What majority is required to override a presidential veto?

To override a presidential veto, a two-thirds majority in both chambers of Congress is required. This high threshold ensures that a significant consensus exists among lawmakers to counteract the president's decision, reflecting the framers' intention to maintain a system of checks and balances within the federal government.

The requirement for a two-thirds majority means that both the House of Representatives and the Senate must achieve this level of support to successfully pass the legislation despite the president's objection. This aligns with the principle that significant legislative actions should have broad consensus rather than merely the backing of a simple majority, which might not adequately represent the views of the entire legislature or the electorate.

In contrast, a simple majority would only require more votes than those opposing it, which could easily lead to the enactment of controversial measures without considerable support. A three-fifths majority is not applicable in this context, as it is the threshold used for certain procedural votes, such as cloture in the Senate.