THE VETO: Washington's Favorite Word Is NO!
The 80 Detector | Been There, Done That | Tuesday, November 10, 2026
The Kindergarten Version
Imagine the House and Senate have worked very hard on a new rule. They agree, shake hands, and carry it to the President.
The President reads it, folds their arms, and says: “NO!”
Congratulations. You have just met the presidential veto. Washington has turned a two-letter word into a constitutional event.
But Who Gets to Say NO?
Congress writes and passes bills. The President can sign a bill into law or send it back with objections.
The President does not get to erase a law simply by yelling “VETO!” at the television. The veto applies to legislation presented for approval.
Can Congress Say YES Anyway?
Yes! Congress can override a regular presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in BOTH the House and the Senate.
Not two-thirds of whichever chamber happens to be in a good mood. Both.
That is a pretty tall order. Which is why the threat of a veto can sometimes change a bill before it ever reaches the President.
The Ten-Day Clock
The President generally has ten days, not counting Sundays, to act on a bill.
If the President does nothing and Congress remains able to receive the bill back, the bill becomes law without a signature.
Apparently, even Washington has a deadline for returning paperwork.
The Pocket Veto: The Sneaky Cousin
If Congress adjourns in a way that prevents a bill from being returned during that constitutional window, the President can leave it unsigned and the bill does not become law. That is called a pocket veto.
Unlike a regular veto, a pocket veto cannot simply be overridden. Congress would have to start the legislative process again.
I picture a bill disappearing into a coat pocket beside a grocery receipt and three peppermint candies.
The 80 Detector’s Verdict
A veto is not a presidential magic wand. It is one part of a system deliberately designed to make the branches of government argue with one another.
The President can say NO. Congress can sometimes say YES anyway. And the Constitution gets the final word.
Now, if only they could all agree on who left the crayons on the floor. 🤣🌹
— Mare | Been There, Done That
Sources and reader resources
National Archives — Constitution Questions and Answers