[Dilbert San Diego]

So what’s the rule? Do you need 2/3 of all House members to override, meaning 2/3 of the full 435 House membership, or is it 2/3 of members present and voting that day? It seems there are always a few members of Congress who are absent and miss votes.

[Sacajaweau]

always voting on the particular bill

[WayneS]

Good question. I’m not sure.

It seems to me that a strict, literal, interpretation of the Constitution would mean 2/3 of the entire House.

However, given the history of congress as regards strict, literal reading of that document, they may have made their own “rule” regarding the issue.

[Cboldt]

Article I, Section 7 of the US Constitution says "two thirds of that House" to override a presidential veto. The section doesn't separate House and Senate by those names, it calls each body a "House" and both have to pass a vetoed bill by that margin.

By way of comparison, the president's Article II, Section 2 treaty making power is expressed "provided two thirds of the Senators present concur".

The plain language is that for veto override, the number is two thirds of members "seated" (elected, not dead, etc. - sometimes less than the full 435 provided), not two thirds of those present.