<P> During the Constitutional Convention the framers overwhelmingly rejected three proposals for an absolute veto . </P> <P> The Presidents of the Continental Congress (1774--81) did not have the power of veto . The President could not veto an act of Congress under the Articles of Confederation (1781--89), but he possessed certain recess and reserve powers that were not necessarily available to the predecessor President of the Continental Congress . It was only with the enactment of the United States Constitution (drafted 1787; ratified 1788; fully effective since 4 March 1789) that veto power was conferred upon the person titled "President of the United States". </P> <P> The presidential veto power was first exercised on 5 April 1792 when President George Washington vetoed a bill outlining a new apportionment formula . Apportionment described how Congress divides seats in the House of Representatives among the states based on the US census figures . President Washington thought the bill gave an unfair advantage to the northern states . </P> <P> The Congress first overrode a presidential veto (passed a bill into law notwithstanding the President's objections) on 3 March 1845 . </P>

Who has the power to veto congressional legislation