MADISONCENTER FOR AMERICAN LEADERSHIP
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The Constitution,
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 Original wording is preserved; commentary explains historical and superseded provisions.

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You don’t have to understand everything at once. One connection is a good beginning.

LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER

Article I, Section 7, Clause 2d

The first chamber can insist by two-thirds

Current text
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,

What it means

After reconsideration, two-thirds agreement in the originating chamber sends the vetoed bill to the other chamber. The first override vote alone does not make the bill law.

Historical setting

The supermajority requirement makes the veto a serious obstacle without making it absolute. Federalist 73 argued that the prospect of reconsideration could improve the care with which legislation is initially drafted.

What it does

Congress must assemble broader support than ordinarily needed to pass the measure. The second chamber retains an independent decision rather than merely certifying the first chamber’s determination.

Debate & interpretation

The threshold allows a minority to sustain a presidential veto, changing bargaining leverage before any formal veto occurs. Whether that produces moderation or obstruction depends on the surrounding political incentives.

A common misreading

One chamber’s successful override is only the first part of the constitutional override process.

Think it through

How might an expected veto change the content of a bill before it reaches the President?

Follow the connection

Sources & further reading

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

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