Legal Definitions - veto-proof majority

Veto-Proof Majority

A veto-proof majority refers to a legislative vote count that is large enough to override an executive official's veto of a bill or resolution. When an executive, such as a president, governor, or mayor, rejects a piece of legislation passed by the legislature, they exercise their veto power. However, if the legislature can gather a sufficient number of votes—typically a "supermajority" like two-thirds of its members in each chamber—they can pass the legislation into law despite the executive's opposition.

This mechanism ensures that the legislature has a final check on executive power, allowing them to enact laws that have broad support even if the executive disagrees.

• Example 1: Federal Legislation

  Imagine the U.S. Congress passes a comprehensive environmental protection bill. The President, believing the bill imposes too many regulations on businesses, decides to veto it. For the bill to become law, both the House of Representatives and the Senate must vote again and achieve a two-thirds majority in each chamber to override the President's veto. If they succeed, they have demonstrated a veto-proof majority, and the environmental protection bill becomes law despite the President's objection.

• Example 2: State-Level Policy

  Consider a state legislature that passes a bill to reform the state's public education funding system. The Governor, who argues the bill is fiscally irresponsible, vetoes it. To enact the reform, the state House of Representatives and the state Senate must each re-vote on the bill and secure the constitutionally required supermajority (often two-thirds) to override the Governor's veto. If enough legislators in both chambers vote to override, they have formed a veto-proof majority, and the education funding reform bill will be enacted without the Governor's signature.