We owe many of our expectations of the presidency to the office’s first occupant, George Washington. He set the precedent on many matters, including his being called “Mr. President,” to his only serving two terms.

Washington also set standards for exercising certain presidential powers. On April 5, 1792, he issued the first presidential veto of a congressional bill. The president’s constitutional power to veto laws comes from Article I, Section 7. That section concerns more generally how our national government creates laws. After Congress passes a bill, the president either can sign it, turning the bill into a law, or he can veto it, sending it back to the legislative branch with an explanation for his refusal. Congress then may override the veto but only if both chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate, vote for the override by a two-thirds margin.