How can Congress override a president's veto?

• A. By a simple majority in both houses
• B. By a unanimous vote in one house
• C. By a two-thirds vote in both houses
• D. By a three-fourths vote in the Senate

Answer: (C)

Congress can override a president's veto by securing a two-thirds vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This requirement is established in Article I, Section 7 of the U.S. Constitution, which outlines the legislative process and the procedures for handling presidential vetoes.

The significance of needing a two-thirds majority underscores the system of checks and balances that the Framers of the Constitution implemented. It ensures that only legislation with substantial support from two-thirds of both legislative chambers—representing a significant consensus across the country—can become law despite a presidential objection.

The other options do not meet the constitutional standard for overriding a veto. A simple majority, for instance, is not sufficient as it does not reflect the required consensus needed to override a president's decision. Unanimous votes and three-fourths votes are even higher thresholds and not applicable to the veto override process. Thus, the only correct answer in this context is the requirement of a two-thirds vote in both houses.