# Line Item Veto Act - could congress override any vetoed line by the usual 2/3 rule?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-item-veto-act-could-congress-override-any-vetoed-line-by-the-usual-2-3-rule/747353>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 28, 2016, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-item-veto-act-could-congress-override-any-vetoed-line-by-the-usual-2-3-rule/747353 "2016-02-28T01:22:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2016, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-item-veto-act-could-congress-override-any-vetoed-line-by-the-usual-2-3-rule/747353/1 "2016-02-28T01:22:02Z")

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[The Line Item Veto Act of 1996](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_Item_Veto_Act_of_1996) was quickly reviewed and [deemed unconstitutional by SCOTUS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_v._City_of_New_York) (by a 6 to 3 vote).

As I understand it (i.e. not well), the Act gave the President the power to selectively veto specific items from a bill brought forth from Congress.

Did the bill say anything about allowing for Congress to override the President’s line veto(s) with a 2/3 majority? Or, was that a given? The answer may be in [here](http://legislink.org/us/pl-104-130) I suppose, but I got headache even skimming it.

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2016, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-item-veto-act-could-congress-override-any-vetoed-line-by-the-usual-2-3-rule/747353/2 "2016-02-28T01:28:09Z")

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The process was slightly different than what you probably think it was. It went like this:

1. A spending or tax bill is enacted by any means (President signs, veto override, whatever)
2. After enactment, the President could send a “cancellation” message to Congress
3. Upon receipt by Congress, the proposed funding is cancelled.
4. Subsequent legislation, enacted by any means, could restore the cancelled funding.

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**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2016, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-item-veto-act-could-congress-override-any-vetoed-line-by-the-usual-2-3-rule/747353/3 "2016-02-28T01:45:00Z")

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> [@Ravenman](#):
>
> The process was slightly different than what you probably think it was.

Ever so slightly.😉

Thank you for being tactful! And thanks for setting me straight.

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**Author:** ![Julius\_Henry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@Julius\_Henry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Julius_Henry)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2016, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-item-veto-act-could-congress-override-any-vetoed-line-by-the-usual-2-3-rule/747353/4 "2016-02-28T14:54:34Z")

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Many states have a line item veto. Here in Missouri, the Governor is allowed to veto a specific line item on an appropriations bill. The General Assembly can override this veto with the usual ⅔ majority in both houses.

If there were a federal line item veto, it would be Congress who would write it and therefore I would assume allow means to override the veto.