If legislation is vetoed, what majority is needed to override the veto?

To override a veto, a two-thirds majority in Congress is required. This means that both the House of Representatives and the Senate must approve the legislation again with at least a two-thirds vote of their members. This higher threshold is designed to ensure that only legislation with broad support can become law despite the president's veto, reflecting a significant consensus among elected representatives.

The requirement for a two-thirds majority serves as a check on the executive branch and maintains a balance of power, ensuring that vetoes can be overridden only when there is substantial agreement. In contrast, a simple majority would allow legislation to be pushed through without widespread support, while a three-fourths majority would be exceedingly difficult to achieve and could result in legislative paralysis. Likewise, a unanimous decision is virtually impossible in a diverse body like Congress, making the two-thirds requirement a reasonable compromise between accessibility and necessary consensus for overriding executive decisions.