Presidential Vetoes

1789 - 2008

This is a comprehensive listing of Presidential vetoes (What is a veto?) of legislation enacted by Congress, from 1789-2005. For more current data, see a comparison of modern presidents or the vetoes of G.W. Bush.

The veto power is established by the US Constitution:

Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approves he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objec- tions to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and pro- ceed to reconsider it.

If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by Yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House re- spectively.

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 its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.