Who has the authority to sign bills into law?

The President of the United States possesses the authority to sign bills into law. This power is outlined in Article I, Section 7 of the U.S. Constitution, which establishes the legislative process and details the roles and responsibilities of the executive and legislative branches.

Once both houses of Congress— the House of Representatives and the Senate— pass a bill, it is sent to the President for approval. The President can either sign the bill, thereby enacting it into law, or veto it, which sends it back to Congress. Congress can then override this veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers if they choose to pursue the bill despite the President's objections.

This framework ensures a system of checks and balances between the branches of government, preventing any single branch from holding too much power. In contrast, the Vice President, Chief Justice, and Speaker of the House all have significant roles in the government, but none have the direct authority to enact legislation as the President does. The Vice President's primary role in legislative functions usually occurs in their capacity as President of the Senate, where they can cast tie-breaking votes but do not sign bills into law. The Chief Justice oversees the judicial branch and the Supreme Court but does not engage in the legislative process