Can the Missouri legislature override a governor’s veto?

The Missouri Constitution allows the legislature to override a governor's veto, but it requires a two-thirds vote from both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This high threshold is set to ensure that there is substantial legislative consensus against the governor's decision before a veto can be overridden.

The requirement for a two-thirds majority reflects the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches, preventing a simple majority from easily reversing a governor's action and ensuring that any significant legislative decisions enjoy broad support. The two-thirds threshold encourages thorough debate and consideration among legislators before overriding executive decisions, which can be crucial for maintaining checks and balances within the state government.

Other options, such as needing a simple majority or a 3/4 vote, do not align with the established requirements in Missouri. A simple majority would be insufficient to ensure broad agreement, while a 3/4 vote would create an even higher bar than is currently necessary, making it more difficult for legislative action to proceed in cases where significant disagreement exists with the governor's veto. Thus, the two-thirds requirement is both the applicable and appropriate standard for such an override.