First Presidential Veto Cast
The first presidential veto in American history was cast by George Washington on April 5, 1792, marking a significant moment in the legislative process of the United States. This action was rooted in the powers granted to the president by the U.S. Constitution of 1787, which allows the president to reject laws passed by Congress. At the time, during the Second Congress, Washington disagreed with a bill that outlined the apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives and chose to veto it, returning the legislation to Congress for reconsideration. Following the veto, Congress attempted to override it, but the effort failed in the House of Representatives with a vote of 28 in favor to 33 against. The Senate did not pursue an override since the House's decision rendered it unnecessary. Washington's inaugural veto set a precedent for future presidents, establishing the veto power as a critical tool in the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches. Over the years, while many vetoes have been overridden, the presidential veto remains a significant mechanism in the U.S. political system, influencing legislative negotiations and outcomes.
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First Presidential Veto Cast
First Presidential Veto Cast
On April 5, 1792, President George Washington cast the first veto in American legislative history.
The United States Constitution of 1787 gives the president the power to veto laws enacted by Congress. By the spring of 1792, during the Second Congress (1791–1793), an occasion had arisen for President Washington to exercise this power for the first time. Congress had enacted legislation concerning the apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives, which contained certain provisions that Washington disagreed with. Washington vetoed the bill on April 5 and returned it to Congress. Pursuant to the Constitution, Congress can override a veto, but only if two-thirds of the House of Representatives and two-thirds of the Senate vote to override.
On April 6, 1792, an attempt in the House to override the veto failed by a vote of 28 in favor of an override to 33 against. The Senate did not hold a vote, since it would be pointless after the action in the House, and thus Washington's first use of the chief executive's veto prerogative stood. In the centuries since 1792, many vetoes have been overridden by Congress, but the veto power remains one of the most potent weapons at the president's disposal in his dealings with Congress.