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connected.

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The constitutional text

Article I · Section 7

Select any highlighted phrase to understand what it means.

All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills

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 approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed 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 respectively, 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

Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.

Source: National Constitution Center edition. Original wording is preserved; commentary explains historical and superseded provisions.

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202 elements · 219 connections · One constitutional systemOpen the reader
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Article I, Section 7, Clause 2a

Bicameral passage followed by presentment

Current text
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;

What it means

A bill passed by both chambers must be presented to the President before becoming law through this process. Agreement within Congress alone is therefore generally insufficient for ordinary legislation.

Historical setting

The Constitution combines a divided legislature with a qualified executive veto. Federalist 73 defended executive participation as protection against legislative encroachment and an additional check on defective legislation.

What it does

The two chambers must agree on a measure that reaches the President for approval or return. An executive order, chamber resolution, or informal agreement cannot simply substitute for this lawmaking process where legislation is required.

Debate & interpretation

The additional decision point can improve scrutiny and protect separated powers, but it also makes public action harder. Gridlock is therefore partly the consequence of a design that values filtered agreement over effortless enactment.

A common misreading

A presidential signature cannot turn a proposal rejected by one chamber into an enacted bill.

Think it through

Why give an official outside Congress a role in lawmaking while still identifying Congress as the holder of legislative power?

Follow the connection

Sources & further reading

Original Madison Center commentary. Explanations distinguish the text, historical context, and interpretive disagreements.

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