Act of Congress
An Act of Congress occurs when both houses of Congress (the House of Representatives and the Senate) pass an identical bill with a majority and the president signs the bill, and that bill becomes a law. If the president does not sign the bill, there are two other ways in which a bill can become a law:
- First, if the president fails to either sign or veto the bill within a ten-day period (excluding Sundays), the bill becomes law, unless Congress adjourns during that ten-day period.
- Second, if the president vetoes the bill, Congress may override the veto by two-thirds vote of both houses.
According to the United States Senate, the meaning of an Act of Congress is interchangeable with law, statute, or simply an act.
[Last reviewed in April of 2026 by the Wex Definitions Team]
Wex