# Can Trump shut down the government by himself? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 16, 2018, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-trump-shut-down-the-government-by-himself/826243 "2018-12-16T23:46:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2018, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-trump-shut-down-the-government-by-himself/826243/21 "2018-12-18T00:05:52Z")
Let’s say, hypothetically, there are enough votes to overturn a veto. Remember that the [President has 10 days (Sundays excepted) to issue a veto.](https://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_A1Sec7.html) So he could keep the government shut down for those 10 days (Sundays excepted) while he delays issuing his veto. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2018, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-trump-shut-down-the-government-by-himself/826243/22 "2018-12-18T00:57:25Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > I feel confident that Trump wants to shut down the government. Not really because his stupid wall isn’t being funded but because it will put a spotlight exactly where he always wants it, on him. > > But can he do this all by himself? If even the Republican congress won’t support him? Or support him enough? Isn’t congress in charge of the budget? > [@D\_Anconia](#): > > What did you think a president _could_ do to shut the government down on his own??? Very helpful response! You should post more! ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2018, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-trump-shut-down-the-government-by-himself/826243/23 "2018-12-18T01:28:02Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > But Trump doesn’t exactly work well with others. It’s late in the year, but I think we have our 2018 Understatement of the Year winner! ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2018, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-trump-shut-down-the-government-by-himself/826243/24 "2018-12-18T01:42:18Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I could see the ones who won’t be back in 2019 saying, “fuck it, I’m out of here, let the new Congress end the shutdown when it’s sworn in.” Quorom is only 218 without vacancies. Adjournment takes a majority vote. Adjournment for more than three days takes the consent of both houses. Those coming back in Jan are the majority and have interest in at least being seen as being in DC. They probably don’t want to go on record for voting to adjourn during a shutdown. The veto override is based on those actually there to vote. I could see those leaving actually helping a potential veto override when they do. Of course, as pointed out above Trump can just sit on any CR making the veto override moot until January. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2018, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-trump-shut-down-the-government-by-himself/826243/25 "2018-12-18T17:15:19Z")
Well, today it looks like his handlers [won this round](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/white-house-signals-its-backing-down-in-shutdown-dispute-will-find-other-ways-to-fund-border-wall/2018/12/18/159994dc-02d9-11e9-9122-82e98f91ee6f_story.html?utm_term=.be800da6e760&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1). ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2018, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-trump-shut-down-the-government-by-himself/826243/26 "2018-12-18T17:35:35Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Well, today it looks like his handlers [won this round](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/white-house-signals-its-backing-down-in-shutdown-dispute-will-find-other-ways-to-fund-border-wall/2018/12/18/159994dc-02d9-11e9-9122-82e98f91ee6f_story.html?utm_term=.be800da6e760&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1). I knew he wouldn’t give up 16 days at Mar-a-Lago… ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2018, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-trump-shut-down-the-government-by-himself/826243/27 "2018-12-19T01:45:03Z")
Just to sort out some of the confusion, let me explain that if a president neither signs nor vetoes a bill within 10 days of its passage it becomes law without his signature, _unless congress has adjourned_. But during those 10 days, the continuing resolution will not have passed and the government will shut down. And if congress adjourns, then nothing can happen until a new congress gets going (unless Trump signs the CR). ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2018, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-trump-shut-down-the-government-by-himself/826243/28 "2018-12-19T02:07:17Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Well, today it looks like his handlers [won this round](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/white-house-signals-its-backing-down-in-shutdown-dispute-will-find-other-ways-to-fund-border-wall/2018/12/18/159994dc-02d9-11e9-9122-82e98f91ee6f_story.html?utm_term=.be800da6e760&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1). Till his signature is on a bill the wiggle room of “it looks like” is probably necessary. It wouldn’t be the first time his messaging about legislation changed and then changed back again. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2018, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-trump-shut-down-the-government-by-himself/826243/29 "2018-12-19T03:09:43Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Just to sort out some of the confusion, let me explain that if a president neither signs nor vetoes a bill within 10 days of its passage it becomes law without his signature, _unless congress has adjourned_. But during those 10 days, the continuing resolution will not have passed and the government will shut down. And if congress adjourns, then nothing can happen until a new congress gets going (unless Trump signs the CR). I think if Congress is adjourned, the bill dies and has to be revoted on. That’s the "pocket veto ". ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2018, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-trump-shut-down-the-government-by-himself/826243/30 "2018-12-19T03:44:12Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I think if Congress is adjourned, the bill dies and has to be revoted on. That’s the "pocket veto ". Yes, he could pocket veto it. That would basically keep the government shut down until the new Congress is sworn in, and I have a hard time seeing it getting through both houses on the first day, especially with having to completely restart the House. I’d expect a shutdown until at least Epiphany, and that’s if he doesn’t throw a fit about whatever could get past a Democratic House and a Republican Senate. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2018, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-trump-shut-down-the-government-by-himself/826243/31 "2018-12-21T02:41:28Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > I knew he wouldn’t give up 16 days at Mar-a-Lago… What on Earth makes you think he wouldn’t head off to Mar-A-Lago during a shutdown? And now he’s saying he ain’t gonna sign a no-Wall bill anyway, so I guess we’ll find out which of us is right, eh? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-trump-shut-down-the-government-by-himself/826243.md?page=1)