<Li> Sign the legislation within ten days, excluding Sundays--the bill becomes law . </Li> <Li> Veto the legislation within the above timeframe and return it to the house of Congress from which it originated, expressing any objections--the bill does not become law, unless both houses of Congress vote to override the veto by a two - thirds vote . </Li> <Li> Take no action on the legislation within the above timeframe--the bill becomes law, as if the president had signed it, unless Congress is adjourned at the time, in which case it does not become law (a pocket veto). </Li> <P> In 1996, Congress attempted to enhance the president's veto power with the Line Item Veto Act . The legislation empowered the president to sign any spending bill into law while simultaneously striking certain spending items within the bill, particularly any new spending, any amount of discretionary spending, or any new limited tax benefit . Congress could then repass that particular item . If the president then vetoed the new legislation, Congress could override the veto by its ordinary means, a two - thirds vote in both houses . In Clinton v. City of New York, 524 U.S. 417 (1998), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled such a legislative alteration of the veto power to be unconstitutional . </P>

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