Legal Definitions - overridden veto

Definition: An overridden veto occurs when a legislative body votes to pass a bill into law despite the president or governor's veto.

Example: In 2016, the U.S. Congress overrode President Obama's veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), which allowed families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia for any role it may have had in the attacks. The veto override required a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Explanation: This example illustrates how an overridden veto works in practice. Despite President Obama's objections, Congress was able to pass the JASTA bill into law by overriding his veto. This is a powerful tool that allows the legislative branch to enact laws even if the executive branch disagrees with them.