Final answer:
The framers of the Constitution granted Congress the power to override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority as a check on executive power and to ensure lawmaking reflects the supermajority of legislators rather than the will of the President alone.
Step-by-step explanation:
The framers of the Constitution designed a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful. The presidential veto is one such check that enables the President to reject a bill passed by Congress.
However, the Constitution also grants Congress the power to override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This overriding power is a significant check on presidential authority and ensures that if a substantial majority of legislators agree on a bill, they have the means to enact it into law, even against the President's objections. The ability to override a veto ensures that the legislative branch retains considerable authority and prevents the President from having absolute veto power.
Historically, presidential vetoes have rarely been overridden; only about four percent of all vetoes have ever been successfully overridden. This demonstrates that the ability to override is a significant hurdle, ensuring that it is only used when there is a decisive consensus that a bill should become law. The potential for an override also encourages compromise between the President and Congress, as the threat of a veto or override can press both sides to work out mutually acceptable terms.
In essence, the power to override a veto exemplifies the checks and balances at the core of the U.S. governmental structure. It provides a safeguard against executive overreach and upholds the principle that the lawmaking process should reflect the will of a supermajority, rather than the singular will of the President.