List of United States presidential vetoes


In the United States, the term "veto" is used to describe an action by which the president prevents an act passed by Congress from becoming law. This article provides a summary and details of the bills vetoed by presidents.

Veto procedure

Although the term "veto" does not appear in the United States Constitution, Article I requires each bill and joint resolution approved by the Congress to be presented to the president for his approval. Once the bill is presented to the president, there are several scenarios which may play out:
  • The president may sign the bill into law within ten days.
  • The president may veto the bill by returning it to Congress with a statement of objections within ten days. If the president vetoes a bill, the Congress shall reconsider it, and if both houses of the Congress vote to pass the law again by a two-thirds majority of members voting, then the bill becomes law, notwithstanding the president's veto.
  • If the president does nothing with the bill and Congress does not by its adjournment prevent the bill's return, then the bill becomes law after ten days.
  • If the president does nothing with the bill and before the tenth day Congress has adjourned in such a way as to prevent the bill being returned, then the bill expires and does not become law. The term "pocket veto" is used to describe this practice. Pocket vetoes cannot be overridden, so if the Congress still wants the piece of legislation enacted, a new bill must be introduced and passed. Doubt has existed as to which recesses and adjournments allow for pocket vetoes. In the modern practice, the clerk of the House and the secretary of the Senate are authorized to receive veto messages during both intrasession and intersession recesses and adjournments, so pocket vetoes are only possible after the adjournment sine die of the final session of a Congress.
Although each case is different, one general rule can be acknowledged: presidents use their prerogative to veto legislation when such legislation does not represent their viewpoint or agenda.
Occasionally, a president either publicly or privately threatens Congress with a veto to influence the content or passage of legislation. There is no record of what constitutes a "veto threat" or how many have been made over the years, but it has become a staple of presidential politics and a sometimes effective way of shaping policy. A president may also warn Congress of a veto of a particular bill so as to persuade Congress not to waste time passing particular legislation or including certain provisions in a bill when the president is prepared to veto it.

Summary

Presidents with most or fewest vetoes

Full veto record

The following is an incomplete list of the dates and bills of each veto for each president:

George Washington

Two regular vetoes.
  1. April 5, 1792: Vetoed H.R. 163, an act for an apportionment of Representatives among the several states, according to the first enumeration. Override attempt failed in House on April 6, 1792, 28–33.
  2. February 28, 1797: Vetoed H.R. 219, an act to alter and amend an act, entitled "An act to ascertain and fix the military establishment of the United States." Override attempt failed in House on March 1, 1797, 55–36.

    John Adams

No vetoes.

Thomas Jefferson

No vetoes.

James Madison

Seven vetoes.
  1. February 21, 1811: Vetoed H.R. 155, an act incorporating the Protestant Episcopal Church in the town of Alexandria, in the District of Columbia. Override attempt failed in House on February 23, 1811, 29–74.
  2. February 28, 1811: Vetoed H.R. 170, an act for the relief of Richard Tervin, William Coleman, Edwin Lewis, Samuel Mims, Joseph Wilson, and the Baptist Church at Salem meeting house, in the Mississippi Territory. Override attempt failed in House on March 2, 1811, 33–55.
  3. April 3, 1812: Vetoed H.R. 81, an act for the trial of Causes pending in the respective District Courts of the United States, in case of the absence or disability of the Judges thereof. Override attempt failed in House on April 8, 1812, 26–70.
  4. July 1812: Pocket-vetoed H.R. 170, an act on the subject of a uniform rule of naturalization.
  5. January 30, 1815: Vetoed S. 67, an act to incorporate the subscribers to the Bank of the United States of America. Override attempt failed in Senate on February 2, 1815, 15–19.
  6. May 9, 1816: Pocket-vetoed H.R. 106, an act to provide for free importation of stereotype plates and to encourage the printing and gratuitous distribution of the Scriptures by the Bible societies within the United States.
  7. March 3, 1817: Vetoed H.R. 29, an act to set apart and pledge certain funds for internal improvements. Override attempt failed in House on March 3, 1817, 60–56.

    James Monroe

One regular veto.
  1. May 4, 1822: Vetoed H.R. 50, an act for the preservation and repair of the Cumberland Road. Override attempt failed in House on May 6, 1822, 68–72.

    John Quincy Adams

No vetoes.

Andrew Jackson

Twelve vetoes.
  1. May 27, 1830: Vetoed H.R. 285, an act to authorize a subscription of stock in the Maysville, Washington, Paris, and Lexington Turnpike Road Company. Override attempt failed in House on May 28, 1830, 96–92.
  2. May 31, 1830: Vetoed S. 27, an act to authorize a subscription of stock in the Washington Turnpike Road Company. Override attempt failed in Senate on May 31, 1830, 21–17.
  3. June 1830: Pocket-vetoed S. 74, an act to authorize a subscription for stock on the part of the United States in the Louisville and Portland Canal Company.
  4. June 1830: Pocket-vetoed H.R. 304, an act for making appropriations for building light-houses, light-boats, and monuments, placing buoys, and improving harbors and directing surveys.
  5. July 10, 1832: Vetoed S. 147, an act to modify and continue the act entitled "An act to incorporate the subscribers to the Bank of the United States." Override attempt failed in Senate on July 13, 1832, 22–19.
  6. July 1832: Pocket-vetoed S. 5, an act for the final settlement of the claims of States for interests on advances to the United States, made during the last war.
  7. July 1832: Pocket-vetoed H.R. 516, an act for the improvement of certain harbors, and the navigation of certain rivers.
  8. March 1833: Pocket-vetoed S. 6, an act to appropriate, for a limited time, the proceeds of the sales of the public lands of the United States, and for granting lands to certain states.
  9. July 1834: Pocket-vetoed S. 97, an act to improve the navigation of the Wabash River.
  10. March 3, 1835: Vetoed S. 160, an act to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to compromise the claims allowed by the Commissioners under the treaty with the King of the Two Sicilies, concluded October 14, 1832. No override attempt made.
  11. June 10, 1836: Vetoed S. 141, an act to appoint a day for the annual meeting of Congress. Override attempt failed in Senate on June 27, 1836, 16–23.
  12. March 1837: Pocket-vetoed S. 144, an act designating and limiting the funds receivable for the revenues of the United States.

    Martin Van Buren

One pocket veto.
  1. March 1839: Pocket-vetoed S. Res. 15, a resolution to provide for the distribution, in part, of the Madison Papers.

    William Henry Harrison

No vetoes.

John Tyler

Ten vetoes. One was overridden.
  1. August 16, 1841: Vetoed S. 5, an act to incorporate the subscribers to the Fiscal Bank of the United States. Override attempt failed in Senate on August 19, 1841, 25–24.
  2. September 9, 1841: Vetoed H.R. 14, an act to provide for the better collection, safekeeping, and disbursement of the public revenue, by means of a corporation to be styled the Fiscal Corporation of the United States. Override attempt failed in House on September 10, 1841, 92–87.
  3. August 9, 1842: Vetoed H.R. 472, an act to provide revenue from imports, and to charge and modify existing laws imposing duties on imports. Override attempt failed in House on August 17, 1842, 92–87.
  4. June 29, 1842: Vetoed H.R. 480, an act to extend for a limited period the present laws for laying and collecting duties on imports. Override attempt failed in House on July 4, 1842, 114–97.
  5. September 1842: Pocket-vetoed H.R. 210, an act regulating the taking of testimony on cases of contested elections.
  6. September 1842: Pocket-vetoed H.R. 604, an act to appropriate the proceeds of the sales of public lands, and to grant pre-exemption rights.
  7. March 1843: Pocket-vetoed H.J. Res. 37, a joint resolution directing payment of the certificates or awards issued by the commissioners under the treaty with the Cherokee Indians.
  8. June 11, 1844: Vetoed H.R. 203, an act making appropriations for the improvement of certain harbors and rivers. Override attempt failed in House on June 11, 1844, 104–84.
  9. February 20, 1845: Vetoed S. 66, an act relating to revenue cutters and steamers. Overridden by Senate on March 3, 1845, 41–1. Overridden by House on March 3, 1845, 127–30. Enacted over the president's veto.
  10. March 1845: Pocket-vetoed H.R. 541, an act making appropriations for the improvements of navigation of certain harbors and rivers.

    James K. Polk

Three vetoes.
  1. August 8, 1845: Vetoed S. 68, an act to provide for the ascertainment and satisfaction of claims of American citizens for spoliations committed by the French prior to the July 31, 1801. Override attempt failed in Senate on August 10, 1846, 27–15.
  2. August 3, 1846: Vetoed H.R. 18, an act making appropriations for the improvement of certain harbors and rivers. Override attempt failed in House on August 4, 1846, 97–91.
  3. March 1847: Pocket-vetoed H.R. 84, an act to provide for continuing certain works in the Territory of Wisconsin.

    Zachary Taylor

No vetoes.

Millard Fillmore

No vetoes.

Franklin Pierce

Nine regular vetoes. Five were overridden.
  1. May 3, 1854: Vetoed S. 44, an act making a grant of public lands to the several States for the benefit of indigent insane persons. Override attempt failed in Senate on July 6, 1854, 21–26.
  2. February 17, 1855: Vetoed H.R. 117, an act to provide for the ascertainment of claims of American citizens or spoliations committed by the French prior to July 31, 1801. Override attempt failed in House on February 19, 1855, 113–86.
  3. August 4, 1854: Vetoed H.R. 392, an act making appropriations for the repair, preservation, and completion of certain public works, heretofore commenced under authority of law. Override attempt failed in House on December 6, 1854, 95–80.
  4. March 3, 1855: Vetoed H.R. 595, an act making appropriations for the transportation of the United States mail, by ocean steamships and otherwise, during the fiscal years ending the 30th of June, 1855 and the 30th of June, 1856. Override attempt failed in House on March 3, 1855, 79–99.
  5. May 19, 1856: Vetoed S. 1, an act making an appropriation for deepening the channel over the St. Clair Flats, in the State of Michigan. Overridden by Senate on July 7, 1856, 28–8. Overridden by House on July 8, 1856, 139–55. Enacted over the president's veto.
  6. May 19, 1856: Vetoed S. 14, an act to remove obstructions to navigation in the mouth of the Mississippi River, at the Southwest Pass and Pass a l'Outre. Overridden by Senate on July 7, 1856, 31–12. Overridden by House on July 8, 1856, 143–55. Enacted over the president's veto.
  7. May 22, 1856: Vetoed S. 2, an act making an appropriation for deepening the channel over the flats of the St. Mary's River, in the State of Michigan. Overridden by Senate on July 7, 1856, 28–10. Overridden by House on July 8, 1856, 136–54. Enacted over the president's veto.
  8. August 11, 1856: Vetoed H.R. 12, an act for continuing the improvement of the Des Moines Rapids, in the Mississippi River. Overridden by House on August 11, 1856, 130–54. Overridden by Senate on August 16, 1856, 30–14. Enacted over the president's veto.
  9. August 14, 1856: Vetoed S. 53, an act for the improvement of the navigation of the Patapsco River, and to render the port of Baltimore accessible to the war steamers of the United States. Overridden by Senate on August 16, 1856, 31–14. Overridden by House on August 16, 1856, 127–47. '''Enacted over the president's veto.'''