Under Article I, Section 7 of the U.S. Constitution, if the President neither signs nor returns a bill within ten days (excluding Sundays) after it is presented and Congress remains in session throughout that period, what is the effect?
The bill is deemed vetoed but may become law only if three-fourths of both Houses vote to override.
The bill must be reintroduced in the next session of Congress before it can take effect.
The bill becomes law in the same manner as if the President had signed it.
The bill is automatically pocket-vetoed and cannot become law.
When Congress is still in session at the end of the ten-day (Sundays excepted) period, the bill becomes law automatically, as if the President had signed it. This is called a "default enactment" under the Presentment Clause. By contrast, if Congress adjourns so that the President cannot return the bill within the ten days, the bill does not become law; that scenario is known as a pocket veto.
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