2019年，特朗普总统手持一份已签署的否决令。Al Drago/Bloomberg News 民主党在昨晚国会选举中大获全胜，获得了显著的立法实力，但其战略必须考虑到一个重要的制衡因素：特朗普总统的否决权。
President Trump holding a signed veto in 2019. Al Drago/Bloomberg News Democrats’ sweeping gains in Congress last night gives the party significant legislative strength, but their strategy will have to account for an important check: President Trump’s veto powers.
当总统收到国会法案时，他有10天时间（不包括周日）发布常规否决，从而阻止法案成为法律。国会可以凭借参众两院三分之二多数票推翻总统的否决，这是一个很高的门槛，但在特朗普的第一个任期内，国会曾做到这一点。
When the president receives a congressional bill, he has 10 days, excluding Sundays, to issue a regular veto that stops the bill from becoming law. Congress can override the president’s veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers, a steep requirement, but one Congress achieved during Trump’s first term.
另一种更强有力的手段是“口袋否决”，即总统拒绝签署法案，且国会在10天期限内休会。如果发生这种情况，法案不会成为法律，国会也无法推翻该否决。即使周二大获全胜，民主党在新一届国会中仍将远低于参众两院三分之二的多数席位。
Another, more powerful maneuver is the “pocket veto,” when a president refuses to sign a bill and Congress adjourns during the 10-day period. If that happens, the bill does not become law, and Congress is unable to override the veto. Even with their sweeping gains on Tuesday, the Democrats will fall well short of two-thirds majorities in the new Congress.