What Is a Veto—and How Can the Mississippi Legislature Override It?

If you’ve ever heard that a Governor “vetoed” a bill, you might wonder—what does that actually mean, and is that the end of the road for that legislation? Not quite. In Mississippi, a veto is part of a broader system of checks and balances. And, importantly, the Legislature still has the final say.

What Is a Veto?

A veto is when the Governor says “no” to a bill that has already been passed by both the House and the Senate.

Once a bill reaches the Governor’s desk, there are three options:

• Sign it into law

• Let it become law without signing it

• Veto it and send it back with an explanation

  
  

Think of a veto as a pause button—it forces lawmakers to take another look at the bill.

Types of Vetoes in Mississippi

There are two main types:

• Full veto: The entire bill is rejected

• Line-item veto: The Governor can strike specific spending items in budget bills without rejecting the whole thing

  
  

Can the Legislature Override a Veto?

Yes—and this is where the balance of power really shows up. A veto is not final. The Legislature can override it, but it takes a strong level of agreement.

Here’s how it works:

1. The vetoed bill goes back to the chamber where it started

2. Lawmakers review the Governor’s objections

3. Both the House and Senate vote again

4. A veto can be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers. If that threshold is met, the bill becomes law—despite the Governor’s veto.

How Often Does This Happen?

Overrides don’t happen every day—they require a supermajority, which means broad, bipartisan (or at least widespread) agreement. That said, Mississippi lawmakers have overridden gubernatorial vetoes multiple times over the years. It’s not the norm, but it’s not unusual either when there's a strong consensus on an issue.

When an override does happen, it sends a clear message: a significant majority of elected officials believe the legislation is important enough to move forward.

Why This Matters

This process is about balance.

• The Governor has the ability to check legislation

• The Legislature has the ability to respond when there is strong agreement. Neither branch operates alone—and that’s by design.

Final Thought

At the end of the day, a veto isn’t the end of the story—it’s part of the conversation.

And when lawmakers come together with a two-thirds vote in both chambers, they have the authority to make that final call on behalf of the people they serve.