The Bill Becomes a LawORIf the President signs the bill, or takes no action while Congress is in session, then the bill becomes a law.If Congress overrides a presidential veto, the bill becomes a law.New public and private laws are prepared and published by the Office of the Federal Register (OFR) of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).Congress Bill Search lists public laws by law number.The Bill is VetoedIf the President decides a bill is unwise or unnecessary, the President does not sign the bill, but issues an official statement of objections to the bill called a veto.The President can veto a bill indirectly by withholding approval of the bill until Congress has adjourned sine die. This informal way of preventing a bill from becoming a law is called a pocket veto.When the President issues a veto, the bill returns to its House of origin.Objections to the veto are read and debated on the House Floor.If there are enough objections in the House to the presidential veto, a vote is taken to override (see Step 13), or overrule, the veto.If the House does not vote on a veto override, the bill is stalled and does not become a law.A tally of presidential vetoes and pocket vetoes is available on the Clerk's website in Historical Highlights.The Veto is OverriddenIf enough Members object to the presidential veto, a vote is taken to override, or overrule the veto.A two-thirds vote or greater is needed in both the House and the Senate to override the President's veto. If two-thirds of both houses of Congress vote successfully to override the veto, the bill becomes a law.If the House and Senate do not override the veto, the bill "dies" and does not become a law.A tally of presidential vetoes and pocket vetoes is available on the Clerk's website in Historical Highlights.Legislative WorkIssuesCo-sponsored LegislationHow a Bill Becomes LawVoting Record
