Regular Vetoes and Pocket Vetoes: An Overview


 

Publication Date: June 2007

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

Type:

Abstract:

The veto power vested in the President by Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution has proven to be an effective tool for the chief executive in his dealings with Congress. Since the founding of the federal government in 1789, 35 of 43 Presidents have exercised their veto authority a total of 2,550 times. Congress has overridden these vetoes on 106 occasions (4.2%). Presidents have vetoed 80 appropriations bills, and Congress has overridden 12 (15.0%) of these vetoes. This report will be updated at the beginning of each new Congress.