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The Veto Power

The Veto Power image
Parent Issue
Day
12
Month
January
Year
1842
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

- The Cky papersgue tnat the wül of one man sliould not control the will ofthe nation. The folluwing calculation in the Madisonian shows that oneitliird of both Houses of Congress can enact any law they please, whether the President approve it or not: ''It appears by the Constitution that a biil may become tho supreme law of the land, after having passed cach House by barely a majorily ofthe "quorum for doing the business," provided it is "approved" by the President, and it will also become a law by having been passed by n mnjority of two thirds of this "quorum," in spite of the President's ohjeclions! Thus a law may be passed by barely one-fourlh of the members of each House, in the one case, and barely one third in the otoer. Thus: Of the House, a majority of 242 is 123; aurl a majority of 123, 62 - and "two thirds" of 123 is 82. Of the Senate , a quorum is 2?; and a majoritv is 14; and "two thirds" ofthe "quorum," is 18. So a bilí after it is vetoed, may become a law by the votes of 18 Senators, and 82 Represen'.atives - one third of each of the Houses."