most vetoes stand. Throughout American history, Presidents have used the veto power thousands of times, and Congress has only overridden a small fraction of those vetoes. For the USCIS test, the answer is straightforward: the President vetoes bills.

Key Facts

• The President has the power to veto bills passed by Congress
• A vetoed bill does not become law unless Congress overrides the veto
• Overriding a veto requires a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate
• The veto power is part of the system of checks and balances
• Presidents have used the veto power over 2,500 times in U.S. history

Common Mistakes

• Saying "Congress" vetoes bills, only the President can veto
• Confusing a veto with signing a bill, they are opposites (signing approves, vetoing rejects)
• Thinking a veto is permanent, Congress can override it with enough votes

Study Tip

Questions 33 and 34 are a natural pair: the President signs bills (approves them) and vetoes bills (rejects them). Study them together. The President holds the pen, they can use it to sign "yes" or stamp "no." Both powers belong to the same person: the President.