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 Original wording is preserved; commentary explains historical and superseded provisions.

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LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER

Article I, Section 7, Clause 2f

Override votes must identify individual choices

Current text
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,

What it means

In veto-reconsideration cases, both chambers must use yeas and nays and record the names voting for and against. The Constitution requires individual accountability for this extraordinary lawmaking step.

Historical setting

The journal provisions already permit a minority to request named votes. Here the Constitution makes a recorded vote mandatory because lawmakers are deciding whether to enact a measure over presidential objections.

What it does

Citizens can identify which representatives supported the override and compare their choices with the President’s published reasons. This is stronger than merely announcing that a threshold was reached.

Debate & interpretation

Transparency helps assign responsibility for institutional conflict. It can also increase political pressure, but the constitutional choice favors a visible record for overcoming an executive veto.

A common misreading

No separate one-fifth request is needed to trigger the named-vote requirement for the constitutional override process.

Think it through

Why might a constitution demand more visible accountability for overriding a veto than for every routine procedural vote?

Follow the connection

Sources & further reading

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

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