USCIS 128:44. Who vetoes bills?

OpenAI. (2026).   Who vetoes bills?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

In the United States, laws begin as bills. Members of Congress write and discuss these bills. A bill must pass in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. After both parts of Congress approve the bill, it is sent to the President.

The President signs bills to become laws. When the President agrees with a bill, the President signs it. After the President signs the bill, it officially becomes a law that people must follow. This is one way the President takes part in the lawmaking process.

The President can also veto bills. A veto means the President refuses to sign the bill. When the President vetoes a bill, it is returned to Congress with the President’s reasons for rejecting it.

However, Congress can sometimes override a presidential veto. If two-thirds of the members in the House of Representatives and the Senate vote to pass the bill again, the bill becomes a law even without the President’s signature. This process helps create a balance of power between Congress and the President.