Regular Vetoes and Pocket Vetoes: In Brief

from: Congressional Research Service

Regular vetoes occur when the President refuses to sign a bill and returns the bill complete with

objections to Congress within 10 days. Upon receipt of the rejected bill, Congress is able to begin

the veto override process, which requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in both chambers in order

for the bill to become law. Pocket vetoes occur when the President receives a bill but is unable to

reject and return the bill to an adjourned Congress within the 10-day period. The bill, though lacking a signature and formal objections, does not become law. Pocket vetoes are not subject to the congressional veto override process.

https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RS/RS22188